Ultimate Guide to Visiting Sesame Place: Tips, Tricks, and Insider Secrets

Why We Love Sesame Place

As season pass holders for several years, Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania remains our go-to amusement park for Tri-State area weekend getaways, even with kids now aged 6 and 9. Perfectly sized for preschool and young elementary school kids, it's an excellent destination for families.

Planning Your Visit: Day Trip or Overnight Stay?

We're coming from NYC so we like to make an overnight trip out of it, and leisurely hit everything up over the course of two visits, but it's totally doable as a day trip as well if your kids have staying power. Here's what we've learned from our repeat visits over the years:

Sesame Place is for Everyone

Much to the chagrin of this millennial mom who was raised on The Street with Snuffleupagus and Big Bird, my own children didn't take to Sesame Street's multi-segment format, and always just wanted to fast forward to "more Elmo and Abby!" A question parents often ask, "My kids never really got into Sesame Street, will they still like Sesame Place?" And the answer is, Yes! Even if your kids didn't grow up watching Sesame Street, they'll still love meeting and dancing with the larger-than-life characters. Most rides are accessible to kids ages 3 and up, and even my usually cautious child enjoys the two roller coasters in the park, Grover's Vapor Trail, and Oscar's Wacky Taxi.

Best Times to Visit

If you can swing it, visit Sesame Place on weekdays during peak summer for fewer crowds. In the fall, winter, and spring, the park is open on select weekends and holidays, though the water rides take a break. But don't worry—there's still plenty of fun to be had! Think holiday magic with Cookie Monster Santa, festive rides on the holiday train, and trick-or-treating at the Halloween Spooktacular.

Shows, Parades, and Character Greetings

Download the free Sesame Place App: Before you visit, get this free app locked and loaded on your smartphone. Besides having a handy map, the app provides show, parade, and character greet schedules. With limited performances, it's easy to miss them if you don't have a game plan and get stuck queuing for rides.

Timing for Character Greets: Get into position about 10-15 minutes before your favorite character is scheduled. Once the Sesame Street celebrities have been sighted, the lines get long fast and you'll end up waiting longer.

Where to Find Characters:

• Main Plaza: A rotating cast of familiar faces can be found under the VIP parade viewing canopies.
• Photos with Elmo and Friends Pavilion: Often features two characters at once.
• Big Bird's Nest: Located towards the end of Sesame Street Neighborhood.
• Sunny Days Theater: Storytime and photo ops with Grover, plus a break from the sun in the air-conditioned theater.

Best Attractions for Younger Kids

When our kids were babies and toddlers, our favorite attractions were the shows. Abby's Paradise Theater and Sesame Street Theater both offer shaded seating. The Sesame Street Dance Party near Oscar's Wacky Taxi is also a hit. The daily parade down the main street is a must-see, and you'll find people laying out blankets and towels to secure spots early for the best views.

Ride the Rides Without the Wait

Riding the rides at Sesame Place can be a blast, but those peak weekend summer days? The lines can feel never-ending, especially with the July and August heat and cranky toddlers. Some rides can only take a limited number of riders at a time, so even a short-looking line can surprise you. We once waited nearly an hour just to hop on Elmo's Flying Fish! Generally, expect about a 30-minute wait for most rides, with the Sunny Day Carousel consistently having one of the longest and slowest-moving lines.

Here’s our pro tip: arrive right when the park opens and head straight to Cookie Monster Land and Elmo's World. You can usually walk onto 3-4 rides with little to no wait. Plus, the lines for the two roller coasters at the front of the park stay manageable all day thanks to age and height restrictions. So, if you’ve got a little thrill-seeker, you’re in luck!

Skip the Lines: Abby's Magic Queue Options

If you want to skip the lines altogether, there are three options to pay for the privilege.

1. Abby's One-Time Magic Queue ($47.99 each): A one day pass to skip the line once on each popular attraction.
2. Abby's Unlimited Magic Queue ($63.99 each): Unlimited priority boarding for one day.
3. Abby's All Season Magic Queue ($299.99 each): Skip lines all season long, perfect for frequent visitors and those with endless cash, but limited patience.

Cool Off in the Waterpark

There are a few chill places to cool off in the summer all around Sesame Place:

• Big Bird's Beach: Mini wave pool perfect for toddlers.
• Lazy River: Enjoy floating around and around, but beware of powerful waterfalls and fountains.
• Bert & Ernie's Splashy Shores and Count's Splash Castle: Great for those kids who enjoy a big splash.

