Six attractions will make up SeaWorld Orlando’s new Sesame Street area when it opens in 2019, though the park is providing few details beyond the rides’ names.
In a news release promoting changes to its annual pass program, SeaWorld mentioned six rides will open with Sesame Street in the spring of 2019: Elmo’s Choo Choo Train, Cookie Drop, Abby’s Flower Tower, Super Grover’s Box Car Derby, Big Bird’s Twirl ‘n’ Whirl and Slimey’s Slider.
“Guests will be able to take a walk down Sesame Street for the very first time, connecting families to all of the fun, laughter and learning of the world famous street,” SeaWorld stated in its news release, adding the area will also feature a daily parade, playgrounds and meet-and-greets with Sesame Street characters.
The new land is currently being constructed in what used to be Shamu’s Happy Harbor, which also featured six attractions. SeaWorld did not immediately respond to Orlando Rising’s questions on whether Sesame Street’s rides will all be rethemed versions of existing Happy Harbor attractions.
Besides Sesame Street, SeaWorld’s other parks around Central Florida will be adding new rides in 2019. A new “thrill slide” called KareKare Curl will be added to the Aquatica water park while Busch Gardens Tampa will open a new launch coaster called Tigris in the spring.
SeaWorld’s 2019 “Best Year Ever” promotion also includes additional annual pass options. The new system features four tiers — Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum –with the lowest-priced Bronze pass starting at $9.99 per month.
“We have dropped the price of an Annual Pass by as much as 30 percent,” SeaWorld Orlando President Mark Pauls said in a statement. “We have made it easier and more affordable for our guests to experience all of the excitement of SeaWorld and Aquatica this year.”
SeaWorld has credited increased sales of annual passes with helping improve its financial performance in 2018. Through the first nine months of the year, attendance is up 9 percent across the chain’s 12 theme parks nationwide, along with an estimated $90 million increase in revenue.