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Nickelodeon Universe / American Dream Discussion Thread


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Those prices are gross, $44 for two hours in the park? It used to just be 35 just a few weeks ago. I wonder if they’re ever going to change their pricing model.

In about a year it'll be $0, since the place will be closed LOL.

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Only 2 trains running on Shredder. Yikes. Just getting here and in the mall was awful and it does feel like I'm constantly being watched with all of the security here.

 

I'm guessing they walked up to you after you took that photo about Sandy's status?

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Today's probably not going to be the day.

 

This feels like they’ve read here and are tired of people wanting updates constantly.

 

I'm thinking it's more about the lack of updates and ease of ability to find correct information on any of their owned and operated sites/socials.

 

I'll be able to post more photos and a report when I'm back home. Alex and I did have fun - the halfpipe, Shellraiser, Shredder, Skyline Scream (when running correctly), and the weird controlled flippy ride were all fun! Just paying $70 vs $60 and the laundry list of issues they have make it hard to not complain about a lot.

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This is a couple of weeks old, but I didnt see it posted. Explains the price hike

Nickelodeon Universe sold out on the holiday week and entry to the park had to be closed on several occasions because it hit its 7,000 person capacity.

 

It’s also drawing 10,000 visitors per day “on an ongoing basis,” McHugh said.

 

Long article worth reading

 

https://www.nj.com/bergen/2020/01/american-dream-has-been-open-for-3-months-are-people-going-to-the-mega-mall.html

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I believe it! There are so many people just hanging out in the mall doing nothing in a mall with nothing. The American Dream socials do make it look like there's more there than there actually is so maybe that's why but I can't understand why they're getting that. Just sheer surrounding numbers? Is free parking the biggie?

 

I mean they technically have the steepest coaster in the world yet there was ZERO mention or bragging about it.

 

Also they could market the shit out of the incredible views on Shellraiser and Skyline Scream!

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It’s almost as if they have a team of accountants and marketing professionals deciding what the prices should be, and aren’t targeting cheap-a** coaster enthusiasts who want to get in for practically nothing and spend no money once they’re there. Weird.

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Well, there is nothing to spend money on when you're there (unless you want a 7-11 grade sandwich from a push cart), so even if we wanted to, there's nothing to buy.

 

And I'm sorry if expecting a reasonable return on investment is being a "cheap ass coaster enthusiast." The place has 3-5 solid adult rides and another few that might be enjoyable by some adults, no shows, no nothing else, not even proper food stands. Sorry if that's not worth $60 or $70 to us.

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These last two posts sum up the situation perfectly. While some are complaining that the place is killing their business with the current pricing as far as saying the place will be closed in a year. This is not comparable to a Hard Rock Park. The park is practically selling out every day at current pricing levels and on days that there will be more demand (when all schools in NYC and NJ are out) they are raising prices to bring in more revenue.

 

It’s almost as if they have a team of accountants and marketing professionals deciding what the prices should be, and aren’t targeting cheap-a** coaster enthusiasts who want to get in for practically nothing and spend no money once they’re there. Weird.

 

From a business standpoint, it sounds like they have dynamic pricing down pat. As such, when the demand drops, they will lower prices.

 

 

Well, there is nothing to spend money on when you're there (unless you want a 7-11 grade sandwich from a push cart), so even if we wanted to, there's nothing to buy.

 

And I'm sorry if expecting a reasonable return on investment is being a "cheap ass coaster enthusiast." The place has 3-5 solid adult rides and another few that might be enjoyable by some adults, no shows, no nothing else, not even proper food stands. Sorry if that's not worth $60 or $70 to us.

 

If you want to pay to brag about being there before others, then you pay the price. If not, you hold out and wait like me until the price is more to your liking as this self proclaimed cheap-ass coaster enthusiast will do. Every park should be this fiscally responsible.

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I'm also waiting until the prices become more reasonable and the rides are all open. I wish they had a pay per ride option just so I could check out the coasters. It's just hard to justify paying $60-70 for me when my season pass that includes free parking and access to every six flags is the same price/cheaper than this place. For now I'll just go to great adventure to get my coaster fix instead.

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Anyone from the New York metro area who expected this place to be reasonably priced hasn't lived here long enough. This is exactly where I expected the price point to be. Doesn't Coney Island charge like $8 to ride a Zamperla Volare once?

