Sesame Street Theme Park Coming to San Diego

Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Ernie have lots to celebrate—a new home on the West Coast! As Sesame Street’s 50^th anniversary arrives, so does a new theme park in Southern California that pays homage to the beloved brand. SeaWorld Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street®, just revealed the plans for Sesame Place San Diego.

Sesame Place San Diego

Sesame Place San Diego promises to feature all the fun, laughter, and learning of Sesame Street in a highly immersive way, with exciting family rides, water slides, live character shows, parades and interactive experiences that will extend the laughter and learning of Sesame Street. The original Sesame Place, currently the only U.S. theme park based entirely on the iconic children’s program, opened outside Philadelphia in July 1980 and has been a premier destination for families countrywide for nearly 40 years.

“We share Sesame Workshop’s goal of educating and entertaining generations of children, and the opening of a second park, the only one of its kind on the West Coast, furthers our company mission to provide guests with extraordinary experiences,” said Marc Swanson, Interim Chief Executive Officer, SeaWorld Entertainment. “We are thrilled to be able to grow the presence of Sesame Place theme parks in the United States, and San Diego is the perfect complement to our Philadelphia location.”

Certified Autism Center

Sesame Place San Diego will open as a Certified Autism Center (CAC), mirroring its Philadelphia sister park, which was the first theme park in the world to achieve this designation. Staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training will be completed prior to the park’s debut, and robust pre-visit planning resources, including a park-specific sensory guide will be featured on its website, making it easier for parents to plan activities that satisfy their child’s specific needs and accommodations. Designated quiet spaces with adjustable lighting and comfortable seating will be incorporated into the park’s design.

Sesame Place San Diego will be located on the site of the current Aquatica San Diego, extending SeaWorld’s commitment to not only the local community but also establishing this new park as a premier tourist destination in the western United States.

Artist renderings provided by TravMedia