Tickets may be sold out for the opening weekend, but lucky schoolkids will be getting four hours to roam through Nickelodeon Universe on the same day the long-awaited American Dream opens in a high school class trip unlike any other!
About 140 students, mostly seniors, will be taking three buses Friday morning from Henry P. Becton Regional High School to the theme park on its first day in operation, Superintendent Dario Sforza told NJ Advance Media.
Update (10/21) - Tickets for Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream are now available to purchase at https://www.americandream.com/venue/nickelodeon-universe/tickets
Tickets for opening day (Fri, Oct 25) are now sold out.
Parking rates have also been announced:
0 – 29 min: Free
30 min – 3 hours: $3
Up to 4:59 hours/min: $4
Up to 6:59 hours/min: $5
Up to 7:59 hours/min: $6
8+ hours: $24 (Maximum all day rate applies)
Update (10/16) - Pricing for Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream is available now at https://www.americandream.com/venue/nickelodeon-universe/pricing
American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey will finally open its doors on Friday, October 25th, 2019.
The brand new Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and the NHL regulation-sized ice rink will be the only two things inside the 3 million square foot development in the Meadowlands that will be open to visitors when the highly anticipated venue begins its chaptered opening.
The amusement park will feature more than 20 rides, including three world record-breaking roller coasters and a record-breaking nine-story ropes course. Visitors will also be able to interact with their favorite Nickelodeon characters and see daily performances on the Nickelodeon Slime Stage.
Chapter One, dubbed “Thrills & Chills,” was teased Tuesday in a video posted to American Dream’s Instagram account.
In the video, the camera sweeps through the 8.5 acre indoor theme park, passed towers adorned with images of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. Then The Shellraiser, one of the record setting-rollercoasters, comes into view.
Don Ghermezian, President and CEO of American Dream, posted to his personal Instagram account a video of himself and others taking an inaugural ride on The Shellraiser.
The Shellraiser will hold the record for steepest plunge with a 122-foot drop. Another record setting coaster, The Shredder, will be the tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster. Both rides are inspired by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And the Skyline Scream will have record for the the tallest indoor spinning drop tower.
Ghermezian also posted a look inside the DreamWorks Waterpark on Instagram. The camera pans across the 1.5 acre wave pool from one side of the 8.5 acre indoor water park to the other. A tangle of waterslides -- the park will have 40 slides in total -- can be seen at each end, along with construction workers and equipment.
The DreamWorks Waterpark is scheduled to open Wednesday, November 27, and will provide the second chapter for American Dream’s opening
Chapter Three will follow Thursday, December 5 with the opening of Big SNOW, an 800 foot long, 200 foot wide and 16 stories tall indoor ski and snowboard park.
And Chapter Four, the final segment, will open in March 2020 with 350 shops and more than 100 places to eat, including more than 20 full-service restaurants.
For the latest news and updates from American Dream, visit https://www.americandream.com, Like American Dream on Facebook, follow American Dream on Instagram and Twitter and LinkedIn.
From nj.com:
Nickelodeon Universe opens next week at American Dream. Here’s what it’ll cost to go.
If you’re going to American Dream for the roller coasters, the news you’ve been waiting for is finally here.
Admission prices for Nickelodeon Universe have been released with just about a week left before the amusement park is scheduled to open. But American Dream, the 3 million square foot shopping and entertainment complex in the Meadowlands, still isn’t selling passes, nor is it saying when they will go on sale.
An All Access Ticket for those more than 48 inches tall who are seeking the most thrilling experience is $49.99. And a General Access Ticket, which recommended for those under 48 inches and who choose not to ride the most thrilling rides, is $39.99.
Admissions are for specific blocks of time -- 10a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Children 2 years old and younger are free.
The only other Nickelodeon Universe is at Mall of America, also owned by Triple Five. The prices there are $49.99 for a two-day, unlimited ride pass and $36.99 for one day of unlimited rides.
American Dream is set to debut October 25 with the opening of a few attractions -- its Nickelodeon Universe, an NHL regulation-sized ice rink and IT’SUGAR, a 3-story candy department store.
The Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream, an 8.5 acre indoor amusement park, will have more than 35 rides, roller coasters and attractions for all ages themed with Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer.
It will also have three record-setting roller coasters: the Shellraiser will hold the record for steepest plunge with a 122-foot drop; the Shredder will be the tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster; and the Skyline Scream will have record for the the tallest indoor spinning drop tower.
