Sesame Workshop Set to Open New Theme Park

Seaworld Entertainment and Sesame Workshop have revealed the location of the second Sesame Place theme park in the U.S., slated to open in spring 2021.

Set for San Diego, the theme park will feature all the entertainment and learning of Sesame Street in an immersive way, with family rides, water slides, live character shows, parades and interactive experiences. The park will be located on the site of the current Aquatica San Diego.

Sesame Place San Diego will open as a Certified Autism Center, 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 as well.

The original Sesame Place, currently the only U.S. theme park based entirely on the children’s program, opened outside Philadelphia in July 1980 and has been a destination for families countrywide for nearly 40 years.

SeaWorld has been Sesame Workshop’s exclusive theme park partner in the United States for almost 40 years. Sesame Street Bay of Play opened at SeaWorld San Diego in 2008 and SeaWorld Orlando recently opened Sesame Street Land, a brand-new land with six themed rides, over 30 innovative and educational ways to play and the park’s first ever parade. There is also a distinct Sesame Street land inside the SeaWorld theme park in San Antonio.

“As we celebrate Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary, we are excited to share the news of a major opportunity for kids and families to connect with and learn from the brand and its beloved characters,” said Steve Youngwood, president of media and education and chief operating officer of Sesame Workshop. “The opening of Sesame Place San Diego will give guests a unique and powerful way to experience Sesame Street, enable us to connect with even more families, and further our educational mission.”

“We are proud to be opening this new park as a Certified Autism Center and are committed in our efforts to offer families inclusive activities for children with autism and other special abilities,” added Swanson. “Providing fun and memorable experiences through exceptional service is a part of that.”