American Dream Mall with Kids: Is It Worth the Trip? (Family Review)

American Dream Mall – My Experience

American Dream Mall is an entertainment complex located just outside Manhattan in New Jersey. I had the unique experience of visiting back in 2019 when they were in the building phase. Ever since that visit I have wanted to bring my kids here to check it out.

We had our chance to visit during a recent trip to New York City and felt like we only scratched the surface on everything there is to do experience.

The first thing I realized about the mall is that it is huge. There is a map on their website, but you don’t really feel the size until you start walking around and planning all the things you want to see and do.

For our day at American Dream we had to prioritize what we had time to see and what had to be saved for another visit.

If you can- plan 2 days to see and do everything. If you can’t, make a list of the biggest priorities for your family and plan your day around them.

We had 1 day and that meant everything we did was a bit more rushed than we would have liked. We were able to experience Nickelodeon Universe and DreamWorks Water Park (more on the best things to do there later in this post) and do a little shopping, but our day left us wanting to come back to experience more of the attractions and dining options.

Getting to American Dream Mall

Whether you are visiting American Dream Mall from NYC or another area it is fairly easy to get to. From our home in Rochester, NY the drive was about 5 hours. This can vary based on traffic and there are posted signs directing where to go.

American Dream mall parking is fairly straightforward with multiple parking structures across the mall. I highly recommend looking at the map before you arrive so you know where to park.

We parked in parking lot D and it was not the best choice for visiting Nickelodeon Universe or the DreamWorks Water Park. We should have parked in lot A, B, or C.

Parking for the day was $6.00 but be sure to check events for the day because MetLife stadium (home to NY Giants and NY Jets) share parking. On game and event days parking costs will be higher if you park at designated event parking.

On our visit there was a BTS concert, the mall was packed but parking lot D was quiet. Keep this in mind when planning the best place to park for your visit.

Where to Stay at American Dream Mall

We didn’t stay the night near American Dream but I really wish there was a connecting hotel. This would make planning a weekend at the mall really convenient and there is enough to do to make this a destination and stay.

I do not recommend staying in New York City for your visit unless you are doing this as a day trip during a longer trip to NYC. If it is the only option you can make it work but for us it would have been a lot.

We visited the water park and that comes with a lot of stuff- towels, water shoes, etc. Leaving the city would have been a lot of stress for us. If you live in the city it will be much easier but if you are driving into the city consider visiting the mall on your way in or out of NYC.

If you want to spend more time at the mall consider staying at the Springhill Suites which is a 3 minute drive to the mall. Then you can feel less rushed and tour the mall and all the attractions at a much leisurely pace.

Search the map below for options on where to stay near American Dream:

American Dream Mall Attractions: What’s Actually There

As I mentioned earlier there are so many American Dream mall attractions to explore you may need to make a list of your top ones to see. Here is the full list. It is extensive but good to know as you plan your day at American Dream. The attraction links will take you to ticket deals to help cost planning your trip.

This is over 30 attractions and can feel overwhelming to plan, plus what is the cost of doing it all. Realistically you can’t do everything and you shouldn’t try to. Pick a few things that sound great for your family and plan your visit experiencing them. I share more about cost and how to find deals on tickets later in this post.

Our Day at American Dream

We had a list of the things to do at American Dream that were on the top of our list and planned our day like this:

• Rope Drop Nickelodeon Universe
• Lunch at Coca Cola Eats Food Court
• Dream Works Water Park
• A little shopping

We did not do a great job shopping at the stores we wanted to. There just wasn’t enough time to do the water park and theme park and shopping.

Another thing we missed that I really wanted to include was time at Big Snow. Unfortunately with our time limitation we couldn’t fit it into our visit. I suggest checking it out if you have time. It is America’s only indoor real snow slope and has beginner lessons for families looking to give it a try.

This may sound like we didn’t have a great time, which is not true. We actually had an amazing time at the attractions we got to do- we just wanted to do more than we had. Since we were headed back home to Rochester that day we only had about 5 hours to do everything on our list.

Again this is where staying another night would have been beneficial to see more at the mall. There was an Asian market we wanted to explore as well as an entire wing of the mall we didn’t have a chance to discover.

Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream

Nickelodeon Universe is home of TMNT Shellraiser which is the steepest roller coaster in the world. I honestly can’t believe I rode it and it will be one and done for me. It is an intense and amazing roller coaster. Coaster enthusiasts will want to add this to their accomplishments.

There are also 7 additional thrill rides that you will want to ride if you are looking for big thrills. My teens loved the diversity of the coasters and they were impressed with the ride line up at the park. Most of these have a 48″ ride height requirement.

