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The American Dream building looms in the distance as cars brave the chaotic, New Jersey Turnpike. The building is either a glowing beacon of fun, or a monstrous blight. It is in the eye of the beholder. Our goal is fun and involves visiting Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream.
Most people consider American Dream a mall. It was built with mall in mind, but after multiple bankruptcies, and corporate changes, the concept evolved. Today, especially the younger generations, are less interested in accumulating stuff, and are more interested in spending money on experiences. Although a percentage of American Dream is devoted to retail, the majority is devoted to entertainment. There is an indoor ski resort, ice skating rink, mini-golf course, a mirror maze, and indoor water and amusement parks.
In our travel era of Parks, Parks, and Parks, we are keen to visit American Dream’s, Nickelodeon Universe, indoor theme park. Currently, an unlimited ride day-pass, is $59. It is close to dinner time, as we stop by American Dream. The day was spent visiting Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. Getting a full day-pass, doesn’t make sense, but Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream has something I wish all parks offered, a Twilight Ticket. For the discounted price of $45, you have unlimited access to the rides, for two hours, before the park closes. The Twilight Pass is the same price that we paid for an all-day, unlimited ride pass, at Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America in Minnesota. Since American Dream’s Nickelodeon theming is calling to the hyper, child-like, fangirl, within, we pay.
It’s a Wednesday night. We share the park with a group of well-behaved teenagers, on a school trip, but otherwise, the park is fairly empty.
Rollercoasters first, we jump on the Slime Streak. A steel, family coaster, Slime Streak has a more thrilling layout and larger drops, than Mall of America’s Pepsi Orange Streak. Slime Streak is fun to ride once, but overall, it’s pretty jerky.
When Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream opened, the TMNT Shellraiser, was hailed as the steepest roller coaster in the world. Though the coaster is over my thrill limit, Shannon looked forward to riding. Sadly the coaster has been closed for quite some time. There are various stories as to why the coaster no longer operates, but those who did ride it in the past, reported that when the car reached the top of the hill, the supports wildly wobbled. The coaster cannot reopen until the supports are fixed. When that will be is unknown.
One of the trends that appear to be popping up at every theme and amusement park is the spinning roller coaster. Spinning Coasters are just Wild Mouse coasters, jazzed up, with spinning cars. Spinning coasters seem like a gimmick. The spinning doesn’t add anything to the fun or thrill, if anything, spinning, alienates those who get easily nauseated. American Dream’s spinning coaster is The Shredder. The biggest entertainment of this coaster, is the nervous banter between the group of teenage boys ahead of us in line. This was their first spinning coaster. The ride is okay. At Mall of America, the Fairly Oddparents Spinning Coaster, has a longer, more open track, providing spots where riders experience lovely, breezy, whooshing, glides. Shedder is tightly, compact, making the spinning pointless.
Shannon rides Sandy’s Blasting Bronco coaster. Though nowadays, coasters that go forward and backwards are nothing new, Sandy’s accomplishes this in a unique way. The coaster launches and completes the layout forwards. The train returns to the station, makes a 180 degree turn on a turnstile, then launches backwards. The ride is thrilling, and most people who exit, run straight for the entrance to ride again. With Shellraiser unavailable, it is the best coaster in the park.
There are two teams when it comes to the Surf Rider. Team, they are a roller coasters, and team, they aren’t a roller coaster and are their own type of ride. Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream advertises Timmy’s Half-Pipe Havoc, Surf Rider, as a roller coaster.
A majority of the thrill rides contained in Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream are the same as the thrill rides at the Mall of America park, with different names.
Shannon rides the insane looking Kraang Prime Pandemonium! pendulum ride.
Most theme parks now have a drop tower ride, the Nickelodeon Sky Scream, has a few distinctions. First, it is the tallest indoor drop tower, in the world. The best feature, is that the very top of the ride is a glass enclosure, giving riders a wonderful view of the New York City skyline. Not enjoying dramatic drops, I remain grounded. Shannon said that the view was worth the ride. He wanted to ride multiple times, but shortly after his ride, the drop tower broke down and did not function for the rest of our visit.
There are two rides I am most excited to ride at Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream. The first is Sponge Bob’s Jellyfish Jam. Am I excited just because it’s a swing ride that’s Sponge Bob themed? Yes.
After the ride Shannon and I agree that Jellyfish Jam is the fastest and scariest swing ride we’ve ridden thus far. I thought it was great fun, but if you are expecting a peaceful, leisurely, go-round, you’ve been warned.
Finally it is time. Already a carousel/merry-go-round enthusiast, I am extra delighted by a quirky, creative, carousel.
Nickelodeon Rugrats fans can revel in the ability to ride Rugrats Reptar-Go-Round. Visitors get to ride on their very own Reptar, while being serenaded by the Rugrats theme song. The merry-go-round is so jiggly, I wonder if Reptar is practicing for his on-ice show…
“I like to stomp and rooo-aaaaar. Hey, I’m just a dinosaur….”
It is the least smooth merry-go-round I’ve experienced, but I still savor every minute.
The theming makes my heart happy.
The indoor park is awash with photo ops ( or photo Appas…).
There are a host of rides to keep the small kiddos engaged. Since we only have two hours, we prioritize the rides we want to ride most, but do make time for Dora’s Sky Railway. The elevated skytrain, offers nice views of the entire park. Though Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream is larger than Mall of America, Mall of America has better sweeping views of the park. Everything in the American Dream park is so compact, the majority of the in-air views, are of tracks or swinging mechanics. Dora is a relaxing, slow, break, from the heart pumping offerings in the park.
If you are a fan of amusement parks or have a deep nostalgia and love for all things Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Universe will be an enjoyable, starry-eyed, fandom visit. If you already know that the steep price will make you grumble under your breath for hours, especially when you can’t ride Shellraiser and have to ride a rattily, dinosaur themed merry-go-round, that could use a tune up, you may want to put those dollars to better use.
Get a Twilight Pass, then find a place to stay at near American Dream
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