American Dream: Your Options For Getting There

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – As American Dream’s Friday grand opening nears, the hype is growing around the debut of a megamall that’s been almost two decades in the making.

While visitors won’t get the full American Dream experience - which is supposed to more than 450 retail, dining destinations and entertainment venues – they’ll get a chance to see the world’s largest indoor theme park.

The Meadowlands mall’s history goes back to the early 2000s, when it was known as Xanadu. After its owner went bankrupt, the project stalled until 2013 when Triple Five Group took it over. It was originally slated to open in 2017, but Triple Five pushed back the completion date due to difficulties it faced securing the financing.

When the $5 billion complex opens Friday, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park and an NHL-size ice rink will be ready for the public. Other attractions, shopping and dining will follow over the next several months.

Click here to see a full list of what is opening and when.

American Dream Is Coming Friday: Here's What'll Open, What Won't

With such a high-profile opening, you may be wondering when to go and the best way to get there, so we have put together some information to help plan your visit.

Hours

During opening weekend, it'll be open Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

After that, its regular hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday through Sunday.

Parking Rates

Parking fees will be waived for opening weekend. After that, mall-goers will need to pay to park in one of the mall’s 33,000 spots.

Here is parking rate schedule posted online:

• 0-29 minutes: Free
• 30 minutes to 3 hours: $3
• Up to 4:59 hours/minutes: $4
• Up to 6:59 hours/minutes: $5
• Up to 7:59 hours/minutes: $6
• 8:00+: $24 (Maximum all day rate)

During games, concerts and other special events at MetLife Stadium, event parking rates are in effect at American Dream's lot, too, the mall's website noted. There is also a valet fee of $10 and overnight parking is prohibited.

NJ Transit Bus Service

With some of the country's most congested highways located in the Meadowlands, mall officials have been working to create options that'll get visitors out of their cars and on to mass transit.

Leading up to the grand opening, American Dream announced new service offerings from NJ Transit and NY Waterway to get people to the mall from New York City and the surrounding area.

On Friday, NJ Transit will debut daily express service from Port Authority Bus Terminal to the new mall that will run every 30 minutes. A second bus, No. 356, 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 (Hoboken/Union City to Secaucus), No. 703 (Paterson/Passaic to East Rutherford) and No. 772 (Hackensack to the Meadowlands) and include stops at American Dream.

The express service from Manhattan will cost $9 each way, while the expanded service on local lines will be priced according to NJ Transit's existing fare zones.

Though there's a shuttle train from Secaucus Junction to MetLife Stadium, it is currently scheduled to run only for Giants and Jets home games or other major events.

NY Waterway Direct Service

American Dream also recently announced a partnership with NY Waterway to help people get to and from the soon-to-be-opened mall. Starting Oct. 25, NY Waterway will offer ferry-bus service from New York City to American Dream that'll cost a combined $16 for a one-way trip.

Free multi-route shuttle buses will be available to get to the West 39th Street 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. The service will run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Ride-Share Hub

The mall will have a ride-share and taxicab hub. It also formed a partnership with rideshare company Lyft. The agreement includes designated Lyft pick-up and drop-off areas that are easily accessible to drivers and gives them a dedicate space to meet riders.

The hub will be located at Ground Level by Building A, according to a mall spokesman.

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