Busch Gardens gives sneak peek at new 'Sesame Street' area

Now when your kids ask, "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?" you can tell them to go to Busch Gardens.

Construction is well under way at the theme park's new Sesame Street Safari of Fun attraction. It replaces Land of the Dragons, which has been a staple at Busch Gardens since 1995. That play area closed Jan. 5 and will reopen as Safari of Fun on March 27.

"We needed to be doing a better job for families with young children," said Donnie Mills, executive vice president and general manager for Busch Gardens.

Busch Gardens gave details on the new rides and attractions during a media tour Thursday.

Safari of Fun doubles the site's kid-friendly play area to 2.5 acres and features several additions sure to delight preschoolers. The Air Grover roller coaster is built and just needs the desert-style landscaping to be added. Billed as "your child's first roller coaster," it's targeted for ages 3 and older.

Construction is beginning on Bert & Ernie's Watering Hole, a new shallow-water play area that features bubblers, geysers, jets, water guns and more. It will be surrounded by benches for tired adults who want to rest while their little ones play.

Instead of the old snack counter, there will be a reservations-required buffet-style restaurant called Dine with Elmo and Friends. Several "Sesame Street" Muppet characters will be on hand during breakfast and lunch for pictures.

Not hungry, but want the photo memento? Head over to Big Bird's 1-2-3-Smile With Me for a character meet-and-greet. If your children are a little shy, they can watch the parade and stage show with the characters that will take place several times a day.

The exhibit gives a face-lift and a new identity to the Land of the Dragon rides. Mizzly Marsh becomes Oscar Swamp Stomp; Flutter Sputter becomes Snuffy's Elephant Romp; Riffle Rapids becomes Zoe-Patra & the Hippos of the Nile. In some areas, learning is combined with fun.

"If you take our children's car ride, The Count ride, it will be about counting along the way of the track," Mills said.

Some "Sesame Street" characters will also play a bigger role during the year. Rosita will be featured more during the Viva La Musica series and The Count will have a prominent role during Halloween, said Director of Production Scott Swenson.

Emma Hundt, a sixth-grader at Seminole Middle School, got a sneak peek at the construction site today. "I like it so far," the 11-year-old said. "I like how kids can learn some stuff by going on the rides."

The concept for play areas at Busch attractions based on the long-running PBS educational show "Sesame Street" was developed three years ago. Sesame Street Bay of Play opened two years ago at SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Street Forest of Fun opened last year at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. Plans are under way to open a Sesame Street area at SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas next year.

Safari of Fun attractions:

Dine with Elmo and Friends: A reservations-only buffet restaurant with character interaction

Air Grover: A roller coaster for ages 3 and older.

Bert & Ernie's Watering Hole: A water play area with bubblers, water guns and more.

Oscar's Swamp Stomp: A toddler water play area.

The Count's Zambezi Rally: A kid-size car ride.

Zoe-Patra & The Hippos of the Nile: A flume ride.

Snuffy's Elephant Romp: Ride up and down with Snuffleupagus

Elmo's Safari Go-Round: A carousel.

Rosita's Djembe Fly-Away: A swing ride.

Big Bird's Whirly Birdy: A Ferris wheel.

Telly's Jungle Jam: A hands-on play area.

Elmo's Treehouse Trek: A three-story-tall hide-and-seek play area.

Cookie Monster's Canopy Crawl: A three-story-tall net climb.

Slimey's Sahara Sand: A sand-filled play area.

Sunny Day Theater: A 10-minute musical performance.

"Lights, Camera, Imagination!" A "4-D" movie featuring the Muppets.