The only west coast themed park based on the time-proven and award-winning show “Sesame Street” is opening its doors to the public on March 26. This is the result of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment’s partnership with Sesame Workshop, reinventing the former Aquatica San Diego park located in Chula Vista. 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. Special pre-opening Season Pass pricing is available now for a limited time.
Season Pass holders get the best value and will enjoy a full year of fun with unlimited visits and unbeatable benefits.
Sesame Place San Diego Vice President of Operations Lisa Aiu said that they are extremely excited about the grand opening. She said the park is about 17 acres, so with the Sesame Place park comes brand new attractions, its award-winning parade, a new Sesame Place neighborhood show, and full of walk around characters to interact with guest.
“We have reimagined water slides, meaning the former rides we had at Aquatica will still be here, just reimagined with all of our lovely, furry character friends,” she said. “And we will have several mechanical rides, including a roller coaster. That includes a carousel, swing rides, and lots of fun rides for little ones to ride with their family.
Aiu said the wonderful thing about “Sesame Street” is that there are so many families that for generations that have shared in the love of “Sesame Street,” but that it is a destination for all ages.
“From watching it as a child, and learning as well, it starts geared towards our preschool age, but where it ends is up to the generations that love the brand and love ‘Sesame Street,’” she said.
“How do you not love Big Bird or Elmo, or the amazing things that the Sesame workshop continues to produce as they educate children and the things that the keep putting out?”
Aiu said there are so many things in the new park to be excited about, but personally she has loved to see the transformation from Aquatica to Sesame Place since they first purchased the property in 2013.
“This transformation is coming to life even more,” she said. “With these characters, and these educational programs that will come. The Sesame Street Party Parade is probably my favorite. It is fun, energetic. Kids love it. They get to interact with our characters in a deeper more meaningful way than you can on the show, so it brings it to life. Standing in the street scene where you can the 1,2,3 stoop, and Oscar’s trashcan and Hooper’s Store, it is amazing. That is probably my favorite spot in the park, and it is right at the main front gate by our Sunny Day Carousel where you are surrounded by the Sesame Street neighborhood.”
Aiu said it is now much more than a waterpark with the seven new rides and new attractions, including the roller coaster. She said there is a theater that sits around 700 that will have a live character show, and the street party parade that will happen at the front of the park. Aiu said the food and drinks have changed, Hooper’s Store will sell all the favorite Sesame Place goodies.
“There is an all new interactive neighborhood for kiddos can interact in our neighborhood,” she said.
Aiu said that it also has Rosita’s Harmony Hill where the younger children can go around and play musical instruments.
“It is Rosita themed with guitar, it is really cute in the section of the park next to Big Bird’s Beach,” she said. “That is definitely a place where they can run and get that energy out.”
Aiu said something extremely unique is that the park is opening as a certified autism center.
“That is important for us,” she said. “We want to make sure that the park is inclusive as much as possible, and we want everyone to feel comfortable. So, we are excited about this and are able to welcome all of our guest in San Diego.”
When the park opens, the water rides will be open also, and some of them have heated pools or other heated functionalities realizing that it may be colder at opening. Aiu said there will also be seasonal events after the summer months, such as Halloween and Christmas seasonal events. She said that the park sells cabanas for celebrating birthdays. She said the park will also be celebrating the character’s birthdays as well.
Aiu said in getting ready for the grand opening, it is hiring around 900 people.
For more information, visit www.sesameplace.com/san-diego.
