A new theme park designed to bring the iconic show “Sesame Street” to life will have a host of accommodations in place to welcome children with disabilities when it opens soon. The 17-acre park is the first inspired by “Sesame Street” on the West Coast and only the second such attraction in the country. The original Sesame Place opened outside of Philadelphia more than 40 years ago.
Sesame Place San Diego will be designated a Certified Autism Center when it opens to the public next month, officials said. Following in the footsteps of the original Sesame Place, as well as the other Sea World Parks and Entertainment locations such as Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and Discovery Cove.
As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place San Diego will offer designated quiet spaces throughout. All staff will complete autism sensitivity and awareness training before opening and there will be a sensory guide available on the park’s website to help families prepare for their visit, officials said.
The Certified Autism Center designation is granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. The goal of becoming a Certified Autism Destination (CAD) is to ensure visitors with autism or sensory needs feel welcomed, safe, and above all, have fun! Becoming a CAD means tourism, hospitality, and recreation organizations have completed autism and sensory sensitivity and awareness training and as well as other supports from IBCCES.
Certified Autism Destinations meet the following requirements:
Dedicated to serving autistic individuals
Majority of attractions and tourism-related organizations trained and certified in autism
Onsite audits performed for key partners
Committed to ongoing support and training
Sesame Place San Diego, which is located in Chula Vista, Calif., will feature a replica of the “Sesame Street” neighborhood complete with the 123 stoop as well as 18 rides like the Sunny Day Carousel, Elmo’s Rockin’ Rockets and a roller coaster dubbed Super Grover’s Box Car Derby. In addition, the park will offer an inner-tube adventure called Big Bird’s Rambling River, a 500,000-gallon wave pool with a sandy beach and other water activities. There will also be live character shows, parades and more.
PHOTO CREDIT: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
“Since 1980, Sesame Place has been a key part of the Sesame Workshop extended family and mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder,” said Steve Youngwood, CEO of Sesame Workshop. “Sesame Place San Diego will offer kids and families an immersive opportunity to play and learn with their favorite furry friends, and continue enriching their experiences with ‘Sesame Street.'”
The new theme park is set to open March 26, 2022. Are you ready to start planning your visit?
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