The Best Mall Amusement Parks in America
When the Industrial Revolution allowed Americans to work shorter hours and have more disposable income, they started seeking new entertainment opportunities. Amusement parks emerged to meet this need.
American Dream, set to open in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Oct. 25 is much more than a huge mall: it’s an epicenter of style, entertainment and gastronomy just seven miles from New York City.
1. Morocco Mall
With a huge shopping area, Morocco Mall is a unique and amazing place to go out with your family. The mall has everything from food courts to an IMAX theater. It also has an Adventure Land that offers many games and activities. The mall also hosts various cultural and promotional events. The mall was opened in 2011 and has already become one of the city’s top attractions.
The Moroccan Mall offers many different shopping options, including popular Moroccan brands and prestigious western brands. There are stores that sell clothes, footwear, accessories and other items, and there are also stores that specialize in beauty products and gadgets. In addition, there are restaurants that serve a variety of different cuisines, from fast food to fine dining.
One of the most popular attractions at Morocco Mall is the large aquarium, which displays some of the most beautiful marine creatures. The aquarium has been designed to offer a more immersive experience for guests, and it is sure to delight anyone who visits the mall.
The complex also features a variety of entertainment venues and amenities, including an IMAX theater and a 6D movie theatre. There is also a musical fountain and an Adventureland, which provides visitors with numerous games and rides. The mall is open from 10 AM to 9 PM on weekdays, and it opens an hour earlier on weekends.
2. Dreams Mall
The mall-and-park complex has more than 300 stores and a skate rink, theme park and ski slope. But it’s the entertainment that is expected to draw visitors, a priority for developers like Triple Five Group, which owns North America’s Mall of America and Canada’s West Edmonton mall.
It was originally conceived as Xanadu Meadowlands, but the project has evolved dramatically since its inception in 1996. It’s now billed as one indoor mall amusement park of the largest malls in the world and, at $5 billion, one of the most expensive developments ever built.
Despite the many vicissitudes, setbacks and delays that characterized its more than 20-year development, American Dream opened Friday in East Rutherford, just across from MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Giants and Jets. It’s a mammoth space, with a Nickelodeon Universe theme park, a DreamWorks water park and an ice-skating rink.
It’s also home to a wide range of dining options including fast-service restaurants, such as Wetzel’s Pretzels and Best Pizza, along with sit-down places such as House of ’Cue and Yard House. It also has four parking decks. American Dream is focusing on attracting local and international visitors, with the hope that it can rival the appeal of attractions like Disneyworld in terms of bringing in tourists. And it’s hoping the entertainment will help drive retail sales, which will be indoor mall amusement park bolstered by the fact that the mall obeys Bergen County’s blue laws, requiring that shops stay closed on Sunday.
3. Mall of America
Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, the Mall of America is home to 520 stores, an honest-to-goodness theme park (nicknamed Nickelodeon Universe), and a 1.2 million-gallon aquarium. It also has a Crayola crayons attraction, a flight simulation ride, and two miniature golf courses. And for those who have a craving for speed, there is a go-kart track and three arcades.
The mall is so big that visitors will need to spend a couple of days to take it all in, but even a day is a good start. The best way to make the most of a visit is by doing some advance planning. The Mall of America website offers plenty of information on stores, restaurants and attractions.
It is possible to shop at the mall without ever leaving its doors, but the real fun comes from the entertainment offerings. You can spend a whole day playing games, riding rides and going on virtual reality adventures, and there is even an escape room. The mall also hosts temporary installments and events throughout the year, such as a live performance by a celebrity.
One of the most unique things about the Mall of America is that it is home to an honest-to-goodness theme park. You will find other unique offerings at the mall, such as a heist-themed escape game and thousands of weddings, but it is not like any other shopping mall you have been to before.
4. Puy du Fou
With its grand shows, audacious staging and breathtaking scenery, Puy du Fou (pronounced pyi du foo) is a theme park like no other. 2.3 million people visit each year to walk through historic French villages and watch performances featuring animals, actors and impressive special effects. “Awesome,” “fabulous” and “magical” are just a few of the words visitors use to describe their experience at this extraordinary park.
Each day, guests can take in one of eight different shows, ranging from the medieval to the 19th century and beyond. Choreographed sword fights, jousts on horseback and acrobatics are among the most popular features of these shows. However, it is the animals that steal the show. Imagine watching a vulture swoop down on top of a castle, the tips of its wings grazing the faces of startled audience members. This is the scene at the awe-inspiring “Le Bal des Oiseaux Fantomes” (The Ball of the Phantom Birds), which features more than 330 birds, including storks, falcons and ravens.
The park is also home to four historic French villages where visitors can wander the streets, see craftsmen at work and enjoy meals from a bygone era. Each year, the park develops a new original creation that takes viewers into another universe. In 2023, it will take guests to the making of a film to learn how love can give characters their voice and return color to their face.
