Ride Accessibility & Services

Our Ride Accessibility Program matches the individual abilities of our guests to the requirements of each ride. The Ride Accessibility Program is designed to allow guests to fully participate in the enjoyment of our park while keeping in mind the safety requirements of our rides and attractions. The program was developed based on the requirements of the ride manufacturer and by evaluating the physical and mental attributes required to safely ride each ride. It is our policy to allow anyone to ride our rides and enjoy our attractions as long as they meet all these requirements and such that it does not present a potential hazard to the guest or to others.

To enroll in the Ride Accessibility Program, all guests must present a valid IBCCES Accessibility Card at the Welcome Center inside the park.

Guests who do not present a valid IBCCES Accessibility Card will not be eligible to participate in the Ride Accessibility Program.

The IBCCES Accessibility Card is designed to help individuals with cognitive disorders or physical impairments identify and receive helpful accommodations at certified attractions worldwide. The IBCCES created the digital Accessibility Card as a free resource for individuals with cognitive disorders or physical impairments who need special accommodations or services at certified attractions. The IBCCES Accessibility Card helps you identify the accommodations needed and communicate those needs to destinations you would like to visit. PLEASE NOTE: Only IBCCES can issue the IBCCES Accessibility Card, not Sesame Place. The IBCCES Accessibility Card does NOT guarantee entry to Sesame Place and any special accommodations or benefits provided are at the sole discretion of Sesame Place.

The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are the only training and certification programs endorsed by the largest grassroots autism organization in the world, The Autism Society of America, and recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders.

To register for the IBCCES Accessibility Card, guests must visit www.accessibilitycard.org and upload the required information into a secure, online portal. Once a guest has filled out the online application and uploaded necessary documentation, they will be able to access their digital IBCCES Accessibility Card. Guests must show their valid IBCCES Accessibility Card at the Welcome Center inside the park to participate in the Ride Accessibility Program.

The following information will be required to register for an IBCCES Accessibility Card at www.accessibilitycard.org

Individuals requesting the IBCCES Accessibility Card for themselves or others must be 18 years or older.

Contact Information: Name, email, address and phone/cell number

Cardholder Information:

• Recent photo of the cardholder for identification purposes
• Birth date*
• Name of the disability/disorder (optional)
• Helpful accommodations needed
• Name of the attraction you are visiting

• Full name of the healthcare professional or education professional
• NPI number (Provider ID) **
• Their title
• Their phone number
• Their email address
• Statement indicating the guest has a disability or other qualifying impairment under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and/or applicable state law that prevents the guest from waiting in a standard queue. Please note that the nature of the disability does not have to be provided in the statement. If the disability is of a temporary nature, the doctor’s note should state the time period of the temporary disability.

Due to privacy concerns the nature of your disability/disorder is not shared with Sesame place. All requests for special accommodations must be made at the park when enrolling in the Ride Accessibility Program and our team will be able to make recommendations based on what's available. Accommodations are not guaranteed and there may be an addition charge for services such as a wheelchair rental.

If you or any members for your party have a food allergy, please contact [email protected] at least three to five business days before your visit. A culinary ambassador will work with you to provide meal options consistent with your diet, ingredient labels, information on cross contamination management at our facilities, and answer any additional allergen related questions you may have.

We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience, however an increasing number of guests are misusing the Special Access Pass and we want to ensure that we meet the needs of guests with disabilities and special needs who cannot wait in lines. A valid IBCCES Accessibility Card is required for participation in the Ride Accessibility Program.

The updated enrollment requirement of the IBCCES Accessibility Card is part of our continuing effort to ensure that guests with special needs have the best possible experience while visiting our park.

Yes, everyone who wishes to utilize the Ride Accessibility Program must register for and present a valid IBCCES Accessibility Card at the Welcome Center in the park.

Yes. To ensure fairness, the new policy applies equally to all guests who wish to enroll in the Ride Accessibility Program. The intent is to reduce the misuse of either program and is necessary because our ambassadors do not have the expertise to evaluate whether a disability, impairment or special need of any nature causes functional limitations.

Our new policy requiring a valid IBCCES Accessibility Card to participate in the Ride Accessibility Program is in full compliance with both HIPPA and the ADA. We will not require you to share the nature of your disability or special needs.

No. You should not bring any type of medical information or doctor’s notes to the park. You must bring your valid IBCCES Accessibility card but no other documentation should be brought to the park.

