The grand opening for West Coast’s only theme park based exclusively on the award-winning television series, Sesame Street is only days away in Chula Vista.
Florida-based SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment and Sesame Workshop will open the amusement park on March 26, the second of its kind in the U.S. Tickets will begin at $50, depending on the day of the visit.
The first to celebrate the park opening will be Season Pass holders who will be invited to exclusive grand opening events filled with character meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, collector items, and more. The 17-acre park replaces what was formally known to many locals as Aquatica Waterpark, which opened in 2013 and had its final season in 2021.
"When you first walk into the park, you'll see a carousel with all of your favorite Sesame Street characters. It sits in the middle of the Sesame Street neighborhood," said Erika Diprofio, vice president of marketing at Sesame Place San Diego. "It's like walking into Sesame Street, the one you see on TV.”
Sesame Place San Diego will be open year-round with Sesame Street-themed rides and attractions wet, or dry, and it will feature many of the iconic Sesame Street characters, such as Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Elmo.
The park will feature 18 Sesame Street-themed rides, and water attractions, including a kid-friendly roller coaster and a 500,000-gallon wave pool – one of the largest in Southern California. Guests will be able to experience a musical play area, an interactive Sesame Street Neighborhood complete with the iconic 123 Stoop, daily live character shows, award-winning parades, and photo opportunities.
"Everything old is new again," said Diprofio. "There's a lot of multi-generational excitement and experiences with Sesame Place."
Additionally, Sesame Place is a Certified Autism Center, and it will offer designated quiet spaces throughout. All staff will complete autism sensitivity and awareness training before opening and there will be a sensory guide available on the park’s website to help families prepare for their visit, officials said.
The amusement park's opening comes as the coronavirus pandemic winds down and tourism begins to rebound from pandemic-induced closures.
“Since 1980, Sesame Place has been a key part of the Sesame Workshop extended family and mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder,” said Steve Youngwood, CEO of Sesame Workshop. “Sesame Place San Diego will offer kids and families an immersive opportunity to play and learn with their favorite furry friends, and continue enriching their experiences with ‘Sesame Street.'”
