Is Sesame Place Worth It? A Parent’s Guide To Visiting With Kids

You may or may not have heard about Sesame Place depending on the ages of your kids. But if you are like me, you are always on the hunt for things to do with your kids especially road trip, easy weekend away trips.

We visited again this past Christmas and although it was a bit chilly, we had ana amazing time.
In this post, I’ll break down all you need to know about Sesame Place, tips and how to have the best time here, plus if its truly worth it!

TLDR

If you are wondering if Sesame Place is worth the trip, the answer is Yes! It is definitely worth going to Sesame Place! When it comes to fun for kids, Sesame Place is one of our top favorites especially if you have kids that like a bit of roller coaster fun but too young for other theme parks. In my case, we have our 3 kids, my oldest always wants rides that are not necessarily for little kids but also not wild rollercoasters. Sesame place checked off her requests.

We usually go for a weekend away in order to have the entire day at Sesame Place while also resting or exploring surrounding areas.

What is Sesame Place?

Sesame Place is a fun, family-friendly theme park based on the characters from Sesame Street. It comes with lots of kid friendly rides varying from zero thrill rides to gentle thrills, to water rides, mini roller coasters, and character-themed attractions.

They also hold live shows and parades featuring Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and friends in interactive performances. We watched the parade at the end of our visit and one tip is to find a good spot where the parade stops in front or close to you.

Location

Sesame Place is located at 100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA 19047

Sesame Place is located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, 30 minutes north of Philadelphia, and 90 minutes south of New York City.

Parking

Parking does include a fee which starts at $35 plus tax. Parking can be purchased at the park or save time and purchase parking today online! Paid parking is required.

Ticket information

General admission

A one-day ticket at Sesame Place typically starts at $102.99 per person while a two-day ticket costs $112.99 per person. There is typically a sale going on, so make sure to check and purchase your tickets online to save! We have never paid full price for the tickets and usually find sales of about 50% off the actual tickets especially if you choose a specific day to go visit.

The admission costs vary depending on the season you visit, day, how many days tickets you purchase and availability.

Season pass

They also have season passes and like the admission tickets, you can save. They start from around $11.11 per month to about $27.50 per month depending on what level you choose

Children 23 months and younger are free. All guests 2 years and older must purchase admission tickets or season passes to visit Sesame Place. All admission ticket and season pass pricing is the same for children and adults.

Your Sesame Place admission ticket includes all rides and most shows. Some shows may require a reservation or additional fee.

What makes Sesame place worth it?

You can enjoy live Shows and parades

You can enjoy daily parades with Sesame Street characters, which are a huge hit for kids who love the show.

Dine with Elmo and friends

Kids can dine with some of their favorite characters too.

Enjoy character meet and greets

Your kids can meet their favorite Sesame street characters like Abby Cadabby, Bert & Ernie, Big Bird, Count von Count and more! We did not do this but they got to see the characters during the parade.

Kid friendly focus

Everything is built with toddlers and younger kids in mind. There are no massive roller coasters that exclude them which is great. It is always tough when my kids see rides they would love to go on but are limited due to height and then I have to deal with the tantrums.

The World’s First Autism-Certified Theme Park

Sesame Place offers specialized services to guests with autism and other special needs. The staff are trained in sensory awareness and communication. The park features sensory guides, quiet rooms, and a Ride Accessibility Program for guests with special needs.

Convenience

The park is much smaller than Disney or Universal, which may or may not sound like a great thing, however this makes it more manageable to do it all in one day without overwhelming kids (or parents!).

I think places like Hershey Park or Disney can get overwhelming for kids especially if you try to do it all in one day. I made that mistake with Hershey and regretted it. We got tickets to do the entire Hershey park in one day, obviously I knew it was not possible but I did not realize how big the park truly was till we got there and the kids were upset they could not do all the rides even though they were already exhausted. Sesame Place is easy to go through in a day for everyone.

Food at Sesame Place

The Park also has a lot of options when it coems to dining opportunities although they can be pricey. The last time we went, hubby said to eat before getting into the park but I wanted to give the kids a treat and refused. Oh Boy!, we got into the park and after riding for a bit, we went to a restaurant and when we placed our orders and got the bill, it was expensive! So, lesson learned.

