After the blazing hot unshaded lines at Valleyfair, the air conditioning at Nickelodeon Universe inside Minneapolis’ Mall of America was super welcome! A good destination rain or shine, mid-summer or mid-winter, this indoor amusement park may not have the biggest rides but it’s not disappointing. Four biggish roller coasters, some unique flat rides, and several options for smaller kids.
Visit Nickelodeon Universe on its own, or get a combined ticket with any number of other attractions in the Mall of America. There’s more than you think!
Nickelodeon Universe
First, let’s talk about all the rides included in the Nickelodeon Universe ticket. There are 27 attractions, ranging from toddler-size to some pretty big thrills. Let’s rank all the rides from least to most thrilling. (Keeping in mind, these are my own rankings according to how much I enjoyed each ride. Others might be more “technically” thrilling but I may not have liked it as much.)
For videos of all the roller coasters, check out my post Roller Coasters in Minnesota.
#17-27 Kids Rides
Fully 11 out of 27 rides are just for kids, capitalizing on the Nickelodeon channel’s shows aimed at a younger audience. Shows like Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Rugrats, and Paw Patrol are all represented here. Big Rigs offers kiddos a chance to be miniature truckers. Blue’s Skidoo is like a small-scale Dumbo attraction. Boot’s Banana Swing is a gentle powered swing. Bubble Guppies Guppy Bubbler is a teacups/balloon ride that takes you high in a gondola you can spin yourself. Diego’s Rescue Rider is a platform ride with some gentle airtime.
La Aventura De Azul is a small Dora-themed train. Pineapple Poppers is an inflatable jump house themed as Spongebob Squarepants’ underwater home. Rugrats Reptarmobiles are kid-sized bumper cars. Swipers Sweeper is a kiddie whip ride in jeeps. Wonder Pets’ Flyboat is a kiddie frog hopper that bounces up and down. And finally, Paw Patrol Adventure Bay is a soft playground with lots of things to climb on and some slides.
#16 – Crazy Cars
Not only are there kiddie-size bumper cars, but there are also bigger bumper cars for older kids and adults if you want to do some reckless driving.
#15 – Carousel
The Carousel is a small version of its type, but still with three rows of animals that go up and down, plus a chariot bench if you don’t want to climb on a horse. Or a giraffe, cat, goat, lion, or fantastical sea dragon – there are loads of fun choices! It’s a beautifully lit carousel, which almost feels odd in the middle of such a brightly lit mall space.
#14 – Back At The Barnyard Hayride
Back at the Barnyard Hayride is the park’s kiddie roller coaster. a powered model that basically goes in an oval and doesn’t even dip very much. It’s listed under the kiddie/junior rides, but adults seem to fit too.
#13 – El Circulo De Cielo
The Dora-themed Ferris wheel El Circulo De Cielo (wheel of the sky, I think?) is fun because it sits above an exit from the park to the mall. It’s fun to walk underneath it, and it gives the comparatively small Ferris wheel a lot of extra height – right up to the ceiling!
Since it’s a gondola-style Ferris wheel, they don’t allow single riders, so I didn’t experience this one, although I would have loved to.
#12 – Fly With Appa
Fly With Appa is a new Airbender-themed Dumbo-style ride, coming soon to the park. You control your own flying Bison as high as you want to go. It’s much bigger than the Blue’s Skiddo model above.
I can’t tell if it’s replacing anything that I rode last summer. The two rides I thought it might have replaced are still listed.
#11 – Backyardigans Swing-Along
The Backyardigans Swing-Along is the swings ride in the park, a cute smaller model. Though I think this ride may have had the most bored ride operator I’ve ever seen.
#10 – Ghost Blasters
Ghost Blasters is haunted house/dark ride/laser shooter ride where you shoot at targets around a haunted mansion. It’s relatively easy to score points and not too scary for all but the youngest riders.
#9 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock is a unique ride – at least I hadn’t ridden one like this before. A huge arm carries a bank of riders strapped into turtle shells with two wings that can independently tilt up or down. The ride motion itself gives you a nice, big sweep, but the idea is that you can manipulate the wings to spin you around 360 degrees as you fly forward. I never managed to get fully around, but some folks in the front were able to.
Because of that, I found it a frustrating ride. Most folks weren’t able to spin all the way around either. It makes me think the people in the front row had better air flow. I like the ride operator station – it looks like a pizza cart.
