SeaWorld and Sesame Street have just announced a partnership to keep the characters and shows from the Sesame Workshop series. Even more, the characters will be part of an all new land at SeaWorld Orlando, which will open Fall of 2022, and an all new theme park to open no later than 2021. The location of the new park has not been announced yet. After that, there will be an option for a third Sesame Place park, which will also be announced at a later date.
“We know that the magic of theme parks gives families a unique and powerful way to experience and delight in the Sesame Street characters,” said Jeffrey D. Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of Sesame Workshop. “Building more Sesame Place theme parks will enable us to connect with even more families and provide funding that supports our nonprofit mission.”
“We share Sesame’s goal of educating and entertaining generations of children, and the extension of our partnership furthers SeaWorld’s mission to provide guests with experiences that matter,” said Joel Manby, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. “We are thrilled to be able to grow the presence of Sesame Place theme parks in the U.S. and help our company diversify its brand portfolio and expand into new areas.”
“Expanding our Sesame Place theme park footprint will both deepen our relationship with longstanding fans and help us to connect with new families,” said Steve Youngwood, Chief Operating Officer of Sesame Workshop. “This partnership will also enable the Workshop to continue producing high-quality educational programming for the next generation.”
The partnership will extend the current relationship between Sesame Workshop and SeaWorld Parks through 2031. SeaWorld place currently operates themed Sesame Street lands in Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio.
The partnership also includes shows aimed specifically for kids in the parks. One of our favorites is the very musical, kid friendly, Elmo Rocks.
The Seaame Street areas in Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Parks are filled with family friendly attractions, and made just for kids.
While they are aimed at kids, the feature things like coasters that families can also enjoy.
SeaWorld Parks also owns and operates Sesame Place, a small park that is directly aimed at families with children aged 2-12.
The Sesame Place theme park features a variety of exciting family rides, water slides, live character shows, a daily parade, and seasonal events that help bring the educational world of Sesame Street to life beyond the show. Sesame Place also extends Sesame Workshop’s commitment to social impact work with its Sesame Place Cares annual series of events both in and outside the park, including a 30-year partnership with Variety–The Children’s Charity, focused on providing events with a safe and fun atmosphere specifically for children with disabilities and their families.
SeaWorld has had a bit of Up and down luck lately. The company has had a dismal first quarter for 2017. On the other hand, the Zhonghong Group just bought a large share in the company, and announced plans for SeaWorld Parks to start developing in Asia. The partnership shows a very real confidence in the SeaWorld brand by Sesame Workshop. This could also mean that there may be plans ahead for Sesame Street theme parks in Asia.
Currently, Universal Studios Japan and Singapore have licensed areas in their parks. That license could easily be bought out, and a new Sesame Place could be built in a major Asian market. That’s still a few years down the road.
More immediate is the announced Land at SeaWorld Orlando, which will most likely take over the parks Shamu’s Happy Harbor area. Even more immediate is the new park, which has just four short years to open. No site has been announced for the new park yet, but it is unlikely that the new park will be built in an area where there is currently a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park. If we had to speculate, we would say that the plan is to build somewhere in the Midwest area of the country, maybe St. Louis or the surrounding areas.
Speculation has also floated around that SeaWorld San Diego could get a massive overhaul, with half of the park closing. Half of the park would remain a SeaWorld park and focus on shows and rescue, while the other half of the park would be converted into Sesame Place. That’s a huge bit of speculation at this point.
It’s very exciting news. There will be a brand new Sesame Street park in less than four years! Where do you hope to see it built?
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