American Dream will open in chapters beginning next Friday. Then November 27, the DreamWorks Water Park will open. Big SNOW American Dream, an indoor ski slope, will open on December 5. The rest of the complex -- 350 stores and more than 100 places to eat -- will be up and running by March 2020, the developer has said.
###
From nj.com:
American Dream opens Friday. We still don’t know the hours of the mall, or if parking is free.
They said it would open in March 2019. Then late summer.
Finally a specific date -- October 25 -- was given when the public could go inside the long-anticipated shopping, dining and entertainment complex in the Meadowlands.
Then the developer, Canadian-based Triple Five, said American Dream would open in chapters -- and not be completely finished until March 2020.
The waiting is killing us and the not knowing is even harder. We get it that a project of this size and scope -- 3 million square feet of prime real estate that’s expecting 40 million visitors a year -- is complicated. But the lack of information, now that the initial opening is days away, is frustrating.
Here’s what we’re dying to know most:
Will we have to pay to park?
If you read comments on social media, you'll see people who claim they know people who work there who swear you'll have pay $25 to park at American Dream.
Others just as adamantly argue they can’t possibly charge for parking to remain competitive with other malls in the area.
A spokesperson for American Dream has declined to answer this question.
What are the hours for the mall?
We know it’s open seven days a week, despite Bergen County’s Blue Laws, which limit Sunday shopping. But we don’t know when American Dream opens and closes each day.
The Nickelodeon Universe indoor amusement park pricing was published on American Dream’s website and it looks like the park is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 12 a.m.
But a spokesperson for American Dream declined to share hours for the entire complex.
How much does ice skating cost?
No pricing information has been released about the NHL regulation-sized ice skating rink that will open next Friday.
We don’t know if there are skate rentals at the 19,000 square foot rink or if you have to bring your own (or can bring your own) skates.
What is there to eat (and drink)?
Can we bring in our own food? What types of concessions or restaurants will open when American Dream debuts next week -- and until the entire thing is open in March 2020?
We’ve heard about more than 100 dining options, including food halls, celebrity chef-run menus, fast food and two dozen sit-down eateries. But all that roller coaster riding and ice skating are going to make us hungry for more than candy (though, there will be plenty of that. Giant candy retailer IT’SUGAR has said it will be open on Oct. 25, too).
An American Dream representative did say in a comment on an Instagram post that Nickelodeon Universe will have concessions. But what are we talking here? A bag of popcorn or a full-blown lunch?
And what about for the adults? Can dad grab a beer while the kids go on The Shellraiser for the fifth time? Are either of the parks going to sell alcohol?
How many rides are there at Nickelodeon Universe for thrill seekers and those under 48 inches tall?
We have pricing now for Nickelodeon Universe -- with passes costing $49.99 or $39.99, cheaper if you want to skip the record-breaking roller coasters.
And we know that those admission passes are for set blocks of time, not the whole day.
We also know that the indoor amusement park has 35 rides and attractions. But how many are for those under 48 inches? And how many will get your heart pumping?
Justify taking my money, American Dream.
Will we be able to walk through the whole mall?
Since only the theme park, ice skating rink and candy store, IT'SUGAR, are expected to open Friday, will visitors be able to freely roam the corridors of American Dream?
Will areas be barricaded off? Will visitors be able to see and hear construction?
Are only certain entrances and parking areas going to be used during the initial chaptered opening?
Are there really not going to be ANY stores open before March?
We heard that the luxury stores in The Collections wouldn't open until the spring. But about three dozen tenants -- including Bath & Body Works, Eddie Bauer and The Children's Place -- held job fairs last month to hire workers for the American Dream stores.
Why look for employees if you're not opening for six months?
And are all these merchants really going to miss out on the holiday shopping season?
Will there be season passes, memberships or multi-attraction bundles that visitors can buy?
Disney sells season passes. Great Adventure has memberships and bundles that include line-skipping privileges and unlimited soft drinks.
Will American Dream bundle a few hours at Nickelodeon Universe and a few hours at DreamWorks Waterpark, which is set to open Nov. 27?
Help us sustain our addiction to the thrills that you’re about to inflict on us.
###
From CNN:
Nickelodeon Universe, the largest indoor theme park in North America, opens this week
(CNN)All your favorite Nickelodeon characters are coming to New Jersey.
Nickelodeon Universe, which at 8.5 acres will be the largest indoor theme park in North America, will open on October 25 at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The park features more than 35 rides, roller coasters and attractions. Nickelodeon characters such as SpongeBob, Dora The Explorer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be at the mall to meet.
