Amusement Park in the Mall of America
Nickelodeon Universe is a kinetic cacophony of whirling rides. The park’s TMNT Shellraiser is a world-class coaster that delivers major thrills.
Aang’s air gliders let you soar like an Airbender — kids 48 inches or taller pay $50 for a ride-all-you-can pass. DreamWorks Water Park includes a wave pool, lazy river and the world’s tallest indoor body slide.
Nickelodeon Universe
Nickelodeon Universe is a one-of-a-kind theme park in the Mall of America that features rides, entertainment and shopping. The nation’s largest indoor family theme park, the seven-acre destination offers Nick fans of all ages a chance to meet their favorite characters, experience new rides and attractions, shop unique retail shops and enjoy a variety of dining options.
Nickelodeon Universe opened in 2019 as part of the American Dream Mall entertainment supercomplex. The theme park includes all-ages fun ranging from a Blues Clues toddler play amusement park in the mall area to the thrill rides for older kids, teens and adults inspired by their favorite Nick shows and movies.
Unlike many indoor amusement parks, Nickelodeon Universe is primarily lit by natural light and features an expansive glass ceiling. This gives the venue a sense of openness and helps guests feel as though they’re outside. To further evoke the feeling of being outside, the entire park is filled with live flora and fauna, including greenery hanging from the ceiling.
Unlike most theme parks, Nickelodeon Universe allows patrons to choose to pay by the ride or purchase an unlimited wristband or annual pass to gain access to the entire facility. For those paying by the ride, the cost ranges from a minimum of three points to six points per ride. For added convenience, all tickets can be purchased through electronic kiosks located at each of the four entrances to the theme park.
DreamWorks Water Park
Located within the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, DreamWorks Water Park is one of the largest indoor water parks in North America. According to the website, it offers 15 thrilling water rides and attractions. Splash into year-round fun with your family, friends or a date.
Float along the longest indoor lazy river and challenge yourself on a high-speed body spiral slide, or defy gravity in the surf simulator. The kids will have a blast in Shrek’s Soggy Swamp, Kung Fu Panda Zone and Madagascar Rain Forest. Characters from the DreamWorks movie franchise, such as Shrek, Donkey, Puss in Boots, Alex, Marty and King Julien, also make appearances throughout the day.
The main pool area features a splash pad and jungle gym, as well as a set of small waterslides, to keep the little ones happy. Around and above the wave pool are the more daring waterslides, including ‘H2 OhNo’, which delivers a near vertical plummet of 99 feet and ‘Canyon Cliff Jump’, which lets you jump off a 23-foot tall cliff into the chilly waters below.
Enjoy a day of soaking wet fun with your family or a group of friends, while avoiding the crowds. Depending on the day, you can save up to $15-20 by purchasing tickets online. You can also avoid the long amusement park in the mall lines by arriving during weekdays, when the prices are cheaper than weekends.
Big SNOW
Located inside the massive American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Big Snow is North America’s first and only indoor year-round real-snow ski and snowboard facility. Less than a 30-minute drive from Midtown Manhattan, the facility is a snow-filled gift to skiers and snowboarders who miss the sport when it’s not on the outdoors.
The center is climate controlled at 28 degrees year round and features a constant snow depth of two feet. The slopes are serviced by four surface and aerial lifts. The facility is equipped to provide a variety of on-snow experiences including professional and student training, family ski vacation preparation, corporate team building and private lessons for both children and adults.
When visiting Big Snow, it’s best to book in advance, especially if you want to ski or snowboard during the peak times of the day. This will ensure you’ll get your preferred time slot. I’ve also found that booking a later session is typically less crowded than the earlier ones as many people tend to take the first slots of the day.
The American Dream Mall is home to North America’s first 365-day, year-round indoor ski and snowboard park, Big SNOW, as well as a host of other exciting attractions and activities. The mall’s anchor retail tenants are Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, while the complex also includes the 12-story DreamWorks Water Park and Amusement Park; a 285-foot tall Observation Wheel; luxury movie theatres by Cinemex; Sea Life Aquarium & Lego Discovery Center; and an NHL-size Ice Rink.
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden has long been a staple of children’s literature and multiple stage and film adaptations have been made. This latest version helmed by director-choreographer Warren Carlyle and featuring Dixie Egerickx in the title role, boasts a top-notch production team that includes Emmy-winning scenic designer Jason Sherwood and Tony-winning costume designer Ann Hould-Ward. Both bring a touch of their respective worlds to the film, reimagining the garden with lush and vibrant colors.
The story follows spoiled young Mary Lennox, who is sent to live with her distant and reclusive uncle Archibald Craven after her parents die. He lives alone in the sprawling estate of Misselthwaite Manor and is constantly afflicted by grief for his late wife. While she is there, Mary hears screams at night from a locked and overgrown garden which her uncle had vowed never to enter after his wife died.
With the help of spirited and loving gardener Dickon (Heydon Prowse), Mary is determined to reopen the garden, which she hopes will heal her and those around her. Despite her disagreeable personality, Mary blossoms with the garden’s rebirth, and a close friendship develops between her and the secretive and lonely gardener. This new adaptation, like other versions before it, toes the line between magic and melodrama but succeeds thanks to a talented child actress and gorgeous production design.
