Most parents know that stressful moment when you’re standing at the entrance of a theme park and your kid finally looks up at a massive track of steel and says, "I want to do that." It's a mix of pride and pure terror. If you happen to be at Sesame Place Philadelphia in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, that "massive" track is almost certainly Vapor Trail. Honestly, it’s a bit of a local legend. It isn't just another kiddie ride; it's a legitimate rite of passage that bridges the gap between the spinning teacups and the world of high-thrill steel giants.
People often underestimate it. They see the Sesame Street branding and assume it’s a slow-moving train. It’s not. Vapor Trail is a custom Vekoma Junior Coaster, and while it won’t give a seasoned enthusiast a heart attack, it packs enough punch to make a six-year-old feel like they’ve just conquered the world. It’s been operating since 1998, which is kind of wild when you think about how much the park has changed around it. It has outlasted countless other attractions because it serves a very specific, very necessary purpose in the ecosystem of family travel.
What Makes Vapor Trail Actually Different?
The technical side of things is actually pretty interesting if you’re into ride engineering. It’s a "Large" model of the Vekoma 335m Junior Coaster. That sounds technical, but basically, it means it’s long enough to feel like a real journey but short enough that if a kid starts panicking halfway through, the "ordeal" is over in about a minute. The lift hill takes you up about 43 feet. That is exactly the height where things start to look small, but you don't feel like you're in an airplane.
The first drop is a curved descent. This is a smart design choice. Straight drops are terrifying for novices because of that "stomach in your throat" feeling. By curving the drop, Vapor Trail transitions into its speed—roughly 27 miles per hour—without that jarring vertical plunge. You get the wind in your face and the sensation of speed without the sheer localized gravity that scares kids off coasters for life.
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It’s all about the helix. The ride’s layout is dominated by these long, sweeping turns that bank fairly steeply. You spend a lot of time feeling "heavy" in your seat rather than feeling like you're going to fly out of it. For a child, that feeling of being pushed into the seat is comforting. It feels safe. It feels like the ride has a grip on you.
The Super Grover Factor
You can't talk about Vapor Trail without mentioning the blue guy himself. The coaster is themed after Super Grover’s flight, and the train itself is styled like a sleek, silver jet. It’s a clever bit of psychological priming. By the time a kid sits down, they aren't thinking about G-forces or potential energy; they’re thinking about helping Grover on a mission.
The queue usually moves fast, but on a hot July Saturday, expect to wait. The station is elevated, giving kids a view of the track before they board. This is actually a double-edged sword. Some kids see the train flying through that final spiral and decide "nope," while others get more hyped. Pro tip: if your kid is on the fence, stand near the exit for five minutes. Seeing other kids come off laughing—not crying—is the best marketing the ride has.
Safety, Height Requirements, and Reality Checks
Let’s get the logistics out of the way because nothing ruins a day like getting to the front of the line and being told "no." You have to be at least 44 inches tall to ride. If a child is between 44 and 50 inches, they need a "supervising companion" who is at least 14 years old. If they’re over 50 inches, they can fly solo.
The restraint system is a single lap bar that comes down over both riders in a row. This is the one "old school" part of the ride that parents should be aware of. If you are a large adult riding with a very small child, the bar will stop at the adult’s lap. This leaves a bit of a gap for the child. They are perfectly safe—the centrifugal forces of the turns keep them pinned—but it can feel a bit loose for a first-timer. Just put your arm around them. It makes them feel more secure and honestly, it’s a nice core memory moment.
Is It Too Rough for Adults?
Look, it’s a steel coaster from the late 90s. It’s not "smooth as glass" like a modern B&M hypercoaster, but it’s definitely not a spine-rattler like some of the old wooden coasters you'll find at Hershey or Dorney. The transitions are relatively fluid. You might get a little bit of a "jiggle" in the final helix, but it’s nothing that will require a chiropractor visit.
Actually, the most surprising thing about Vapor Trail is how much adults end up enjoying it. There is a specific spiral toward the end where the banking gets surprisingly intense for a "kid" ride. You’ll see dads with their hands up, genuinely having a blast. It’s a "family" coaster in the truest sense—it doesn't bore the parents to tears.
Navigating the Crowds
If you want to ride Vapor Trail without waiting 45 minutes in the sun, you have to be strategic. The ride is located toward the back of the "dry" side of the park. Most people hit the water attractions first, especially when the humidity in Pennsylvania hits that "swimming through the air" level in August.
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- Go Early: Hit it within the first hour of the park opening.
- The "Lunch Dip": Around 1:00 PM, the lines usually thin out slightly as families head to the dining areas or the parade.
- The Late Shift: Sesame Place often sees a mass exodus around 4:00 PM as toddlers hit their limit and parents give up. That’s prime coaster time.
Why This Ride Matters for "Coaster Training"
I’ve seen it a hundred times. A kid masters Vapor Trail and suddenly they think they’re ready for Kingda Ka at Great Adventure. They aren't. But Vapor Trail teaches them the basics: how to breathe during a drop, how to lean into a turn, and the fact that the "scary" feeling in your stomach is actually just adrenaline.
It builds a specific kind of confidence. When a child walks off that platform, they stand a little taller. They’ve done something that looked impossible five minutes ago. That is the real value of these mid-tier attractions. They are the gateway drugs to a lifetime of theme park obsession.
Practical Advice for Your Visit
Don't overthink the seating. Front row gives the best view and the "cleanest" wind-in-your-face feeling, but the back row actually offers a slightly more intense ride because the train gets pulled over the lift hill faster. If your kid is nervous, sit in the middle. It feels the most stable.
Check the weather before you commit to the line. Like most steel coasters, Vapor Trail will shut down for lightning or high winds. There is nothing worse than waiting 40 minutes only to have the ride op close the gates because of a dark cloud three miles away.
Bring a locker or leave your bags with a non-rider. There isn't much room in the cars for backpacks, and you don't want to be the person holding up the dispatch because you're trying to shove a diaper bag under your legs. The ride ops are pretty efficient, but they won't let you ride with loose items that could fly out during the helix.
What to Do Next
If you're planning a trip to Sesame Place specifically for Vapor Trail, check the park's official app for real-time wait durations before you walk all the way to the back of the park. Also, make sure your kids wear sneakers with backs—flip-flops have a nasty habit of disappearing during the high-speed turns, and nobody wants to walk through a theme park with one shoe. Once you've conquered Grover's jet, head over to Oscar’s Wacky Taxi. It’s the park’s wooden coaster and the natural "level up" after your kid decides they’re a pro.