Langhorne, PA
price varies for hotels; price for parking is $20; prices for park available on www.sesameplace.com
Hotels: Spring Hill Suites
Optimum Seasons: Summer
"Go before they grow" is the Sesame Place slogan! Here's a list of things to know before you go:
1) I'd say it's best to go here before your oldest kid is 7 years old. Or just take your younger kids!
2) This park is only 14 acres. To put things in perspective, I know a few people who own residential properties one third that size. This is NOT a big amusement park. Especially after losing my amusement park virginity to Disney World, this was very small in comparison. One day will get the job done here! One long day! But if your commute is long, staying overnight is a good idea. Anyway, your $50 per person ticket (offered on the Sesame Place website) can be used for two days any time of the year. May as well book a hotel close by, or as we did, across the street to avoid parking fees and for general convenience, just to go two days in a row. This way, you can perhaps go on day trips to either nearby Philadelphia, Adventure Aquarium, Crayola Museum, Please Touch Museum, Giggle Berry Fair, and more. Or, you can do water rides on one day and dry rides another. You will be less rushed this way!
3) This is neither an amazing water park (Splish Splash is better for older kids) nor an amazing amusement park (Adventure Land is better for young and old children alike). The big draw here is the character meets, the shows, and the parade (night time preferable as weather is cooler). Which make it all worth it in the end! And for me, the landscaping. Half the entry fee is probably spent on maintaining the beautiful grounds.
4) Go midweek. Never go on a weekend. And go when there is 20 percent chance of rain as we accidentally did. (If it rains for more than 2 hours, you literally get a rain check.) There are virtually no lines this way! Do not go the last two weeks of August as I have been told they are the busiest time of the year.
5) If you are a girl, be prepared to have chronic wedgies. Unless you avoid the water slides. And unless your butt is tiny. And G-d has been good to you. Then, you are safe.
6) I was a bit surprised by the general lack of enthusiasm by the staff. Maybe I'm just comparing this service to that of Disney World, where every employee is on Nice Steroids. But most of the people working here had braces and were going through puberty. Which means they'd rather be going to first base than telling children to stand behind the line during a Sesame Place parade. But they were all nice regardless!
7) The food kind of tastes like high-end airplane food. And there are no good restaurants or supermarkets within a half mile radius. Pack wisely for the day! This just in: a number have you have counter claimed that there actually is food around the area! But I was too blindsided by the Home Depot and BJ's to realize! Allegedly, there is a Red Robin, TGI Fridays, and Ground Round close by. And if you drive 10 minutes away, there are great restaurants that aren't chains. But I'm sticking to my word, there was basically NOTHING! I want food to go...and there was none of that anywhere close.
8) If you want a break from amusement parking, there are a few good strip centers around the area. Just shop at Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx while your husband slaves away with your children.
9) I stayed at the Spring Hill Suites across the street. This way, I avoided paying a parking fee. But it was way overpriced. Basically, I have stayed in boutique hotels as expensive as this. It is a nice, clean, renovated hotel. The continental breakfast is yucky. If you find a deal here, go for it. If not, stay elsewhere and just take a shuttle to the park! If you are flexible, try offering a price on priceline.com for the best rates on hotels nearby (but you won't get the hotel you want necessarily)
10) There are groupon deals in May and June (I totally missed that one!). Keep your eyes out on groupon. You may get lucky and find a good price! Also, if you book for a group of 15 plus, there is a special rate (contact Sesame Place directly about this?) But I didn't do enough research before purchasing so I'm really not certain about how to get the best price!
11) There are fireworks on 3rd and 4th of July! Can imagine this being magical!
12) Download the Sesame Place app before you go to familiarize yourself with the rides. And remember, the water rides are best for an 85 plus day when you dream of getting wet under a waterfall on the lazy river!
Tips: Bring bathing suits and towels! Always check www.groupon.com for deals before you go.
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