Sesame Place San Diego: New Name, New Look, New Coaster

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originally posted on 5/20/2022

Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.

With its grand opening on March 26 of this year, California's newest theme park is also the state's southernmost theme park. For those who ask how to get to Sesame Street, Sesame Place San Diego can be found in Chula Vista, which is about 25 miles southeast of SeaWorld San Diego and just about five miles from the Mexican border.

Sesame Place has evolved from the popular water park, Aquatica San Diego. Originally opened in 1997 as Whitewater Canyon, the park was renamed Knott's Soak City U.S.A. from 2000 to 2012. More recently, until 2021, it was named Aquatica San Diego. This is when the transition to the West Coast's first theme park based on the television show “Sesame Street” began. Although Aquatica's waterslides have remained, the refreshed park does seem like an entirely new theme park. In addition to the 10 water attractions, ranging from a lazy river to a mat racing slide to a giant funnel slide themed to Cookie Monster, eight brand new dry rides have been woven into the park with fantastic theming and landscaping. Instead of being in a completely separate area, the waterslides and dry rides are interspersed throughout the park in a unique arrangement in which park visitors can roam from one attraction to the other going back and forth between the two types of attractions as long as proper swimwear is worn for one and street clothes are worn for the other. This varies a little from the original Sesame Place in eastern Pennsylvania, where its water attractions occupy most of the back end of the park.

All the water fun of the former Aquatica is still in place.
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.

Super Grover’s Box Car Derby
Photo: Derek Perry. View full-sized image.

Of the eight new attractions, the biggest draw for ACE members is sure to be its family-sized roller coaster, Super Grover’s Box Car Derby. This Zierer Force 190 is similar to Air Grover at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Florida) and Grover's Alpine Express at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia). With the addition of speakers placed in the station and on the lift hill, Grover narrates the race as the countdown to the pinnacle of the bright steel structure raises anticipation of the drops and twists to come. Racing toward the station, the eight cars whimsically themed to various Sesame Street characters soar underneath the giant "finish" line sign as the train parks and gets ready to take a new set of racers for a lap. The coaster fits in with the other attractions at the park by providing gentle thrills for young, future ACE members and providing enough of a rush and fun theming for those who may have not seen an episode of “Sesame Street” for years.

Photo: Derek Perry. View full-sized image.

ACEers aren’t shy about a fun new coaster credit.
Photo: Derek Perry Collection. View full-sized image.

In addition to this attraction, a special feature of many of the park's rides is the audio soundtrack featuring not only original music, but also the characters talking to the rider during the experience. For park guests wanting to fully immerse themselves in the merrymaking of “Sesame Street,” Sesame Place offers some dynamic entertainment that is sure to put a smile on every face including those who relate more to Oscar The Grouch.

Filling the space of a removed slide, a theater has been built to showcase a brand new show, “Welcome To Our Street.” Featuring lively dancing and silly antics, this spectacular show will leave audience members humming its catchy tunes as they make their way over to the “Sesame Street Party Parade.” Traveling right down the middle of Sesame Street, the parade features many character favorites riding fantastic floats and dancing to high-energy music based on recognizable songs. After the parade journeys through the area, highlights of the interactive Sesame Street Neighborhood can be explored such as Hooper's Store, the iconic 123 Stoop and Big Bird's Nest, where the Sesame Street favorite makes appearances throughout the day reading to his fans during “Storytime with Big Bird.”

Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.

Visitors who have experienced the original Sesame Place outside Philadelphia will find some similarities with this new one, although there are enough differences that will make visiting Sesame Place San Diego a completely new adventure. One welcome similarity is that this park is also a certified autism center as designated by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. Staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training, disunited quiet spaces and a sensory guide at each attraction make it easier for everyone to have an enjoyable day at the park. Although California has received new attractions in recent years, it is rare for a new theme park to open up in The Golden State. Sesame Place San Diego provides an amusing escape for all ages with its varied family-friendly experiences and its more thrilling water slides.

— Derek Perry, ACE Pacific Southwest Assistant Regional Representative