South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
SeaWorld gives first glimpse of Sesame Street land
“Can you tell me how to get — How to get to Sesame Street?’
The answer: Carefully and in an orange construction vest.
On Tuesday, SeaWorld Orlando invited news media into an active construction site to get a first look at its Sesame Street land.
Construction workers dug up dirt and drilled, ignoring the gaggle of reporters and bloggers who walked by.
Work is on schedule to open this spring as planned, spokeswoman Lori Cherry said.
“It’s not being pushed back,” Cherry said emphatically. “It’s going to open in the spring.”
SeaWorld said it will release an official opening date later on.
Full-size buildings, like one that will become Mr. Hooper’s store, stood tall and gave a sense of scope to walk down this version of Sesame Street. One building had a giant cutout for a future door big enough for Big Bird to walk through.
Workers had begun laying the gravel on what will be the actual street where the daily parade will run. Concrete is set to be poured within days, said spokeswoman Amanda Trauger.
“The street’s coming. It’s happening,” Trauger said. “I’m out here everyday … There [are] things constantly moving and rolling.”
The daily parade through Sesame Street land — the first one ever at SeaWorld Orlando — will feature about eight floats and could last about 30 minutes, Cherry said. It will occur at least once a day, although the parade could be expanded during busy periods.
Characters will be on and off the floats with the goal of creating a street party to get children up dancing, Trauger said.
Characters such as Elmo will be portrayed life-size, not puppet size.
The TV show’s star himself, Big Bird, will lead a regular storytime for children in his nest.
Big Bird won’t be an animatronic but portrayed by a human in costume. The character’s voice will be recorded, so Big Bird will talk, and a SeaWorld host will assist with the children.
Reading time, which will be free with park ticket admission, is expected to occur at least once a day Construction continues on Sesame Street land at SeaWorld Orlando. The area is scheduled to open this spring.
and can happen more during busy times at the park.
The six-acre land, located in the shadow of Shamu Stadium, also features a wet and dry play area for children and six rebranded children’s rides to fit the Sesame theme.
The land consists of 22
building facades and some, like Mr. Hooper’s store, are built so visitors can actually enter inside. The store will house photo opportunities and merchandise for sale.
The majority of the Sesame Street land is faithful to the set of the television show although the theme park has worked closely with Sesame Workshop in designing some of the areas, like the brownstone buildings and a theater, that are original, Trauger said.
SeaWorld officials have not released an official price tag on Sesame Street land other than saying it is somewhere in the millions of dollars.
Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment is adding at least one new attraction or event at its 12 parks across the country as part of its new strategy, interim CEO John Reilly has previously said.
The other officially announced upcoming ride is a thrill water slide at Aquatica Orlando set to open in the spring. Infinity Falls, a raft ride through rapids, opened late last year in SeaWorld Orlando.