Yes, to participate in the Ride Accessibility Program, you must visit the Welcome Center at the park on each visit. You will be required to present your IBCCES Accessibility Card on each visit.

The card lasts for one year and can be used worldwide at any attraction or property that partners with the IBCCES. You must apply on an annual basis for a new card.

In order to ride the attractions, guests must be able to:

• • Maintain the proper riding position throughout the ride (e.g. brace themselves upright in their seat, keeping their head upright and their back against the seatback, maintain postural control while seated in a tube or raft)
• • Use the restraint device properly
• • Be able to hold on tight
• • Keep their hands, arms, legs, and feet down and inside the attraction at all times
• • Demonstrate a willingness and ability to comply with verbal and written rider requirements

Accessibility Guide (PDF)

Due to the dynamics and certain characteristics of the rides, oxygen tanks are only permitted on the bench seats of the Sunny Day Carousel and no other rides or attractions. Oxygen tanks are permitted in theaters, restaurants, gift shops, and other enclosed facilities.

Guests with a full arm cast, certain types of forearm casts, full leg cast, braced arm cast, or braces between the legs may be restricted from riding certain rides.

Guests with walking boots and knee braces will be able to ride as long as the boot or brace fits comfortably into the ride unit.

Guests should refer to the Ride Information section of the Ride Accessibility Guide or The Welcome Center to determine their specific ability to ride any ride.

Guests with any type of prosthesis should ensure it is properly secured before riding any ride. Guests should refer to the Ride Information section of the Ride Accessibility Guide or The Welcome Center to determine their specific ability to ride any ride.

Expectant mothers are permitted to enjoy the following attractions: The Sunny Day Carousel, Mini-Monster Clubhouse, Elmo's Surf 'n' Slide, The Count's Splash Castle, Big Bird's Rambling River, and Bert & Ernie's Splashy Shores. Expectant mothers may also enjoy all of our daily shows and our Sesame Street Party Parade. 

The Special Access Pass is an accommodation designed for guests with physical impairments and/or cognitive disorders to provide equal access to our rides and attractions. Our Special Access Pass gives priority boarding on select rides and attractions to guests who are unable to stand in line because of their physical impairments and/or cognitive disorders.

Guests who qualify will be issued a wristband and a Special Access Pass to be used for priority boarding on up to 6 dry rides and up to 3 water attractions.

The Special Access Pass can only be used on dry rides and water rides; it is not valid for character meet and greets, photos at Photos with Elmo and Friends, character shows, the parade, merchandise lines, culinary lines, and any other in-park attractions.

Guests using the Special Access Pass should proceed to the Abby’s Magic Queue entrance of the respective attraction and inform the ride operator they wish to ride. Guests will need to show their wristband and present their Special Access Pass to the ride operator. Please note that ride operators may not be able to speak with guests until the ride has come to a complete stop. Guests may be asked to wait 1-2 ride cycles prior to boarding.

Please note: Guests using a wheelchair who are able to safely enjoy Super Grover’s Vapor Trail or Oscar’s Wacky Taxi (based on their Ride Accessibility Sheet) should proceed to the coaster exit to enter these attractions.

To use the Special Access Pass on water rides, guests should proceed to the Abby’s Magic Queue entrance of the respective attraction and inform the ride operator that they wish to ride. Guests will need to show the ride operator their wristband.

Please note: To use the Special Access Pass on Big Bird’s Rambling River, guests should proceed to the attraction exit. 

The Special Access Pass provides guests with priority boarding up to six times on any of the dry rides at Sesame Place Philadelphia. Guests may choose if they want to utilize the Special Access Pass to ride six different rides or if they would prefer to ride the same ride multiple times for a total of six rides. Guests can ride the same ride a maximum of two times in a row. For additional rides, guests must exit and reenter the ride queue.

Special Access provides guests with priority boarding to water attractions up to three times. Guests may choose if they want to utilize the Special Access to ride three different rides or if they would prefer to ride the same ride multiple times for a total of three rides. Water attractions include:  Elmo's Surf 'n' Slide, Rosita's Seaside Slides, and Big Bird's Rambling River.

The maximum party size is four: the guest with disabilities or special needs and up to (3) riding companions will be allowed to access attractions using the Special Access Pass. Additional party members over (4) total guests must use the standard ride entrance. The guest issued the Special Access Pass must ride in order for their riding companions to access the attraction through the Special Access entrance.