Sabrina's Brochure Spotlight: Sesame Place 2006

In case you missed all the fanfare on Google, Sesame Street celebrated its 40th anniversary yesterday. In honor of the occasion, I thought we'd check out the park version of this beloved classic. Commencing "sunny day" mindset...

Elmo may not have been around 40 years ago, but he is alive and well at Sesame Place today. In fact, he has become so popular with children that the park decided to add an all new Elmo-themed area in 2006.

Elmo's World was named after the popular Sesame Street segment of the same name, and represented the park's latest foray into the world of mechanized rides. Prior to the addition of Vapor Trail (a Vekoma junior coaster) back in 1998, Sesame Place featured only water rides and various types of interactive attractions. But the traditional ride selection has been growing steadily in recent years, and the arrival of Elmo's World was a sure sign that the park is interested in expanding its horizons.

Three rides call Elmo's World home: a pint-size tower ride called Blast Off, a Zamperla Rockin' Tug dubbed Peek-A-Bug, and a family favorite known as Flyin' Fish in which children can maneuver their fish-themed ride vehicles (all of which bear an eerily striking resemblance to the fuzzy red fellow himself) through an imaginary ocean. During our visit to Sesame Place this past summer, Mike and I indulged ourselves and took a delightful spin on the friendly Peek-A-Bug. We're not too proud to admit that we're just a couple of big kids on the inside!

1-2-3-4-5, 6-7-8-9-10, 11 12! [*cue cheesy but endearingly familiar counting soundtrack*]

Oh, don't mind me--I'm just counting all the rides and attractions that Sesame Place has to offer! This page focuses on all the traditional rides the park has added over the past decade. And yes, fellow coaster junkies, that includes Super Grover's Vapor Trail coaster! Since it's a junior coaster as opposed to a kiddie coaster, park guests of all ages are welcome to ride. The only stipulation is that you have to wear a helmet and a cape, just like Super Grover... Kidding, kidding! [But it goes without saying that I personally would be more than willing to do so.]

Water slides began appearing at Sesame Place in 1983, and they continue to be a big hit. The park features everything from water play structures to a lazy river to traditional tube slides.

Don't forget the "star" attractions at this park--its characters! You can meet them, get your photo taken with them, and even dine with them. Or, if you're more of the "spectator" type, you can sit back and relax as they perform for you in one of Sesame Place's many shows.

I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that the Elmo cupcakes which occupy a prominent position on the lunch table in the lower right-hand corner look just like the Elmo cupcake I enjoyed at Busch Gardens Williamsburg this summer. Judging from the deliciousness of my experience, I feel confident in assuring you that the cupcakes served up by Sesame Place are just as good!

Check out the size of this park! It seems our little Sesame Place is all grown up, no? It also seems as though Super Grover has enlisted his superhero powers to morph Vapor Trail into a hypercoaster. Wouldn't that be nice! Then again, probably not at Sesame Place. I daresay the true-to-life version of this coaster is just the right size for the park's primary clientele.

Since it wasn't emphasized elsewhere in this brochure, I'd like to point out my most favoritest attraction in all of Sesame Place: Nets & Climbs! This play structure, along with the other non-mechanized activities which surround it, is among the last of this park's original attractions. It's still around for a reason, people: It's FUN!

Now that we've sufficiently "swept the clouds away", we can all return to our regularly scheduled lives feeling youthful and energized. But in case you need a double shot, you can always revisit our feature story from our visit to Sesame Place earlier this summer. The topiaries alone make it worth a gander!