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Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
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MrsWoods
LIF Adult
Member since 4/12 1461 total posts
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Re: Birthday day trip for kids
Posted by BargainMama
I just wanted to update this to add that I would never go there on a weekend or school holiday. We went yesterday and we got in the line at 10am, park opened at 12. We were first, but it's okay because the girls ran around the mall a little bit, and I wanted to be first to get seats to avoid having to purchase a cabana. We had a good 2 hours where it was pretty empty. Rode a ton. As the day went on, it was INSANE. It was a sold out day with one 12-7pm session and their capacity is 25%. I would hate to see 100% capacity. Stark difference between when we went pre pandemic and yesterday. Luckily we had seats on the second level not near people. We did have fun, but it was a ton of people. Many who couldn't follow the social distancing rules.
The locker room area for families was a complete and total zoo at closing. Fortunately I had my son with special needs change in the family restroom inside the park, and the girls just used the regular women's locker room which was empty. Avoid the family locker room if you can! Overall we had a great time, but I was surprised by the amount of people.
Also, on Thursday the mall was PACKED out with thousands upon thousands of large groups that were NOT wearing masks or had them on their chins. It wasn't like this Friday in the actual mall, I'm guessing because it was a Friday and they had religious obligations. We have seen this many other times while at the mall skiing, and no one enforces the mask rules in the store lines or walking around, so if you are weary of that, be warned!
Capacity rules changed in NJ to 50%. So they are allowed more than before if they want to. I know i've gone multiple times but never during a holiday or break. It was fabulous last year when everyone was scared to go out still. I'd still go but on a weekday when kids are back in school. FYI for anyone, nj kids are off next week.
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Posted 4/2/21 3:29 PM  |
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cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
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Re: Birthday day trip for kids
Posted by BargainMama
I just wanted to update this to add that I would never go there on a weekend or school holiday. We went yesterday and we got in the line at 10am, park opened at 12. We were first, but it's okay because the girls ran around the mall a little bit, and I wanted to be first to get seats to avoid having to purchase a cabana. We had a good 2 hours where it was pretty empty. Rode a ton. As the day went on, it was INSANE. It was a sold out day with one 12-7pm session and their capacity is 25%. I would hate to see 100% capacity. Stark difference between when we went pre pandemic and yesterday. Luckily we had seats on the second level not near people. We did have fun, but it was a ton of people. Many who couldn't follow the social distancing rules.
The locker room area for families was a complete and total zoo at closing. Fortunately I had my son with special needs change in the family restroom inside the park, and the girls just used the regular women's locker room which was empty. Avoid the family locker room if you can! Overall we had a great time, but I was surprised by the amount of people.
Also, on Thursday the mall was PACKED out with thousands upon thousands of large groups that were NOT wearing masks or had them on their chins. It wasn't like this Friday in the actual mall, I'm guessing because it was a Friday and they had religious obligations. We have seen this many other times while at the mall skiing, and no one enforces the mask rules in the store lines or walking around, so if you are weary of that, be warned!
OK here is my update. We went Thursday and had 4-9 tiem slot for the amusement park. The actual place was nice BUT there was a ton of people and the lines were crazy long. My kids only got to go on a few rides and for that price, I was disappointed. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot which was OK but it was nearly impossible to find a place to eat after 9 in the area. Most places had an hour wait or were closing. It was bad. We were all starving and there was no food at the hotel to order. Thank goodness the hostess at Red Robin saw how upset I was and let us in lol. The next day we had water park tickets from 12-7. The park was great for the most part. My kids had a blast. Again however, it was crowded. We couldn't get a chair at all until about 5:30 so we just had to throw our towels in a corner basically. I thought with the reduced capacity it wouldn't be so bad. I cannot imagine going there during full capacity and will never go on a school break or weekend. The rides were fun, my daughter loved the wave pool. They would definitely want to return. And yes, the changing room was also crazy at closing and honestly, it was like a maze trying to even get into the water park from there. I couldn't believe how many twists and turns and felt there should have been workers helping people find their way (there was a lot of confusion, it wasn't just me lol). Anyway, glad we went and learned some things incase we ever come back.
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| Posted 4/4/21 12:44 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Re: Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
Posted by BargainMama
Also, on Thursday the mall was PACKED out with thousands upon thousands of large groups that were NOT wearing masks or had them on their chins. It wasn't like this Friday in the actual mall, I'm guessing because it was a Friday and they had religious obligations. We have seen this many other times while at the mall skiing, and no one enforces the mask rules in the store lines or walking around, so if you are weary of that, be warned!
