A SPARKLING SEASON WITH FIREWORKS AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE FAIRY-IN-TRAINING ABBY CADABBY!
Plus Two New Shows,
More Dining with Characters and Continued Excitement in Elmo’s World!
Langhorne, PA (February 20, 2007) – It will be a sparkling Sesame Place season in 2007, when a brand new Sesame Street-themed fireworks show will be launched making festivities on Memorial Day weekend and July 4 truly memorable. Added to the sparkling line up this season at Sesame Place, the nation’s only theme park based on the award-winning television show Sesame Street, is the arrival of Abby Cadabby, the newest female “star” to shine on this award-winning television show in 13 years.
Opening May 5, 2007, Sesame Place, located near Philadelphia, in Langhorne, PA, is considered the first theme park experience for young children offering an exciting introduction to thrills and adventures for families with children two to seven years of age. At Sesame Place, a child’s favorite friends from Sesame Street greet them, entertain them and are the themes of the rides, shows and physical play activities. Here’s a short sample: Elmo’s World, the exciting new playland with three fun-filled rides; Super Grover’s Vapor Trail, a roller coaster, perfect for young families; Sky Splash, a
three-story water ride topped with an eight ft. Rubber Ducky and the “Rock Around the Block” musical parade starring all their Sesame friends.
New to the line up of Sesame Street stars is Abby Cadabby, the sweet, inquisitive enthusiastic three-year-old fairy-in-training, who will love making new friends. Abby appears in her own musical show called “Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Hunt” featuring an all-star Sesame Street cast.
Another addition this season is the new theme of the stage show Elmo’s World Live. A favorite segment on the television show, the new focus is on fishes! Elmo loves his goldfish Dorothy, and he explores more fishy fun with Sesame Place guests this summer.
A highlight at Sesame Place is dining with the characters and more meals have been added, due to popular demand. Now, breakfast, lunch and dinner can be shared with Big Bird and friends. Scheduled throughout the day, it is best to reserve these in advance.
Designed to encourage children to explore and seek adventure based on the philosophies of Sesame Street, Sesame Place is the first theme park experience for a majority of the guests. A longtime fan of Sesame Place, Rhonda Clements, Ed. D, who is the immediate past president of The American Association for the Child’s Right to Play and Professor of Education at Manhattanville College, says, “Parents are always seeking that one special experience that their young children will remember for a lifetime. While some theme parks are overwhelming for young children, Sesame Place is ideal as it was designed specifically for this age. And, what could be better than exploring with their families while seeing Elmo, Big Bird and all their Sesame Street pals!”
Robert J. Caruso, executive vice president and general manager of Sesame Place, has worked at Sesame Place since it first opened in 1980 and appreciates Dr. Clements’ comments about the park. “We have watched families come here since we opened in 1980 and observed parents beam as their children try so many new experiences like taking their first ride on Vapor Trail, our child-sized roller coaster, or splashing in a water attraction like The Count’s Fount. We value the opportunity to offer this first-time theme park experience for young children and their families.”
Sesame Place offers many stimulating play activities featuring exhilarating water attractions such as Sky Splash, live stage shows, the “Rock Around the Block” musical parade, the physical challenges of Nets n’ Climbs and memorable Sesame Street character greetings throughout the day. It is located only 30 minutes north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes south of Manhattan. Sesame Place is a division of Busch Entertainment Corporation, which operates Sea World, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove. For more information, visit www.sesameplace.com.
Sesame Place opens May 5, 2007. It is open Friday through Sunday until May 25th when the park is open daily. After Labor Day, Sesame Place is open weekends only until October 27, 2007. Single Day General Admission is $44.50, under two years of age are free, and seniors (55+) are $39.50. Twilight prices are $26.50 after 2 p.m. when the park is open until 5 or 6 p.m. and after 4 p.m. when the park is open until 8 p.m. There are varying selections of season passports such as the entry level Sesame Passport, upscale Big Bird Passport and platinum level Super Grover Passport with benefits throughout the season. To learn more about Passport benefits, Breakfast or Dinner with Big Bird & Friends, the line-up of special events and general park information, call 1-866-GO-4 ELMO or visit www.sesameplace.com. Please note that prices listed above are before taxes.
Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendarySesame Street. Today, the Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Sesame Workshop is behind award-winning programs like Dragon Tales, Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, and Pinky Dinky Doo and ground breaking multimedia productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Sagwa, and Pinky products right back into its educational projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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Flightly fairy Abby Cadabby joins the cast of characters at Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.


The Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania opened for its 2007 season this morning, adding Abby Cadabby to its all-star lineup of characters that children can meet.

Described as a "sweet, inquisitive enthusiastic three-year-old fairy-in-training" who loves making new friends, the character stars in a musical show called ''Abby Cadabby's Treasure Hunt''. Featuring all of the stars of ''Sesame Street'', the production joins ''Elmo's World Live: Fishes''.

Abby was not the first recurring female character to be introduced to ''Sesame Street'' since 1993, as press materials for season 37 of ''Sesame Street'' proclaimed; Phoebe and Googel from the short-lived ''Monster's Clubhouse'' segment both hold that title. She is however the first new female character since 1993 to show any lasting power.  Her performer, Leslie Carrara, says Abby will appear in "almost every episode next season".

The Langhorne, Pennsylvania attraction was opened in 1980, sparking robust commercial development in the town. While similar parks have opened in Irving, Texas, Tokyo, Japan, Monterrey, Mexico and São Paulo, Brazil, none of them managed to strike the hearts and minds of tourists.

Roller coaster Super Grover's Vapor Trail, the Sky Splash water ride, and the "Rock Around the Block" musical parade all return for the 2007 season, as do other rides, shows, and physical play activities.

The park is open Friday through Sunday until 25 May, when the park begins opening daily. After Labor Day, Sesame Place is open weekends only until 27 October 2007.