#8 – Splat-O-Sphere
The Splat-O-Sphere is a short drop tower but I found it to be a lot of fun. They drop you six or seven times, and the ride operator is a hoot! There must be some unwritten rule that drop tower operators must have extra attitude.
#7 – Brain Surge
Brain Surge is an interesting flat ride. I’ve only seen this kind in a few places before. Pairs of seats are attached to a big inside wheel. The whole thing moves forward in an undulating circle but the fun part is that you can control your forward or backward spin to flip end over end in either direction! It kinda makes all the blood go to your head, thus the name of the ride.
#6 – Shredder’s Mutant Masher
Shredder’s Mutant Masher is a shortish, inward-facing pendulum ride, but awfully fun with some decent pops of airtime. It’s much better than Shell Shock.
#5 – Fairly Odd Coaster
Finally, a proper roller coaster! The Fairly Odd Coaster is a spinning coaster on a steel track. One car at a time goes through the course – you face two other riders – so it’s a slow loader and one of the few longish lines of the day. I found it to be great fun, but it also gave me a headache.
#4 – Avatar Airbender
Avatar Airbender is a skateboard-stye roller coaster with two posts of outward-facing seats that spin, all set on a big U-shaped track. You get some nice close-to-the-ceiling moments and a real kick-the-sky feeling.
It tends to quit right when it gets going. I would have liked a few more rounds before it stopped.
#3 – Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge
Some may say Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge is the most thrilling ride in the park. It’s the only one with a big drop and any inversions at all. But it’s also a little rickety and jarring. I like the view from the top and the slow rolls, but it’s not my favorite ride in the park.
#2 – Pepsi Orange Streak
I had a hard time deciding if this should take the top spot, or the log flume, and honestly, they’re almost equal. The Pepsi Orange Streak is Nickelodeon Universe’s biggest roller coaster, covering the entire park space, and is honestly a great way to see the rest of the park.
There are no big drops on this one, but it’s a nice zoomy ride and even has some cavey/dark ride sections when it goes through the top of the log flume. It’s an easy smooth ride, good for all ages, and just really pleasant.
#1 – Log Chute
While the Pepsi Orange Streak could contend for the top spot, I think it goes to the totally unique Log Chute. First, there is the novelty of a water ride inside a shopping mall. Then there is the excellence of the ride itself! It’s not themed to kiddie Nickelodeon cartoons, it’s themed to the solidly midwestern myth of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
Even the line is cool, through mining caves. Then once you board your log, you travel through a working sawmill with animatronic figures and outside for some great views. There is a smaller internal drop and absolutely massive animatronics of Paul & Babe right before the big final lift hill and drop. It’s totally unique and perfectly placed. I’d revisit just for this ride. I’d pay to ride while I do my shopping in the rest of the mall.
Keep in mind, the Log Chute has more restricted hours than the rest of the rides. Most days it’s open from noon to 8 pm, or 11-7 on Sundays. It builds up a wait before it even opens, and stays pretty busy.
Mall of America Attractions
Besides the theme park, there are several other attractions in the Mall of America. Some of these are right in & around the park, which resides in the exact center of the mall. Some are elsewhere in the mall like a regular storefront, except it’s a museum or an aquarium. Everything I mention is a separate cost from the theme park, and some even have their own hours – make sure to look it up for your specific visit.
Incorporated around the Nickelodeon Universe rides is a ropes course & zip line called Dutchman’s Deck Adventure Course ($15-20). There is also ClimbZone ($21-25) along one wall. Neither were operating during my visit.
No one was operating it the day I went.
In one corner of the space is FlyOver America, one of those Soarin’-like rides. I added this to my Nickelodeon ticket and it was so worth it! It might be better than Epcot’s version – it almost brought me to tears! I noted that it’s heavy on the mist effects, you may exit a little damp. They have a FlyOver Hawaii version too, but the ride operator said it’s not quite as good. (Reg. $22, less online & $27 for both.)
Right next to FlyOver America is something called “5D Extreme Attraction.” (Which sounds like it was named by someone for whom English is not their first language.) I checked this one out and got $2 off for having a wristband for the park. There are two options – a haunted Mystery Mine where you sit in a mine car that jolts around according to the action on the screen, and Shark Attack where you stand on a motion platform with sharks on screens around you. I was told the mine was the more thrilling one, but I wasn’t very impressed. There are a few good jump moments but overall the motion part was unconvincing. I’d skip it. (Mine is $17, Shark is $12, both are $22.)
