dd_ani
10-06-2003, 09:35 PM
We went to Sesame Place the week before Labor Day with dd (18 months) and it was great! Well worth the drive! The park is very family friendly and safe (I was worried about leaving the stroller before we got there, and it was not a problem). The water rides/activities were perfect for a variety of ages (the innertube ride (Rambling River?) was especially a lot of fun and a good "ride" for toddlers.
If you go, DEFINITELY do the character dinners. Yes, they are a little more expensive, but when you realize how much you will pay otherwise for fried food and how long you will wait in line, you can see the value! The food is decent, no wait to eat, all you can eat, and EVERY character will visit your little one at their own table. (Except Big Bird -- he is too tall to walk all over, I think. But he is right down by the desserts!) After overhearing someone else talking about how they waited in line for 2 hours to pay $20 for a hamburger, we signed up for our second night as well!
Stay at a hotel with a shuttle. You don't have to worry about or pay for parking (sure, you lose out on the excercize hiking from the parking lot since the shuttles drop you at the front gate) and they run frequently. We stayed at the Courtyard in Langhorne, but I think the Sharaton also had a shuttle.
On the downside, the week before Labor Day was a bit crowded, especially at the end of the week. Most of the staff had no idea what was going on and forgot to tell us little things like we had to get our ticket validated at guest services if we wanted to come back for a second day on the Elmo's Passport. Get there early for Elmo's World shows. Plan to arrive at the park itself either a bit before or a bit after the gates open, otherwise there can be quite a line. For military families, they do offer some discounts, but you need to get them in advance. Getting them in writing wouldn't hurt either, since I saw a couple of families waiting for a bit and having to explain the policies to guest services. (This while I was waiting in line for over 30 minutes to get a print out for our second dinner reservation. I did it from the hotel and we had no printer. Try to book in advance and print at home!)
Oh, and the parade. It was great -- the second time. The first night we sat on the sidewalk side of the street and got crowded out. I missed the entire thing. Sit on the side of the street right in front of the Sesame Street buildings and people won't be able to get behind you and crowd you out. Even better, get on the curb in front of the flowerbeds to the left of the Sesame Street fire house -- you can ONLY sit on the curb there, so you won't have anyone crushing in from behind.
All in all, a great trip and I definitely recommend it if you have an Elmo-crazed toddler. Besides, it is the most sippy cups you can find in a single location! :)
Michelle
If you go, DEFINITELY do the character dinners. Yes, they are a little more expensive, but when you realize how much you will pay otherwise for fried food and how long you will wait in line, you can see the value! The food is decent, no wait to eat, all you can eat, and EVERY character will visit your little one at their own table. (Except Big Bird -- he is too tall to walk all over, I think. But he is right down by the desserts!) After overhearing someone else talking about how they waited in line for 2 hours to pay $20 for a hamburger, we signed up for our second night as well!
Stay at a hotel with a shuttle. You don't have to worry about or pay for parking (sure, you lose out on the excercize hiking from the parking lot since the shuttles drop you at the front gate) and they run frequently. We stayed at the Courtyard in Langhorne, but I think the Sharaton also had a shuttle.
On the downside, the week before Labor Day was a bit crowded, especially at the end of the week. Most of the staff had no idea what was going on and forgot to tell us little things like we had to get our ticket validated at guest services if we wanted to come back for a second day on the Elmo's Passport. Get there early for Elmo's World shows. Plan to arrive at the park itself either a bit before or a bit after the gates open, otherwise there can be quite a line. For military families, they do offer some discounts, but you need to get them in advance. Getting them in writing wouldn't hurt either, since I saw a couple of families waiting for a bit and having to explain the policies to guest services. (This while I was waiting in line for over 30 minutes to get a print out for our second dinner reservation. I did it from the hotel and we had no printer. Try to book in advance and print at home!)
Oh, and the parade. It was great -- the second time. The first night we sat on the sidewalk side of the street and got crowded out. I missed the entire thing. Sit on the side of the street right in front of the Sesame Street buildings and people won't be able to get behind you and crowd you out. Even better, get on the curb in front of the flowerbeds to the left of the Sesame Street fire house -- you can ONLY sit on the curb there, so you won't have anyone crushing in from behind.
All in all, a great trip and I definitely recommend it if you have an Elmo-crazed toddler. Besides, it is the most sippy cups you can find in a single location! :)
Michelle