The roller coasters include one named the Shellraiser, which features a plunging 122-foot drop.
Since no Nickelodeon attraction would be complete without slime, visitors can enjoy entertainment on the Nickelodeon Slime Stage.
Prices for the park are available but it is unclear when they will be on sale. A general ticket is priced at $39.99. For those interested in a more thrilling experience, there is an all-access ticket for $49.99. Children under 2 are free.
Besides Nickelodeon Universe, American Dream's NHL-regulation size ice rink will open on October 25 with open skating, figure skating and hockey tournaments.
In November, the DreamWorks Water Park is set to open at the mall featuring more than 40 water slides and 15 attractions.
Mall has been planned since 2003
The American Dream mall has been in the works for 16 years. After false starts and multiple developers, it is finally opening. The mall is approximately 3 million square feet roughly divided into 55% entertainment and 45% retail space.
In 2018, a press release from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the $5 billion project created more than 23,000 jobs during its construction. The governor said the project is estimated to create more than 16,000 permanent new jobs on site and over 6,700 jobs in the surrounding communities
The retail portion of the mail is scheduled to open in March 2020. It will be open for just six days a week due to New Jersey's blue laws, which are still in place in Bergen County, where the American Dream mall is located. Blue laws in Bergen County make it illegal to operate most non-food retail on Sunday and have been in place since the 1600s.
The complex is ready for a flood of visitors with 33,000 parking spaces for those planning to visit by car. For those interested in avoiding traffic, there will be a new daily express bus route that will run every 30 minutes by NJ Transit from Port Authority to American Dream starting October 25.
The New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club has criticized the project over environmental concerns, projected traffic problems and government subsidies used to fund the project.
Triple Five Group, a private company is owned by the Ghermezian family, has developed mega-malls like the Mall of America and the West Edmonton Mall in Canada.
###
From the New York Post:
Nickelodeon Universe theme park opening at American Dream mall in NJ
Nickelodeon is coming to New Jersey!
The biggest indoor theme park in North America is set to open in East Rutherford on Friday. The 8.5-acre Nickelodeon Universe will feature some 35 rides inspired by the children’s network — including a Shellraiser roller coaster with a 122-foot drop.
There’s also a Slime Stage and costumed characters including SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Fox43 reports.
Opening day tickets have completely sold out. Admission prices start at $39.99 and children 2-and-under get free access.
Nickelodeon Universe is part of the American Dream mega-mall, which has been in the works since 2003 and consists of 16 enclosed acres including a 300-foot-tall observation wheel, indoor skiing, ice rink, Legoland Discovery Center, Sea Life aquarium and a sprawling DreamWorks water park.
There will be 450 shops — from the high-end Hermès and Barneys to fast-fashion spots Zara and H&M — and a 38,000-square-foot food court. The mall is adjacent to MetLife stadium and is owned by Triple Five Group, a private company that also developed Minnesota’s Mall of America.
Nickelodeon Universe will be open from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday.
NY Waterway will run a combination ferry and bus service from Manhattan to the mall. For those looking for the luxury commuting experience, there will also be a helicopter option.
###
From nj.com:
Parking at American Dream will cost you. Here’s how much.
Parking at American Dream, the mega-mall opening this Friday in the Meadowlands, is going to cost you.
And it could cost a lot depending what else is going on that day in the complex.
On a regular day, the following parking rates are in effect:
0 – 29 min: Free
30 min - 3 hours: $3
Up to 4:59 hours/min: $4
Up to 6:59 hours/min: $5
Up to 7:59 hours/min: $6
8+ hours: $24 (Maximum all day rate applies)
(So if you’re pushing that 8-hour mark, you might want to sprint to your car before the parking fee jumps EIGHTEEN dollars!)
If there’s a football game, concert or other event at the neighboring MetLife stadium, event parking pricing is in effect at American Dream’s parking lot, too.
So it will cost you $30 to park at American Dream for any amount of time. You can, however, get your parking validated on those event days with the purchase of a Nickelodeon Universe ticket (which costs $39.99 or $49.99). Nickelodeon tickets went on sale Sunday afternoon, and are already selling out.
And if you’re looking for full service, valet parking is $10 -- plus the standard parking rates.
Overnight parking is not allowed.
Here’s the good news: American Dream won’t charge for parking this weekend (Oct. 25-27) during its special preview.
There are 11,000 parking spaces on-site at American Dream and they share 22,000 with MetLife stadium on non-event days, Dana McHugh, a spokeswoman for American Dream, said.
American Dream will officially open Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. It will be open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Its regular hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 1 a.m.