A few restaurants are:

Dine with Elmo and Friends
ABC Eats
Elmo’s Pizza Kitchen
Big Bird Burgers and Bites
Monster Snacks
And more!

No outside food, beverages, or coolers larger than 12×12 are allowed to be brought into Sesame Place, with the exception of bottled water or refillable water bottles.

How to make it a weekend away trip

When we go to Sesame Place, we usually try to make it a weekend trip to reduce the driving stress. To be honest, there is not a ton to do in the area so you might need to do a bit of driving, but its still worth making it a weekend trip.

Hershey Park is about an hour away
You can drive to Core Creek Park for some nature trails, picnic areas, and playground fun.
You can also explore Peddler’s Village (about 30 min away) for boutique shopping and treats

Helpful tips before you go

Plan to visit when attendance is lightest. Best bets: Weekdays during the summer and any regular operating day during the months of April, May and September.
Arrive early: The gates open before the rides do, so get in line early to grab prime spots and beat the crowds.
If you have little ones, a stroller is a must because they will get tired. They also have rentals available if needed.
Don’t forget sunscreen, hats, and ponchos especially in the hot summer.
Buy tickets online in advance, there is always a sale going on. Look for discounts or bundled packages.
Consider a season pass if you plan to return that year, it often pays for itself in two visits.
Plan your character meet-and-greets early because the lines build fast.
Split your day: Morning for dry rides, afternoon for water rides when it’s hotter or you could even flip it, morning for water rides and afternoon for dry rides because most people will head to the water parks in the afternoon so to avoid the crowds, go in the morning.
Don’t miss the Sesame Street Neighborhood Parade, if possible, grab a spot early for good views.
Catch at least one live show (Elmo the Musical or Abby’s Magic Box). These are also a good way to get some downtime.
If staying overnight, choose a hotel with free breakfast to save time and money.
If you’re celebrating a birthday, ask for a free celebration button at Guest Services.
Pace yourselves. Sesame Place is smaller than Disney, but for toddlers and young kids it’s still a lot. Build in breaks, use shady spots, and let kids nap in the stroller if needed.

Hotels to book

Sesame Place has a list of official hotels and then partner hotels that will help make your stay a lot easier especially if spending a day or more. There are also some discounts for admission tickets if you book some of the hotels while booking the ticket.

Official Hotels

The official hotels are super close to the park and some, not all of them offer complimentary breakfast, complimentary shuttle rides, welcome gift upon arrival for the kids

Residence Inn by Marriott – Langhorne

Located 1/ 4 Mile from Sesame Place
Complimentary breakfast buffet daily

2. Courtyard by Marriott – Langhorne

Located just minutes away from the park
Free breakfast for all Sesame package guests
Every kid will receive a welcome gift upon arrival.

3. Sheraton Bucks County Langhorne

All Kids receive a gift at check in (while supplies last)
Parking is complimentary
Free breakfast for children 4 years and under with a paying adult. (2 children per paying adult)

4. Springhill Suites by Marriott Langhorne

Enjoy the complimentary Hot Breakfast Buffet
Located just across the street and walkable to Sesame Place’s front gate
Every child receives a welcome bag at Check-In

5. Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast

Complimentary parking
Free breakfast for children 10 and under with a paying adult when booking the Sesame Place package (up to 2 kids complimentary per paying adult).
Just a short drive from Sesame Place
As part of your Sesame Place® package, enjoy exclusive activities like cookie decorating and movie night

6. Holiday Inn Express Langhorne

Complimentary coffee and tea are served all day long
Every kid receives a welcome gift upon arrival.

Partner Hotels

Spark by Hilton Bensalem Philadelphia
Residence Inn by Marriott Princeton at Carnegie Center
Holiday Inn Express NE Bensalem

Should you visit Sesame Place too?

You totally should especially if you have little kids or a mix of ages where bigger theme parks might be overwhelming. The fact that the lines are shorter and the rides are more suited for younger kids is a huge benefit.

We went during winter last year and still had a blast although the water park was closed obviously. The kids had an amazing time going on the rides and the parade. So if you are looking for a weekend away or even a day trip, Sesame Place is definitely worth the trip.