If you are traveling with young kids there are a lot of options as well. There are over 12 attractions made just for young kids as well as a Paw Patrol play area.

Is Nickelodeon Universe worth your time? I say yes if you are looking to ride some unique attractions or are visiting with little ones looking to run around a bit. If you are not into thrills and do not have small children you may want to skip it.

The great thing about this park is anyone can walk around and see if it is worth it for them. You do not need a ticket to enter and can check out what the park has to offer. If you do decide to visit be sure to purchase tickets in advance to save time and money.

DreamWorks Water Park at American Dream

DreamWorks Water Park is another attraction that boasts incredible slides. It is home to one of the world’s tallest and longest hydromagnetic water coasters. Everything at this park is themed to DreamWorks characters like Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda.

There are over 40 slides and attractions and it is a very popular destination. When we arrived there was a very long long waiting for the park to open. If you do this consider be one of the first at the park or booking a ticket and adding on a Turbo Pass.

If you don’t have the Turbo Pass you want to ride DreamWorks DreamRunner and the 3 Shrek water slides first thing. These are the most popular.

Overall the slides at DreamWorks water park were very impressive. There were also numerous splash play areas for little ones. This is a great place to visit for the whole family.

A few other things to note:

There are lockers that can be purchased outside the locker rooms ($25/day) once you enter the water park. You will purchase a bracelet at a kiosk and use that bracelet to open and close the locker throughout the day.

Towels are not provided. I suggest packing a beach bag with towels and water shoes for your time at the water park. You may also want to pack toiletries to shower off after your time at the water park if you plan to spend time walking around the mall.

Where to Eat at American Dream Mall

We fell a bit short on the dining at American Dream mall because we were so rushed. I think we all picked something quick from the Coca Cola Eats Food Court but I wish we had more time. When we return, or if you have more time here are a few suggestions:

• House of ‘Que- Hoboken’s favorite BBQ restaurant created by award-winning Texas Pitmaster Michael Rodriguez
• Mr Beast Burger
• The Food Hall (Unique quick service dining options)
• H Mart Food Hall
• Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza (Immersive Five Nights at Freddy’s Dining Experience, Opening 2027)

How to Spend a Day at American Dream Mall

These are a few American Dream tips to plan your day and not make the same mistakes I made!

• Pick one or two anchor attractions and plan around those. You will not be able to do everything in one day.
• Buy tickets for Nickelodeon Universe and Water Park in advance.
• Arrive early to the theme parks. Both get very busy on weekends and holidays.
• Best days to visit- weekdays! Avoid weekends and event/concert dates if you want a quieter visit.
• What to bring- water park clothes, comfortable shoes. We went back and forth to the car to switch out bags throughout our day. Park close to the water park if you can.
• Plan time to shop, dine, and visit the theme parks. You may need two days to do it all.

American Dream Mall Cost for a Family of 5

Here is the breakdown of what a day at American Dream cost for a family of 5.

• Parking cost- $6.40
• Nickelodeon Universe tickets per person- $59.99, pay per ride option also available
• DreamWorks Water Park tickets per person – $69.99
• Food estimate- $75.00 (quick dining)
• Any add-ons (laser tag, mini golf, etc.) -prices vary starting at $15.00+

These are estimates based on what you may want to do during your visit. If you are on a budget you can pick and choose what works best for you.

Is American Dream Mall Worth the Trip?

My American Dream Mall review would be that yes it is worth it! There is truly something for everyone at this destination, visitors can include it in a New York City itinerary or a stand alone weekend trip.

I would love to go back and take our time browsing the stores and checking out the unique dining options. Let’s break it down to see who American Dream mall is best for and who may want to skip it.

Worth it if:

• You have kids who love theme parks and water slides
• You are already in the NYC/NJ area
• You want an indoor full-day option especially in winter or bad weather
• Your teens are into the Nickelodeon or DreamWorks IP

Skip it or adjust if:

• You are driving 3+ hours specifically for the mall. Be sure you are interested in the attractions before taking the time to visit.
• Budget is tight. Cost adds up fast for a family of 5
• You are visiting on a weekend, NFL game day, or concert day. Try to avoid these times for a better experience.

Overall American Dream was a great destination for my family. With teens that love theme parks, shopping, and dining there was more than enough to do.

American Dream is always evolving and we can’t wait to return to try Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza experience. This is going to be such a great addition to the mall, plus we didn’t get to experience everything and would love to have more time to check it out. This is a great winter weather destination if you are from New York state area.

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Planning a New York State day trip? Read our 18 Day Trips from Rochester, NY for the best destinations within a few hours of the city.

Exploring more of New York State? Visit our New York State Guide for the best family destinations across the Empire State.

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