The solo water slides have a height requirement of 42", but there are a couple where you can ride with your little ones as long as they're wearing a Coast Guard-approved life vest (you can borrow one from the park, or bring your own—but double-check it meets the standards!). We learned this the hard way and had to trek back to the car because our swim vest didn't have the USCG label and wasn't allowed in the park!

Finally, don't forget to check the app for any closed attractions before your visit, it's always better to be prepared than disappointed.

Where to Eat at Sesame Place

When you need to escape the heat or satisfy picky eaters who only want chicken fingers and fries, you might face some long lines at Big Bird's Burgers & Bites and Elmo's Pizza Kitchen. If the mobile ordering system is up and running, you can skip the lines and order ahead.

For quicker bites, head over to Mr. Hooper's Food Market. During peak season, you can find burgers and chips at the Count's Food 2 Go truck near the splash castle. At the other end of the park, the ABC Eats truck offers mac & cheese, hot dogs, and flatbread pizza. Want to fuel the kids on pure sugar? Treat them to funnel cake and Dippin' Dots—because why not? They’re on vacation!

Adults, don’t worry; we’ve got you covered too. Enjoy a local draft beer, or grab a bottle or can at either of the sit-down eateries. Need a caffeine boost? Stop by the Coffee Corner for some Starbucks coffee.

During the off-season, when the park is a bit quieter, we absolutely loved booking a Character Dine with Elmo and Friends. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet where Elmo and his pals visit your table, and it ends with a super fun dance party! With the season pass discount, it could be totally worth it just to eat in an air-conditioned spot without those long lines. The food seems better during special events (check out "Christmas in July" dine), but there's always plenty of kid-friendly options.

The park policies say no outside food or beverages allowed, unless you have special dietary needs. We have found, however, they are pretty forgiving in this arena and we've always been able to bring in small quantities of safe foods for our choosy kids.

Special Needs Accommodations

Sesame Place is proudly designated as a Certified Autism Center, meaning their staff is trained to ensure every family has an amazing and memorable visit. They offer specialized services for guests with autism and other special needs.

You can apply for a ride accessibility card through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This Special Access Pass provides priority boarding on select rides and attractions for guests unable to stand in line due to physical impairments or cognitive disorders. Plus, it's valid at many amusement parks across the country, including Universal Studios, Six Flags, and Hurricane Harbor.

To apply for the ride accessibility card, visit the IBCCES website. Make sure to apply at least 48 hours before your visit. Once approved, head to guest services inside the park, show your digital card, and you'll receive special access cards and bracelets. Look for the Abby's Magic Queue entrance to each ride for priority boarding.

These accommodations can make a world of difference, ensuring that our children can enjoy these moments. If you have a highly sensitive child, be sure to check out my series on managing sensory sensitivity and avoiding overstimulation!

Ready to Get Yourself to Sesame Street?

Ticket Options: Thinking about giving your kids the Sesame Place experience? You’ve got tons of ticket options! Choose your date and start with single-day admission tickets, and keep an eye out for those awesome "2nd visit free" promos. (Bonus: your second visit can be anytime within the next 4 months!)

Worried your special day may get rained out? Don't sweat it! Sesame Place has a fantastic "Sunny Day Guarantee." If the weather decides to throw a tantrum with rain, lightning, extreme heat, wind, snow, or hail, just pop by guest services. They’ll hook you up with a free return visit with clear skies! Still need more flexibility? Opt for an "any day" ticket, so you’re not locked into a specific date.

Season Passes: If you’re planning to visit Sesame Place more than twice a year, grabbing a Sesame Place season pass is a no-brainer. Not only do you get unlimited visits (no need to reserve in advance!), but you’ll also snag discounts on food and merch. We went for one silver level pass to secure free parking and a sweet 20% off on purchases. The rest of our family of four gets by with the basic bronze tier. Don’t forget to look out for member monthly rewards before your visit. You can get free and discounted guest tickets, early ride times, exclusive character meet & greets, and even some free souvenirs!. We loved having the FREE Abby Magic Queue member perk during our last visit.

Excited to plan your next Sesame Place adventure? From meeting beloved characters to enjoying rides and shows, Sesame Place is a fun-filled experience for families. Be sure to go before they grow!

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