 

It’s almost as if they have a team of accountants and marketing professionals deciding what the prices should be, and aren’t targeting cheap-a** coaster enthusiasts who want to get in for practically nothing and spend no money once they’re there. Weird.

 

Okay, I'm with you on the sentiment but there are clearly no people with any competent marketing people working at this place. Let's not get carried away. This place is succeeding because in that location it's a license to print money but it's succeeding despite their atrocious marketing efforts, not because of them.

Edited by coasterbill
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It’s almost as if they have a team of accountants and marketing professionals deciding what the prices should be, and aren’t targeting cheap-a** coaster enthusiasts who want to get in for practically nothing and spend no money once they’re there. Weird.

 

 

Crazy that the billionaire mall magnates are able To manage a billion dollar mall.

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Anyone from the New York metro area who expected this place to be reasonably priced hasn't lived here long enough. This is exactly where I expected the price point to be. Doesn't Coney Island charge like $8 to ride a Zamperla Volare once?

 

It’s almost as if they have a team of accountants and marketing professionals deciding what the prices should be, and aren’t targeting cheap-a** coaster enthusiasts who want to get in for practically nothing and spend no money once they’re there. Weird.

 

Okay, I'm with you on the sentiment but there are clearly no people with any competent marketing people working at this place. Let's not get carried away. This place is succeeding because in that location it's a license to print money but it's succeeding despite their atrocious marketing efforts, not because of them.

 

 

But just a few pages ago you were saying it’s a guaranteed flop because nobody can afford it. Anyhoo.

 

 

The amount of billboards for this place on 95 is not consistent nor are the billboards in Times Square.

 

Their bread and butter customer is a tourist. The locals are not a part of their marketing plan.

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I never said that the mall would flop if they ever managed to actually open it and I definitely never said that nobody could afford it. I don’t know where you’re getting this.

 

I said that the price point is crazy high, which it is but it’s also on par with a lot of other things in the New York metro area and is totally expected.

Edited by coasterbill
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The amount of billboards for this place on 95 is not consistent nor are the billboards in Times Square.

 

Their bread and butter customer is a tourist. The locals are not a part of their marketing plan.

 

What marketing plans are you privy to?

Edited by larrygator
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Alex and I went to Nick U/American Dream last weekend.

 

We had to pay an extra $10 due to the hike from $60 to $70 for entry and it didn't even matter if we pre-purchased the week before because the T&C says "Guests shall also pay any difference in price if the ticket price for the new date or time is higher than the originally purchased ticket price. Ticket exchanges or refunds for tickets of lesser price are not permitted."

 

Yes, parking is free. Yes, there are only vending machines, pre packaged foods (chips/candy/cookies/Starbucks-like-food), and 1 candy store in the entire mall + Nick U. There might have been hot dogs? Don't eat there. Although, there's plenty of spilled soda and candy all over the ground if you're into that. Go fill up on amazing Italian food nearby at https://www.annabellasmozz.com/ before or after the park.

 

Yes all the operators are kids and no they do not care about filling seats or capacity.

 

The whole place is dusty, feels cheap and plasticky, the queues/ride entrances set the GP up to line jump due to the way they are set up, rides didn't operate as they should and were broken often, and the longer we stayed the less happier we became. They closed the Hidden Temples ropes course 4 hours before the park closed with little signage. I didn't see any signs during the day but it was there when it was closed. There's no music being played in the park?!

 

Skyline Scream runs a combo mode. It is a new S&S that can rotate and carry 20 people. It kept having issues with these 2 prongs lining up correctly to unlock the restraints and was up and down all day. When it runs normally it's about a 2-3 minute total cycle with an observation mode giving stunning views of Manhattan.

The ride will only operate with 14-15 people for ...weight balancing reasons? I don't know. The ops will make you change seats and move you a couple times. It takes forever to get on this ride.

At some point the ride went down. It re-opened as shot tower only and could only launch halfway up the tower. No amazing view of Manhattan. Who messed this up? The park? S&S? This is embarrassing.

 

The good:

The halfpipe was fantastic, especially with those lapbars.

Shellraiser/Takabisha is one of my personal favorites and you are held up at that window looking at Manhattan for a good 30 seconds. Incredible. Why does this ride have large rough patches/NJ potholes at the bottom of the drops on the 2nd half? Glass smooth in the back seat, but front right you could feel them. I'm sorry for anyone who only got rough rides, all of ours were not rough.

Some rides are themed pretty well.