The Nickelodeon theme park and an NHL-sized ice skating rink are the only attractions expected to open Friday. The rest of the 3 million square foot complex will open in phases through March 2020.
News that the tickets for Nickelodeon Universe were available for purchase went live Sunday at about 3:30 p.m. on American Dream’s Instagram story. By Monday morning, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning were already sold out.
Tickets for dates extending to Nov. 7 are currently on sale online, said McHugh.
American Dream announced pricing last week for the park.
An All Access Ticket for those more than 48 inches tall who are seeking the most thrilling experience is $49.99. And a General Access Ticket, which recommended for those under 48 inches and who choose not to ride the most thrilling rides, is $39.99.
Admissions are for specific blocks of time -- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
There will not be direct train service to American Dream. Instead, you can drive, or take the bus or a ferry to get there.
###
From the Associated Press via northjersey.com:
American Dream's Nickelodeon Universe sells out for opening weekend
EAST RUTHERFORD — If you're planning to go to the new American Dream mall's main attraction this weekend, you may be out of luck.
Passes for afternoon and evening sessions at the mall's Nickelodeon Universe are sold out for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to American Dream's website.
The mall opens Friday next to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Other attractions will open over the next several months. The full complement of dining, entertainment and retail outlets will open by spring.
A smaller version of the multibillion-dollar complex was approved in 2003 but was delayed by financing problems.
It was eventually taken over by Triple Five, which owns the Mall of America in Minnesota.
The company projects American Dream could attract 40 million visitors in its first year.
###
From Patch.com:
American Dream Nickelodeon Park Preview Tickets Sell Out: Report
Tickets for the 3-day special preview sold out in less than 24 hours, according to a report.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Tickets for opening weekend of the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park at American Dream sold out in less than 24 hours, according to a report.
During the mall's official unveil Friday, Nickelodeon Universe is hosting a special preview, featuring timed ticketing and limited availability.
NJ.com reported that the tickets – which ranged from $39.99 to $49.99 – went on sale Sunday afternoon and were snatched up by the following morning for the opening weekend event.
While tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday are sold out, tickets for dates through Nov. 7 are currently available on American Dream's website.
Pricing for the theme park was announced last week. For guests who are seeking to ride more thrilling experiences, an all access ticket costs $49.99. A general access ticket - which is for those who won't be going on thrill ride - a park visit costs $39.99. Children two years and younger will be admitted for free.
The 8.5-acre park will feature more than 35 rides and attractions based on Nickelodeon's iconic characters, like Spongebob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer. There will also be games, retail, shows, entertainment and restaurants.
The mall's grand opening is scheduled for Friday, however, shopping, dining and attractions at the $5 billion complex will open in four phases.
During opening weekend, it'll be open Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. After that, its regular hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday through Sunday.
However, since the mall is located in Bergen County – where the blue laws make it illegal to operate retail on Sunday – the retail portion of American Dream won't be open for business one day a week. The mall consists of about 55% entertainment and 45% retail space.
During the initial opening, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and The Rink will be open.
The DreamWorks Water Park is set to open Nov. 27, followed by Big SNOW, the country's only indoor real-snow park, on Dec. 5. By March 2020, the mall's 350 retail stores will be open for business.
Altogether, the 3-million square foot mall will contain more than two-dozen restaurants, a Coca-Cola-branded food court and three food halls, giving patrons altogether more than 100 options for dining.
A few highlights include: Nickelodeon Universe theme park with the steepest roller coaster in the world, the first indoor ski and snowboard park in the Western Hemisphere, and first Sea Life Aquarium in New Jersey with a walk-through, saltwater tunnel.
It was originally slated to open in 2017, but Triple Five pushed back the completion date due to difficulties it faced securing the financing.
###
From nj.com:
N.J. high school kids getting a free field trip to American Dream on opening day
It is a high school class trip unlike any other: Getting four hours to roam through Nickelodeon Universe on the same day the long-awaited American Dream opens.
About 140 students, mostly seniors, will be taking three buses Friday morning from Henry P. Becton Regional High School to the theme park on its first day in operation, Superintendent Dario Sforza told NJ Advance Media.
Sforza said American Dream extended an invitation and is waiving the theme park admission fee, which runs up to $49.99 per ticket, for the visiting students.
“It’s as if Walt Disney had invited Orlando high school students to check it out,” Sforza said in making an analogy to the world’s most storied theme park, Walt Disney World.
Both the high school and American Dream are in East Rutherford.
