Was I crazy to leave at nearly 11 PM and drive two to three hours into Langhorne, PA, check into the Sheraton, and be at Sesame Place Philadelphia the following morning for rope drop at 10 AM?
It doesn’t matter what you say. We did it. In the pouring rain. Rain so bad, that at midnight, I thought I’d have to pull over and wait it out.
Hands clenched on the steering wheel.
Hazards on.
Dropped down to 30 in a 55.
A few hydroplanes. It wasn’t the worst weather I’ve driven in – but it was close.
Why?
I booked a trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA, for my great-niece’s birthday party after I already purchased tickets for my daughter’s Junior Banquet. Neither were refundable.
My daughter didn’t want to miss the prom OR the trip. And, to be honest, I’m happy with her choice. This girl wants to have it all and I support that.
How is Sesame Place in Langhorne PA for a three-year-old family birthday party with kids ranging in age from 18 months to 16 years?
Short answer: Absolutely perfect. Even in the rain.
Park Impressions
Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA, just outside of Philly, opened in 1980, making it 45 years old this year. (And making me older than Sesame Place!)
It looks a bit more run-down than when I first visited with my kids in 2013. But maybe that was just the magical memory of visiting with my toddlers?
Sesame Place is one of only two theme parks devoted to the characters from Sesame Street.
It’s located in the Langhorne borough of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, putting it roughly one hour from New York City (depending on traffic) and less than 30 minutes from Philly.
There’s also Sesame Place San Diego, so theme park enthusiasts on the West Coast can join in the family fun without a long trip.
The staff could have been friendlier, but the characters were on-point – super-engaging and there to brighten days. The parade was undoubtedly a highlight and, while it wasn’t a Disney quality experience, the whole family had fun dancing along with beloved characters like Big Bird, Elmo, and Abby Cadabby.
The Coasters
My immediate family members are all roller coaster enthusiasts. My daughter and I set our expectations accordingly to visit Sesame Place. We visited when she was pre-school age and even then, seemed unimpressed by the rides.
With that in mind, Oscar’s Wacky Taxi is one heckuva first-time wooden coaster for kids! I even caught a little bit of air-time. But the real fun was watching my great-nephews raise their arms and squeal with delight. I could have rode this all day and never gotten bored; the ride op did let us stay on a second time when no one was waiting for our row.
The other highlight for littles with a “need for speed” is the Vapor Trail. Like Oscar’s Wacky Taxi, it’s a bit on the short side.
When my daughter was just five, she looked around when the coaster ended and said, “That’s it?” Her only comparison at the time had been the Lady Bug (now renamed The Rattlesnake) at Long Island’s Adventureland. So I’m not sure what she was expecting.
Both my daughter and I found Vapor Trail to be a lot of fun this time around. In fact, I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did! I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. Once I started researching, I learned it’s made by Vekoma, which also constructed the Rock’n’ Roller Coaster at Universal Studios Orlando and Six Flags Great Adventure’s new Flash: Vertical Velocity.
Upon viewing the stats for Vapor Trail I learned it is slightly longer and faster than Harley Quinn at Six Flags: Great Adventure, one of my favorite kiddie coasters of all time. I do like that Harley Quinn goes around twice. But at a park designed for young children, one round is enough. If a child is unhappy or not having a good time, they can get off the ride faster.
The Flat Rides
Sesame Place has a solid round-up of flat rides for the whole family including teacups (Monster Mix Up); Oscar’s Rotten Rockets, which I didn’t ride; the Honker Dinger Derby, which we rode multiple times and loved; swings, Elmo’s Peek-A-Bug, and a few more.
Elmo’s Peek-A-Bug deserves a mention as all 12 people in our party rode it together, representing three generations of family and four actual generations, from Gen Alpha to GenX. It’s a “Rockin’ Tug” ride from Italian manufacturer Zamperla and we used to have a similar ride at Adventureland. It brought back memories and launched a perfect start to the day.
The Waterpark
To get the most value out of your tickets, choose a day when you can maximize your water park time. The morning was a bit chilly. The two younger boys kept asking to go in the waterpark, but we told them to wait until after lunch. Little did we know more torrential downpours would ensue.
I remember from our first trip to Sesame Place 13 or so years ago, the water park is an absolute blast and a highlight of the trip if the weather is right.
Lunch with Elmo and Friends: Not Only for the Kids
The highlight of the visit (at least for me) was undoubtedly lunch with Elmo and Friends.
Unlike what you might expect from a theme park buffet (that’s not Disney or Universal) the food was absolutely amazing. I could have eaten three plates of the brisket. And it was super-easy for me to stay keto with choices of grilled chicken, St. Louis ribs, broccoli and fresh salads, including a caprese I was tempted to stuff in my bag for a late night hotel snack! (I didn’t – but I was tempted!)
I also got to meet up with my friend Ed from CJ’s Crazy Coaster Crew, who generously made this trip possible by connecting us with media passes.
The lunch buffet also had plenty for kiddie palates including mac and cheese, fries, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. Plus, they had plain pasta with butter for my picky daughter.
I didn’t glance at the desserts; I just went back for seconds of brisket. But they had cookies, cupcakes and other things for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Every child in the party (including my 16-year-old) received a plastic souvenir cup with a straw. I love that they gave my daughter, who is clearly not under 12, a cup without an argument. In general, the park has a friendly and welcoming vibe.
Places to Stay In Langhorne PA
If you’re a bit far for a day trip and looking for places to stay, the highway adjacent to Sesame Place has plenty of choices.
We chose to stay at the Sheraton, advertised as just 0.15 miles from Sesame Place. It was the closest and also the cheapest when I booked on Expedia. But we hit a few snags.
The $18 breakfast buffet was only mediocre; I’ve had much better breakfasts with more variety and more keto-friendly choices for free at Hampton Inn or La Quinta locations. We might have decided to give it a second chance on our second day and I would have ordered an omelet from the menu. But with so many options nearby, including Dunkin’ Donuts and IHOP, we decided to skip it.
The hotel was okay, a bit run down but the beds were comfortable and there were plenty of charging ports. There was also an indoor pool and hot tub, which was closed when we were there.
When I left a review with my thoughts on the website as a Marriott rewards member, I received an email response that said, “The hotel is scheduled for a full renovation this year.” It’s definitely time and I’m excited to see how they refurbish it.
One key point visitors should know: Although this is the closest hotel to Sesame Place, it’s not within walking distance. You can see the hotel tower from some of the coasters but, especially with little ones, by the time you made it across the streets and through the gates, they would be exhausted. It’s worth it to pay for parking at the park!
Sesame Place also partners with many area hotels to provide deals for your stays of one night or more. Definitely check out the vacation packages before you book. I booked through Expedia as I usually do and didn’t notice I could have gotten a third night free if I booked direct.