The Shredder spinning coaster was pretty fun.

 

We were there from 2-9:30pm and didn't get to do the ropes course, Kraang/inverting frisbee/other flippy ride, swings, train due to them being closed or long lines. Rode TMNT/Shredder 2x, Skyline Scream 1.5 everything else once.

 

I'll probably visit if/when Sandy opens and I can do a pay per attraction.

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Getting into this place is what I assume drowning in quicksand is like.

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Lifegaurds were training at the waterpark. So many hot tubs!

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Looks great, and so many slides hidden - there's a Tantum and Tornado and more that you can't see.

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I'm in enemy territory. Sorry Sponge, I'm a Cartoon Network guy.

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Oh how I've missed you, Takabisha.

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It's cool to see the launch section - it's so short! This launch is fantastic!

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I didn't expect it to be open but I did expect correct grammar and lamination.

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The maint' guys said it's the most amazing re-ridable coaster ever and it has not soft opened.

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I hope they paint the walls eventually. Nick is supposed to be colorful, not dusty and pasty white.

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Some attractions have more theme than others. Super random.

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It's just as good as Takabisha. There were some bumps felt in the front, not the back. Just lean forward.

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The big 'window' isn't glass, it's cheap plastic of some sort fogging an amazing view of NYC.

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So simple. So fun. The 'cars' seemed to be able to be switched from fixed to free-swing as we saw some sides not spin at all, like it was locked, then other cycles spinning out.

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I tried, Larry.

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I wish I could have done this but it closed 4 hours before park close with little notice. No announcements over the PA. No music anywhere in the park either, aside from people's phones. Stay classy East Rutherford, NJ.

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See those two prongs? They have to line up to unlock the restraints. Big design flaw. They had to lift and bring down many times before they aligned to let guests out.

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Time for some more Takabishellraiser. Waited 45 min at the longest. Only 2 'trains' running. 16 people per 3-4 minute cycle. Wheeeeewwwwwwiiieeee!

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The view up there is spectacular. They hold you for 30 seconds. Perhaps worth the $70 alone.

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YOU TEASE!

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All of the ride queues and entrances/exits are fucked. Whoever planned this park should be fired. You see how you should walk through to get in line? Nope you have people lining up on the outside. If you visit, you'll get what I mean.

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It's glow'd up.

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Chaser lights look cool, and they rotate colors.

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When it's dark the park's mega bright LEDs make it hard to look up at the rides. So uh, yeah I think I need to go to the doctor now.

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Just looking around. Why isn't this big wall glass? Too expensive?

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Same angle. We waited a long time for the controlled Jimmy Neutron ride thing.

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This is how it looks at night.

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The interaction between these two is pretty cool.

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Another flippy spinny ride, but closed. Looks... like trouble.

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Another look. This part of the park by Sandy is just dead.

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Great, the tower is down now.

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Everyone in the park was referring to Slime Streak as a 'traditional coaster' which is another reason it has a massive line - it's the only non flippy spinny coaster for families.

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Way too long of a line.

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Can I go home yet?

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Yeah, this place has a lot of work.

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hey bert!

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This is what the mall looks like. There's the ice rink, a small army of security, and people hanging out doing nothing.

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Just another example of this park being cheap and plasticky. I couldn't believe the queue gates held up as long as they did before kids shaking/sitting on them start to show wear and tear.

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How DARE you advertise Coke Energy and not have it in stock anywhere. Last straw for me! See ya never!

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I'm super sad to see how wasted the potential is at this place.

 

so many *almost there* things, that would avoid this being a shit-show.

 

that extra $10 charge, because the price changed after you pre-bought? that's some bullshit right there, and I would have let Mgmt have it right there and demanded they honor the prepaid ticket price. I get that you wanted to go in, but I likely would have told them to go screw themselves and walked if they didn't honor it.

 

that just burns my ass.

 

yes, even with that Reptar carousel that I TOTALLY want to ride - but not for $70.

 

 

I was following along with your pics on your page, but seeing them all together here just makes it a bit depressing. You pointed out the non-glass windows that ruin the view (WHY??). .but pics like this just make me. . . . SAD

 

really? they couldn't paint the concrete so it doesn't look so awful under the footers?

 

lay down some astro-turf? this is just pathetic.

 

thumb_20200215_172437.jpg

 

 

 

really appreciate the report tho, Zach, and glad you & Alex got to visit, as I'm sure this place will be closed within the year.

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