What is Nickelodeon Universe?
Nickelodeon Universe is an 8.5 acre indoor amusement park that will have more than 35 rides and attractions for all ages.
The only other one is at Triple Five-owned Mall of America.
Prices and park hours for Nickelodeon Universe were released last week. Passes range from $39.99 to $49.99 and permit entry for a set block of hours. Tickets for the first few days sold out almost immediately after American Dream started selling them on its website on Sunday.
Besides SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer, the biggest draw will be three record-setting roller coasters: the Shellraiser will hold the record for the 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 tallest indoor spinning drop tower.
Will there be food?
Concession stands will be open at Nickelodeon Universe on opening day, according to a comment made by an American Dream representative on a social media post.
The 100 planned places to dine, including two dozen sit-down restaurants, won’t be open at the complex until March, according to the developer’s chaptered opening plan.
How many people will work there?
The developer has been holding job fairs and saying it wanted to employ about 1,200 workers when it opens.
They’re hiring 300 lifeguards for the DreamWorks Waterpark, which opens November 27.
And when the entire complex is open, American Dream will employ about 16,000 people.
Where is it?
American Dream is adjacent to the Meadowlands Sports complex in East Rutherford, in Bergen County .
Its accessible from the New Jersey Turnpike, Route 3 or Route 120 .
The complex will have parking for 33,000 cars . There will be an NJ Transit bus hub onsite, NJ Transit train station and a connecting shuttle from the NY Waterway Ferry from Manhattan to Port Imperial Weehawken.
Will it cost money to park?
Yes . 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).
Will it be open on Sundays?
American Dream will be 45 percent retail and 55 percent entertainment.
The retail stores will be closed on Sundays because of Bergen County’s Blue Laws.
But the rest of the complex will be open seven days a week — even when there are football games, concerts and other events at MetLife Stadium .
That means, when American Dream is fully opened, you can ride the roller coasters, ski, play on the Angry Birds miniature golf course, visit the aquarium or LEGO Land Discovery Center and dine at one of the 100 eateries — and more — any day of the week.
Is it going to be the biggest mall in the country?
Nope. Not even close. American Dream will be 3 million square feet with 450 shops, services, and amenities.
Mall of America, owned by the same developer, is roughly 5 million square feet and growing . It has more than 550 shops restaurants and amenities.
American Dream will, however, be the largest mall in New Jersey unseating Westfield Garden State Plaza, which is about 2 .3 million square feet, but is also expanding.
Check out Alan Teccho’s column on American Dream’s indoor skiing facility!