SeaWorld ships out Elmo and his friends
The `Sesame Street' gang moves to a sister park in Chula Vista
Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch have bid farewell to SeaWorld San Diego as the children's television characters make the move south to their new permanent home at Sesame Place San Diego.
Starting last weekend, the Rescue Jr. kids play area replaces the former Sesame Street Bay of Play at SeaWorld San Diego.
The new play area combines fun and education as young kids learn about SeaWorld's animal rescue and rehabilitation efforts while enjoying rescue-themed rides, climbing structures and splash pad play areas.
The new kiddie land includes:
RESCUE BAY SPLASH ZONE ❯❯ This splash pad water play area includes a boat docked in a shallow-water rescue training ground.
Dry play area includes the Nautical Net Climb with swaying net bridges and suspended tunnels, Breakwater Bounce with an inflated airbag floor, and Tadpole Play soft play area.
Obstacle course has sea life-themed climbing and crawling elements, mazes and puzzles.
Ocean-themed play area for younger children has a rescue boat, plane, sandcastle and pier.
Kids learn about real-life animal rescue missions alongside a former rescue boat and pickup truck.
Animal conservation “ambassadors” lead hands-on experiences with rescued marsupials, primates and reptiles.
Three former Sesame Street Bay of Play carnival rides have been renamed with a Rescue Jr. theme.
TIDEPOOL TWIST ❯❯ Riders spin through a colorful tide pool (formerly Abby's Sea Star Spin).
You can soar through the air on a Rescue Jr. jet ski (formerly Elmo's Flying Fish).
On this swaying ride, participants hang on in a rescue boat (formerly Oscar's Rockin' Eel).
The Rescue Jr. themed land offers a kid-size complement to the new Arctic Rescue roller coaster, also debuting this spring. The snowmobile-themed straddle coaster takes over the former Wild Arctic flight simulator attraction space.
The switch from Sesame Street Bay of Play means kids and their families who want to see Big Bird and his friends will have to head to Sesame Place. The theme park/water park hybrid debuted in 2022 at the location of the former Aquatica water park in Chula Vista, about 20 minutes south of SeaWorld.
Sesame Place features about 20 “Sesame Street”-themed rides, water slides, shows and parades along with a re-creation of the show's television set and meet-and-greet opportunities with characters.