Sesame Place San Diego
4.1(4,959)4.1 out of 5 stars, 4959 reviews San Diego, CA
About Sesame Place San Diego
A compact, Sesame Street-themed amusement park that combines dry rides, character interactions, and extensive water features, making it highly manageable and entertaining for families with toddlers, especially during low-crowd off-season days.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with toddlers and young children who love Sesame Street.Parents looking for a less overwhelming, single-day theme park experience.Summer birthday parties and water play outings.Toddlers (2-4 years old): Ideal age group, with multiple accessible dry rides, parades, and character interactions.All ages: Water slides during the summer cater to older kids and adults as well.
Why families love it
- Virtually no wait times for rides and character meet-and-greets during the off-season.
- The park's smaller size makes it easy to navigate and fully experience within a single day.
- Fun character interactions, including the 3:30 PM monster dance parade.
- Excellent water slides and pools that are highly enjoyable during the summer season.
- Sesame Street character meet-and-greets and professional photo opportunities.
- The 3:30 PM Monster Dance Parade.
Insider tips
- Download the Sesame Place app before arriving to easily view the park schedule, showtimes, and directions.
- Pack toddler-specific snacks and food; although official rules prohibit outside food, security is reported to allow toddler snacks through.
- Bring bathing suits and towels even if you are unsure, as water attractions are a major part of the park in-season.
- Look into the Military Pass ($92 online) if eligible, as it offers unlimited visits and free parking for the year.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during the winter/spring off-season if your primary goal is to experience the water slides and pools.
- Paying full price for single-day parking at the gate without checking for pass deals online first.
- Extremely high parking fees ($30 to $40).
- Overpriced food, merchandise, and professional character photos.
- Occasional technical issues and ride breakdowns.
- Crowds
- Very low crowds and minimal lines on off-season weekends (e.g., January and April), even on Sundays.
- Value
- Single-day visits can feel low-value due to high food costs and a steep $30-$40 parking fee. However, season passes (like the $92 Military Pass) that include free parking offer excellent value for local families planning multiple visits.
- Food
- Official policy prohibits outside food and beverages, but staff are lenient and allow parents to bring in toddler-specific snacks.
- Accessibility
- The park features an open, flat layout that is easy to navigate with strollers.
- Safety
- Open, highly visible park layout makes it easy for parents to keep track of young children.
What parents say
"We visited the park during the off season for the water features, so really only had the opportunity to see half the park. My kids loved it and were pleased with the rides, shows and character interactions. As a parent, I appreciate the park being small enough to see in a day and that there were no lines for pretty much all the rides. Wasn't happy about the overpriced $40 parking fee and I felt like I was parking at a Walmart. The food was expectedly overpriced but good enough. We live 45 minutes away and would not consider the annual passes; it's not particularly special to return to but coo"
3 weeks ago
"We visited in April 2025 after reading a lot of mixed reviews, and unfortunately, our experience leaned toward the disappointing side. We bought tickets online in advance—which, in hindsight, may have been a mistake. It was surprising to see how empty the park was, even on a Sunday. There were very few rides, and to make things worse, a couple of them had technical issues multiple times throughout the day. The character meet-and-greet sessions were also quite limited, and most of them seemed focused on taking professional photos just to sell them later at a high price. The food and merchandi"
2 weeks ago
"Went with my family at 01/19/2025. I had a lot of questions before coming in here but couldn't find answers online, so here is some information that might help you. - Yes, pools are closed at this time of the year. - They currently open on weekends only. - Purchased military pass online for only $92 with unli visits and free parking for the whole year. Should be worth it if you have little ones and from around here. If you only have a single day ticket I heard they charge $30+ for parking. - Download the app before going so you can see the park schedule and directions! - Park is not too busy"
3 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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