A spokesperson for American Dream confirmed the high school group is visiting, free of charge, and that the theme park is opening at 10 a.m. Friday, thirty minutes before the students will arrive.
“It would be accurate to say they are one of the first to experience American Dream,” said the spokesperson, Dana McHugh.
The hastily-arranged visit, classified as an “extracurricular field trip,” was approved Oct. 16 by the Carlstadt/East Rutherford Regional school board, Sforza said. He is the superintendent of the school district and the high school’s principal.
Sforza said the students will arrive at Nickelodeon Universe at 10:30 a.m., and depart at 2:30 p.m. He said American Dream offered to let the students stay as late as 5 p.m. Friday but there wasn’t enough time for school officials to plan such an extended outing.
Sforza said opening day is “pretty historic” for both East Rutherford and New Jersey.
“We definitely wanted to take advantage of it, and we also wanted to welcome them to the community, with open arms," he said.
American Dream has said little publicly about opening day, Friday.
McHugh, contacted Friday, said, “We are sold out opening weekend," but declined to say how many tickets were sold.
Nickelodeon Universe will have more than 35 rides and attractions including three record-setting roller coasters: the Shellraiser will hold the record for steepest plunge with a 122-foot drop; the Shredder will be the tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster; and the Skyline Scream will hold the record for the tallest indoor spinning drop tower.
The theme park is one of only two venues at American Dream, a massive shopping, dining and entertainment complex in the works for 17 years, opening on Friday.
The others are arriving in stages through the first half of 2020.
Elaborating on Friday’s visit, Sforza said that two classroom representatives from the freshmen, sophomore and junior years will accompany the seniors on the trip, along with members of the school’s new television studio and broadcasting unit.
Sforza said that the high school, beyond Friday’s visit, is envisioning various partnerships with American Dream, including internships and job placements.
Henry P. Becton Regional High School enrolls students from East Rutherford and Carlstadt.
“We talk about them ‘living the American dream.’ Now we are home to the American Dream," Sforza said.
###
From nj.com:
Nickelodeon Universe rides open at American Dream. Here are 10 we know of, so far.
Nickelodeon Universe is scheduled to open Friday at American Dream . (I hope you got your ticket because it’s sold out for its first three days of operation).
At 8.5 acres and with 35 rides and attractions it will be the largest indoor amusement park in the country, unseating the 7-acre Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America, another Triple Five-owned property.
American Dream has not yet released a list of Nickelodeon Universe rides or a map of the park — nor an American Dream mall map or app. But through social media and industry events we’ve gathered information about 10 Nickelodeon Universe rides.
Here they are:
1. Timmy’s Half Pipe Havoc - “Take a not so ordinary spin with Timmy, Cosmo and Wanda,” American Dream said on Instagram, of this ride themed after The Fairly OddParents.
2. Rugrats Reptar Go-Round, a double-decker carousel for all ages.
3. Dora’s Sky Railway will offer scenic views of Nickelodeon Universe from elevated tracks, American Dream has said on social media.
4. Blue Skidoo! Soar up and down with Blue’s Clues characters Blue and Magenta.
5. The Shellraiser is from German-based ride manufacturer Gerstlauer, and the model is referred to as the “Eurofighter.” It will hold the record as the steepest plunge on a rollercoaster in the world.
The ride will pause at the top of a 122-foot drop, giving riders a glimpse of New York City, across the Hudson River.
6. The Shredder is another Gerstlauer model and it will hold the record for being the tallest and longest free-spinning roller coaster.
7. Sandy’s Blasting Bronco a roller coaster named after SpongeBob SquarePants’ dive suit-wearing friend, Sandy Cheeks.
8. Bikini Bottom Crosstown Express “a spinning, exhilarating ride through the streets of Bikini Bottom,” American Dream as said on social media.
9. Slime Streak, manufactured by Kansas-based Chance Rides, is less heart-pounding and more family-oriented than the record-setting roller coasters planned for American Dream.
10. Skyline Scream is the world’s tallest indoor spinning drop tower, offering spectacular views of Manhattan and beyond.
###
More Nick: Celebrate Halloween at Nickelodeon Boo-niverse at Mall of America!
Originally published: Thursday, September 26, 2019.
Additional sources: pennlive.com, Sky Statement, delish, silive.com, FanSided, POPSUGAR UK Parenting.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream News and Highlights!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have your say by leaving a comment below! NickALive! welcomes friendly and respectful comments. Please familiarize with the blog's Comment Policy before commenting. All new comments are moderated and won't appear straight away.