What to Expect During a Visit to the New Sesame Place in San Diego

Since 1969, the award-winning children’s television series “Sesame Street” has charmed young viewers with songs and stories about kindness and inclusion.

And now, the positive vibes of Big Bird and friends can be experienced firsthand in Chula Vista, Calif., at Sesame Place, the second waterpark of its kind in the country.

Located about 25 minutes south of San Diego, Sesame Place replaces the Chula Vista, Calif. waterpark formerly known as Aquatica. Curling waterslides loom behind the entry gate, and the bright faces of Elmo and friends now adorn surfaces in every direction. Visitors will find 18 attractions in the park, most of them water features, so packing swimsuits and appropriate shoes is recommended. Colorful life vests of all sizes are conveniently available on large racks next to each water attraction. 

Given the theme of the park, I brought my toddler, Lottie, to Sesame Place’s opening weekend. 

She was mesmerized by the recognizable characters and decor, though in true toddler form, she was too frightened to take a photo with a six-foot-tall Elmo or Count von Count; waving from afar was just fine. 

Kid-Friendly Rides and Attractions

Lottie strutted through the “Sesame Street Neighborhood,” where you can ring Bert and Ernie’s doorbell and shop in Hooper’s Gift Shop, which is stocked with plush toys and character-clad memorabilia. She refused to ride Sesame Street Soar and Spin, a carousel of basketed balloons, but was happy to watch from below as her cousin and aunt twirled through the air. Then, we were off to Big Bird’s Beach, a 50,000-gallon, zero-entry wave pool with a sandy beach to one side and a cool picnic area on the other. The wave maker simulates ocean swells every 12 minutes or so, with Big Bird’s voice preparing swimmers for the fun.

Smaller children ready for their first waterslide experience will love Elmo’s Silly Sand Slides, where six shorter slides carry kids from the top of a “sand castle” to a shallow pool below. Kids must slide alone, so a brave and independent spirit is a must. Other waterslides in the park require riders to be 42 or 48 inches tall, so approximately 4 years old and up.

Fun for All Ages

As I looked for more rides to try with Lottie, I realized I was remiss in assuming my 9-year-old daughter was too old for the park. Though the television show is geared toward younger children, Sesame Place feels appropriate for tweens and teens (even thrill-seeking parents) in terms of things to do. On Cookie’s Monster Mixer, for instance, four-person rafts twirl down slides from a six-story tower. On Honker Dinger Dash, there are six side-by-side waterslides that allow guests to race one another to the finish line. And I could totally picture bigger kids making interube chains on Big Bird’s Rambling River, a lazy river with a nice current that snakes around other water attractions.

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As a parent, I appreciated the size of the park and its varying offerings. Responsible, older children could easily roam about, checking in every so often, while adults lounge on beach chairs. And there are a couple of ways to take a break from water play: Sesame Street Theater is home to a new, daily live show, “Welcome to Our Street,” featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita and more. On select days, there’s story time with Big Bird. And every afternoon, near closing time, the Sesame Street Party Parade sends guests home with a smile.

What to Eat at Sesame Place

There’s a handful of eateries with typical theme park fare for when you’re hungry ⁠— think burgers and waffle fries, hot dogs, pizza, Uncrustables and chicken nuggets. (Note that no outside food or beverages are allowed.) 

Our group sampled park eats while watching a colossal bucket of water fill up then spill over again and again at The Count’s Splash Castle. I determined that after a few hours in the sun with two toddlers, a peanut butter sandwich gives the boost of energy needed to keep going. 

We ended our park day with the parade. Lottie and her cousin watched from their strollers as high-energy dancers with jump ropes and hula hoops went by. Bird Bird walked the route solo, engaging the crowd. Other characters “sang” from floats and came down to kid level from time to time. Waving goodbye to so many beloved monster faces was a terrific way to punctuate the day.

Sesame Place