American Dream, NY Waterway Partner To Get People To Megamall

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - American Dream has partnered with NY Waterway to help get people to and from the soon-to-be-opened megamall in the Meadowlands.

On Wednesday, mall officials announced the partnership, which will provide ferry-bus service from New York City to American Dream. The new offering begins on Oct. 25, when the mall opens, and will be available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Don Ghermezian, American Dream’s chief executive officer said they’re “thrilled” to be able to offer shoppers and mall employees “a convenient, simple way to access our property from Manhattan.”

“We expect families both living in and visiting New York City to frequent our property, and I can’t think of a better way to begin the world-class experience than a short ride across the Hudson River with breathtaking views of Manhattan,” he said.

Free multi-route shuttle buses will be available to get to the West 39thStreet Midtown Ferry Terminal, where mall-goers can catch an eight-minute ferry ride across the Hudson River to Port Imperial in Weehawken. From there, dedicated buses will take riders to American Dream.

According to mall officials, the connections will be “seamless” and ferries depart every 10 minutes during the morning and evening rush hour, and every 20 minutes during off-peak times.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Arthur E. Imperatore, NY Waterway’s president and founder, said, “We are honored to be the exclusive ferry partner for American Dream, a visionary and exciting new destination. American Dream guests will enjoy an exhilarating, fast, convenient trip from Manhattan, with NY Waterway’s unrivaled reputation for safety and reliability.”

AMERICAN DREAM: What Will Actually Be Open On Oct. 25?

The mall's grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 25. According to American Dream's developer, Triple Five, shopping, dining and attractions at the $5 billion mall will open in four phases.

During American Dream's official debut, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and The Rink will be open.

The DreamWorks Water Park is set to open Nov. 27, followed by Big SNOW, the country's only indoor real-snow park, on Dec. 5. y March 2020, the mall's 350 retail stores will be open for business, Triple Five said.

American Dream's more than 100 dining destinations – which include three food halls, a food court and nearly two dozen full-serve restaurants – will also open next spring, the developer said. Additionally, SEA LIFE Aquarium, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, CMX Luxury Movie Theater, Kidzania and the mall's Observation Wheel will be open by March.

Between 30 and 40 million people are expected to visit American Dream within its first year of opening.

NJ Transit plans to launch new express bus services and expand several local routes to help people get to the soon-to-be-opened American Dream in the Meadowlands. For the mall's opening, NJ Transit will debut daily express service from Port Authority Bus Terminal to the new mall that will run every 30 minutes, the agency announced Thursday afternoon.

A second bus will run daily from Secaucus Junction to American Dream every half hour.

To help provide transportation options for workers at the mega-mall, NJ Transit will expand operating hours on three routes, No. 85, No. 703 and No. 772. The modified service will include stops at American Dream, but until a dedicated hub is completed at the mall, the buses will stop at the Racetrack at the Meadowlands.

Besides NJ Transit, American Dream has said it is working with NY Waterway to provide New York City visitors and others from the surrounding area with alternative means of getting there. The mall's property will include 30,000 parking spaces and a ride-share hub.

Earlier this month, American Dream announced a partnership with rideshare company Lyft, which includes designated Lyft pick-up and drop-off areas that are easily accessible to drivers and gives them a dedicated space to meet their riders.