My friend said the same thing about Wednesday as well.
Message edited 4/4/2021 1:04:45 PM.
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| Posted 4/4/21 1:03 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
Posted by cj7305
Posted by BargainMama
I just wanted to update this to add that I would never go there on a weekend or school holiday. We went yesterday and we got in the line at 10am, park opened at 12. We were first, but it's okay because the girls ran around the mall a little bit, and I wanted to be first to get seats to avoid having to purchase a cabana. We had a good 2 hours where it was pretty empty. Rode a ton. As the day went on, it was INSANE. It was a sold out day with one 12-7pm session and their capacity is 25%. I would hate to see 100% capacity. Stark difference between when we went pre pandemic and yesterday. Luckily we had seats on the second level not near people. We did have fun, but it was a ton of people. Many who couldn't follow the social distancing rules.
The locker room area for families was a complete and total zoo at closing. Fortunately I had my son with special needs change in the family restroom inside the park, and the girls just used the regular women's locker room which was empty. Avoid the family locker room if you can! Overall we had a great time, but I was surprised by the amount of people.
Also, on Thursday the mall was PACKED out with thousands upon thousands of large groups that were NOT wearing masks or had them on their chins. It wasn't like this Friday in the actual mall, I'm guessing because it was a Friday and they had religious obligations. We have seen this many other times while at the mall skiing, and no one enforces the mask rules in the store lines or walking around, so if you are weary of that, be warned!
OK here is my update. We went Thursday and had 4-9 tiem slot for the amusement park. The actual place was nice BUT there was a ton of people and the lines were crazy long. My kids only got to go on a few rides and for that price, I was disappointed. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot which was OK but it was nearly impossible to find a place to eat after 9 in the area. Most places had an hour wait or were closing. It was bad. We were all starving and there was no food at the hotel to order. Thank goodness the hostess at Red Robin saw how upset I was and let us in lol. The next day we had water park tickets from 12-7. The park was great for the most part. My kids had a blast. Again however, it was crowded. We couldn't get a chair at all until about 5:30 so we just had to throw our towels in a corner basically. I thought with the reduced capacity it wouldn't be so bad. I cannot imagine going there during full capacity and will never go on a school break or weekend. The rides were fun, my daughter loved the wave pool. They would definitely want to return. And yes, the changing room was also crazy at closing and honestly, it was like a maze trying to even get into the water park from there. I couldn't believe how many twists and turns and felt there should have been workers helping people find their way (there was a lot of confusion, it wasn't just me lol). Anyway, glad we went and learned some things incase we ever come back.
How funny that we did the same stuff as you on the same days and had the same hotel, ha!! The girls nixed the amusement park after patrons coming out said how long the lines were so we shopped instead! I knew chairs would be a problem at the waterpark so that's why we got there so early. We got seats in between the cabanas on the 2nd level and it was perfect there!
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| Posted 4/4/21 2:12 AM |
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cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
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Re: Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by cj7305
Posted by BargainMama
I just wanted to update this to add that I would never go there on a weekend or school holiday. We went yesterday and we got in the line at 10am, park opened at 12. We were first, but it's okay because the girls ran around the mall a little bit, and I wanted to be first to get seats to avoid having to purchase a cabana. We had a good 2 hours where it was pretty empty. Rode a ton. As the day went on, it was INSANE. It was a sold out day with one 12-7pm session and their capacity is 25%. I would hate to see 100% capacity. Stark difference between when we went pre pandemic and yesterday. Luckily we had seats on the second level not near people. We did have fun, but it was a ton of people. Many who couldn't follow the social distancing rules.
The locker room area for families was a complete and total zoo at closing. Fortunately I had my son with special needs change in the family restroom inside the park, and the girls just used the regular women's locker room which was empty. Avoid the family locker room if you can! Overall we had a great time, but I was surprised by the amount of people.
Also, on Thursday the mall was PACKED out with thousands upon thousands of large groups that were NOT wearing masks or had them on their chins. It wasn't like this Friday in the actual mall, I'm guessing because it was a Friday and they had religious obligations. We have seen this many other times while at the mall skiing, and no one enforces the mask rules in the store lines or walking around, so if you are weary of that, be warned!
