Sesame Place: The Insider’s Guide
You’ll Love This Park!
San Diego’s newest family-friendly amusement park is Sesame Place, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Located in Chula Vista, Sesame Place is one of the city’s few amusement parks located in San Diego’s South Bay. Featuring rides, water attractions, and interactive fun, Sesame Place is the perfect way to experience the world of Sesame Street with your loved ones.
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What to Know About Sesame Place San Diego
Sesame Place San Diego opened in March 2022! Since then, thousands of families have had the chance to experience a day of fun, rides, shows, and character experiences with the Sesame Street crew. Encompassing almost 17 acres and featuring 18 rides, including water attractions, Sesame Place San Diego sits on the former site of SeaWorld Aquatica which closed in 2021. The new park is open year-round, with select closures for major holidays. Be sure to consult the website for hours of operation.
Notably, Sesame Place San Diego is a Certified Autism Center which means the park and its team members are able to offer “specialized services to guests with autism and other special needs.” Quiet rooms, low sensory areas, and noise-cancelling headphones are just a few of the accommodations you’ll find at this theme park. As many parents well know, Sesame Street introduced an autistic character named Julia to the show in 2015. Julia is one of the many costumed characters you can find at Sesame Place San Diego. To take a photo with Julia, look for her in the Sesame Street Neighborhood area of the park.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Sesame Place San Diego?
One day tickets are available online for as low as $84.99 depending on your visit date. Kids under 23 months get in free year-round! Parking is not included in the ticket price.
In addition, here are a few insider tips to help you save money on tickets and dining:
-Buying your tickets online saves you $20 on each ticket!
-If you plan to visit SeaWorld on your visit to San Diego or in close succession to a trip to Sesame Place San Diego, you can purchase a 2-park ticket which offers a discount on regular admission to both parks. You can also buy a Silver, Gold, or Platinum Season Pass to both parks. These Season Passes also come with free parking at Sesame Place San Diego.
-Heading to Sesame Place San Diego with a large group? Group ticket discounts are available. You must have 15 people minimum in your party that are 2+ years of age. This can be a great way to experience the park with a few other families!
-Military Discounts are also available.
Best Places to Stay Near Sesame Place San Diego
Visiting San Diego? There are several great hotels that are close to Sesame Place San Diego and Downtown. The closest hotels to Sesame Place are Ayres Hotel San Diego South-Chula Vista, the Best Western Americana Inn, the Best Western Chula Vista/Otay Valley Hotel, and the Residence Inn San Diego Chula Vista. Looking to stay downtown and rent a car to visit the park? Top-rated options include the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego Bay Downtown, the Westgate Hotel, the Westin San Diego Bayview, and Solamar San Diego. Sesame Place San Diego does not have any official partner hotels at this time.
Looking for a uniquely San Diego experience? Consider a beach vacation rental! Airbnb is a great resource to see the full range of short-term rental properties available near Downtown San Diego and the South Bay. Many come with kitchens which can help cut down on vacation or staycation expenses.
What to Bring to Sesame Place San Diego
Be sure to pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a swimsuit, a light jacket, a hat, a reusable (non glass) water bottle, a towel, and a change of clothes for each person. You might also want to switch from walking shoes to flip flops for the water park area! A plastic bag or other waterproof container is also a great item to pack. Be sure to bring an external battery pack to keep your phone charged. The park provides free life vests for the use of their youngest guests, including infants.
Although no outside food or beverages are allowed into Sesame Place San Diego, you might want to pack a cooler in the car for a mid-day lunch break.
What Are the Best Rides and Shows at Sesame Place San Diego?
Sesame Place San Diego offers two types of rides – dry rides and water rides. Since Sesame Place stands on the site of SeaWorld’s old water park, Aquatica, you may feel a sense of familiarity as you and your family experience the water attractions. However, the dry rides are all brand new!
Top dry rides include the Sesame Street Soar & Spin, the Sunny Day Carousel, and Super Grover’s Box Car Derby. As all rides are aimed at kids, parents can be confident that their little ones will experience age-appropriate thrills and fun. Rosita’s Harmony Hills offers kids an interactive musical experience. Additional “dry” attractions include meet-and-greets with your favorite Sesame Street Characters, exploration of the Sesame Street Neighborhood, Storytime with Big Bird, and a daily parade.
While San Diego offers miles of beautiful beaches, sometimes you can’t beat the excitement of a water park! Sesame Place San Diego serves up a classic wave pool, lazy river, raft ride, splash pad, tube rides, and water slides with a uniquely Sesame Street twist. Parents should be aware that some of the water attractions are more thrilling than the dry rides and so might not be appropriate for kids of all ages. However, if you have older children and teens in your party, they’ll likely have a blast on the more extreme rides likes Cookie’s Monster Mixer and Oscar’s Rotten Rafts! Be sure to take advantage of the free life vests available for small children and babies.
Planning Your Day at Sesame Place San Diego
We have a few insider tips to make your day at Sesame Place San Diego a big success! First, check our “what to pack” guide above to be sure you have everything you need for a great, safe day in the park. Consider setting up a Cashless Wristband so you can make purchases all day without carrying cash or cards. Every member of your family will receive a waterproof wristband they can use throughout the park.
Lockers near the entrance are a great choice for storing extra gear while you check out the dry ride offerings first and wait for the day to warm up. You can also get those pictures with your favorite Sesame Street characters early!
To save time waiting in line, consider purchasing a “Magic Queue” upgrade. You can purchase this option for just the wet rides or dry rides – or both with the Unlimited Magic Queue! The Unlimited option gives you priority access on every ride, all day long while the other options come with some usage restrictions. If you want to save money, but still want to maximize your time, get to the park early and head for Cookie’s Monster Mixer and Oscar’s Rotten Rafts first. The water attractions get busier as the temperature climbs. During the last hour before the park closes, plan to hit the rest of the water slides and tube rides for the lowest wait times. Save shopping until the end as well so you don’t have to carry your purchases all day.
As for timing your visit to Sesame Place San Diego, some of the water attractions close for the “off season” while select seasonal offerings take their place. Plan to celebrate Halloween and Christmas in the park to experience the latest decorations and fun-filled, family activities.
Above all, make sure to have fun and enjoy your day at Sesame Place San Diego!