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The memories flood my brain as we enter the Mall of America, in Minnesota. The mall days. Picking out the perfect outfit. Meeting up with friends. The excitement of what could be. Who would you see? Maybe your crush. Maybe they might even say hi to you!!! What will you spend your babysitting money on? Pizza and a soda? A CD? A new flannel shirt? A movie at the $1.50 theater? The teenage possibilities are endless. I rush out of the minivan, like a caged animal. What bliss, hours and hours of sweet-no-adult-supervision. Freedom. The teen version of me cannot comprehend what it would be like if that mall experience included a Nickelodeon Universe theme park.
We rope drop Nickelodeon Universe. Staying at the Radisson Blu, attached to the mall, makes rope dropping simple.
No traffic, no transportation logistics, just strolling out of the hotel corridor, into the mall.
There is no ticket booth. There are computer screen, kiosks, set up near the park entrance.
The kiosk spits out a bracelet, indicating the level of ticket purchased. We purchase an all-day-unlimited pass. We’re not sure how to don our bracelets, but upon entering our first ride, the staff secures them to our wrists.
Unlike most theme parks, you don’t have to pay to enter Nickelodeon Universe. If you are someone who is captivated by the energy of amusement parks, but not the rides, you can freely stroll around Nickelodeon Universe, soaking up the gleeful vibes.
Only a handful of people jump in the queues at opening. It almost feels like we have the park to ourselves. The rides are walk-on. By noon, the wristband wearers increase. By 3pm, the amusement area is mobbed.
Shannon rides Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge, sans me. I’m too intimidated by the drop. He liked it enough to ride it twice, but felt the coaster looks more thrilling than it feels.
The Pepsi Orange Streak coaster is a…ride.. I read a comment that it is a monorail, masquerading as a coaster. Agreed. It’s a pretty rattily coaster, whose best aspect, is an elevated view of the park below.
Nickelodeon Universe’s, The Fairly Odd Coaster, ties with Log Chute as my favorite ride of the day. Before this experience, I avoided spinning coasters. At this park, I decide to give the spin a try.
The spinning is more Scrambler whoosh, than nausea inducing Gravitron.
I believe that The Last Airbender, anime series, is some of the best young adult fiction writing ever. I wear my t-shirt and enjoy the photo ops, but leave the coaster riding to Shannon.
Shannon hops on more thrill rides.
Fly Over America is not included with park admission. We debate if the extra cost is worth-it, but figure since we’re here, we should go for it. If you have been to a Disney Park, Fly Over is Soarin’. It’s fun to fly around with different scenery from the OG.
If a park has swings, we will ride them.
Applause goes to the Sally Corporation’s sales team for Ghost Blasters. It’s a dark ride, where you gather points by shooting ghosts and ghouls with a blaster. I rode a version in King’s Dominion, and have seen Boo/Ghost Blasters at countless parks on YouTube. It’s gentle, and more silly than scary. The inside is a cacophony of neon and black light.
My eyes light up at the site of the carousel. Instead of just horses, there is an array of animals to choose. I am ecstatic for the kitty eating a fish.
El Circulo Del Cielo is the Dora the Explorer themed Ferris Wheel. If you like views, and taking pictures of them, I recommend the Ferris Wheel at Nickelodeon Universe.
The most anticipated ride of the day, is Log Chute. This log flume is from the park’s original opening.
Though the rest of the park is heavily, Nickelodeon themed, the Log Chute, celebrates, Paul Bunyan. It does not open until noon, and is the longest line of the day. Even if you have no interest in riding other rides at Nickelodeon Universe, get a one-time ride ticket for Log Chute. The drop isn’t scary and you don’t get wet. There is no other log flume where you will see a ginormous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
By 3pm, people swarm the paths and queues, and as we have a Minnesota Twins Game to get to, we exit the park.
There is a train station at the The Mall of America, that makes it easy to visit from or to other areas of Minneapolis.
Though there are enough activities at Mall of America, to spend a weekend without leaving the mall, a day is sufficient for Nickelodeon Universe. There is an excellent mix of kids rides, gentle rides, and thrill rides, to keep everyone happy. No matter your age, playing in a mall theme park, is a unique experience, and one you should try at least once.
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