OK here is my update. We went Thursday and had 4-9 tiem slot for the amusement park. The actual place was nice BUT there was a ton of people and the lines were crazy long. My kids only got to go on a few rides and for that price, I was disappointed. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot which was OK but it was nearly impossible to find a place to eat after 9 in the area. Most places had an hour wait or were closing. It was bad. We were all starving and there was no food at the hotel to order. Thank goodness the hostess at Red Robin saw how upset I was and let us in lol. The next day we had water park tickets from 12-7. The park was great for the most part. My kids had a blast. Again however, it was crowded. We couldn't get a chair at all until about 5:30 so we just had to throw our towels in a corner basically. I thought with the reduced capacity it wouldn't be so bad. I cannot imagine going there during full capacity and will never go on a school break or weekend. The rides were fun, my daughter loved the wave pool. They would definitely want to return. And yes, the changing room was also crazy at closing and honestly, it was like a maze trying to even get into the water park from there. I couldn't believe how many twists and turns and felt there should have been workers helping people find their way (there was a lot of confusion, it wasn't just me lol). Anyway, glad we went and learned some things incase we ever come back.
How funny that we did the same stuff as you on the same days and had the same hotel, ha!! The girls nixed the amusement park after patrons coming out said how long the lines were so we shopped instead! I knew chairs would be a problem at the waterpark so that's why we got there so early. We got seats in between the cabanas on the 2nd level and it was perfect there!
So funny! Ugh, I'm a dope, I didn't even realize there were chairs up there! We didn't get there til about 1 so there probably weren't any anyway lol. Luckily my daughter is easy to please and would have been happy in the wave pool all day!
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| Posted 4/4/21 10:56 PM |
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Re: Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
Posted by cj7305
Posted by BargainMama
I just wanted to update this to add that I would never go there on a weekend or school holiday. We went yesterday and we got in the line at 10am, park opened at 12. We were first, but it's okay because the girls ran around the mall a little bit, and I wanted to be first to get seats to avoid having to purchase a cabana. We had a good 2 hours where it was pretty empty. Rode a ton. As the day went on, it was INSANE. It was a sold out day with one 12-7pm session and their capacity is 25%. I would hate to see 100% capacity. Stark difference between when we went pre pandemic and yesterday. Luckily we had seats on the second level not near people. We did have fun, but it was a ton of people. Many who couldn't follow the social distancing rules.
The locker room area for families was a complete and total zoo at closing. Fortunately I had my son with special needs change in the family restroom inside the park, and the girls just used the regular women's locker room which was empty. Avoid the family locker room if you can! Overall we had a great time, but I was surprised by the amount of people.
Also, on Thursday the mall was PACKED out with thousands upon thousands of large groups that were NOT wearing masks or had them on their chins. It wasn't like this Friday in the actual mall, I'm guessing because it was a Friday and they had religious obligations. We have seen this many other times while at the mall skiing, and no one enforces the mask rules in the store lines or walking around, so if you are weary of that, be warned!
OK here is my update. We went Thursday and had 4-9 tiem slot for the amusement park. The actual place was nice BUT there was a ton of people and the lines were crazy long. My kids only got to go on a few rides and for that price, I was disappointed. We stayed at the Courtyard Marriot which was OK but it was nearly impossible to find a place to eat after 9 in the area. Most places had an hour wait or were closing. It was bad. We were all starving and there was no food at the hotel to order. Thank goodness the hostess at Red Robin saw how upset I was and let us in lol. The next day we had water park tickets from 12-7. The park was great for the most part. My kids had a blast. Again however, it was crowded. We couldn't get a chair at all until about 5:30 so we just had to throw our towels in a corner basically. I thought with the reduced capacity it wouldn't be so bad. I cannot imagine going there during full capacity and will never go on a school break or weekend. The rides were fun, my daughter loved the wave pool. They would definitely want to return. And yes, the changing room was also crazy at closing and honestly, it was like a maze trying to even get into the water park from there. I couldn't believe how many twists and turns and felt there should have been workers helping people find their way (there was a lot of confusion, it wasn't just me lol). Anyway, glad we went and learned some things incase we ever come back.
if you went 4/1-4/2 it was a school break in NYC and Passover
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| Posted 4/5/21 6:26 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
Yeah it was a school break for many. That's why I don't recommend it on a break or holiday.
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| Posted 4/6/21 1:18 AM |
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Birthday day trip for kids- American Dream Mall UPDATE
Ugh... I know kids love these types of places but unless it is relatively empty they are torture. I guess living in this overpopulated area we are stuck with it.
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| Posted 4/6/21 1:50 AM |
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| Pages: 1 [2] |
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