Nearby, there are two mini-golf courses – Moose Mountain and ’70s-themed Rock of Ages Blacklight Golf ($15 ea.). Elsewhere in the mall is the Amazing Mirror Maze ($10), a Crayola Experience with a lot of hands-on attractions ($28), the Museum of Illusions ($24), an Escape Game ($40), Wink World psychedelic funhouse ($20), and the popular SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium ($24).
They also list the LEGO and M&M stores under attractions. There are at least two arcades and a “gaming studio,” some midway games, Old Time Photos ($10+prints), and something called the Fair on 4th with axe throwing ($20-30), go-karts ($30), and fair food like corndogs and cheese curds.
Food & Shopping
Speaking of food, one thing about having a theme park in a mall is that there are plenty of options for dining! There’s a Coaster Cafe inside the park, and I got a Dole Whip at a counter in the corner. I’m pretty sure there’s a food court nearby. The MOA can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with it. (And the online map isn’t too helpful.)
Nevertheless, there are tons of dining options in the mall from Burger King to a Rainforest Cafe. Nearly any kind of food you’d want to eat is represented. There is a Mall of America website and app, but using the map to locate a destination doesn’t seem to work too well. Google Maps might work a little better. Or refer to posted maps around the mall to get around.
And, of course, there is plenty of shopping from Walgreens to Burberry, anything you could want to purchase on a vacation or in real life.
Amenities
Of course, there are plenty of bathrooms nearby. I used the one next to FlyOver America the most, but there’s one in the opposite corner as well, and throughout the rest of the mall.
Parking is free at Mall of America. There are huge parking structures on the east and west sides and other lots around. One thing the MOA website map is good at is telling you where to park for your chosen destination. Since Nickelodeon Universe is in the middle of the mall, either of the big lots will do. FlyOver America is closer to the west ramp, if that helps.
All the rides have platform storage for your loose articles, so you don’t have to worry about your stuff or getting a locker (though they do have some.) They also have quiet rooms and other accommodations for those with sensory issues.
There is always plenty of free Wifi throughout the mall.
Hours
The Mall of America is typically open from 10 am to 9 pm daily. Nickelodeon Universe is basically open for the same hours, though not all rides are open the whole time, year-round. We’ve already talked about the shorter hours for the Log Chute – noon-8 most days, 11-7 on Sundays. During peak days the rest of the rides are open the whole day. During non-peak days, several of the rides go on a rotating schedule, which you can find here. Nickelodeon Universe defines peak days as every day from early June to Labor Day, all weekends, major holidays, and school breaks. Non-peak days is everything else. They make it clear on the calendar and mark in yellow “deal days” which cost less than peak days.
I wasn’t sure where else to plug this in, but there’s an evening show nightly at the park’s close, so around 9 pm. Called Universe of Light, it’s lights set to music and smoke effects for a 9-minute show. You can see it at the south entrance, nearest the Backyardigans Swing-A-Long and the LEGO store.
Tickets
You can buy all-day wristbands for $50 on most days, and for $40 on deal days, which is when they rotate a selection of the rides on an hourly schedule. Deal days are marked in yellow on the calendar on the ticket page. There’s also a 2-day wristband for $60. (Days must be consecutive.) A Military Discount will save you $10 per ticket on any day, plus a percentage off food and merch.
Or, you can pay for rides with a points pass. Junior rides are 3 points, which costs $4, and thrill rides are 6 points, costing $8. If you buy a bunch of points at once, you get a better price break. So if you want to ride just the Log Chute while you’re out shopping, you can do that.
Ticket Bundles
You can also bundle your Nickelodeon Universe ticket with other attractions in the mall. There are 9 versions of a 2-pack combo ticket, adding one attraction onto your park pass. For instance, I paid $58 to add FlyOver America to mine.
Then there are two choose-your-own attraction bundles. By splitting attractions into Tier A (SEA LIFE, Crayola, FlyOver, ClimbZone, Museum of Illusions, Wink World, and The Escape Game) and Tier B (both minigolf locations, Mirror Maze, and the 5D Experience), you can get a 3-pack bundle for $72 (Nickelodeon Universe plus 1 Tier A & 1 Tier B) or a 4-pack for $83 (Nickelodeon Universe plus 2 Tier A & 1 Tier B.) You have three days from your first attraction to redeem everything.
Ticket Kiosks
Nickelodeon Universe may be the only theme park that I *don’t* recommend buying your tickets online in advance! There’s no discount to do so, and you even pay $2.50 extra in processing fees. When you buy online, you still have to go to a kiosk to pick up your tickets, so you may as well pay for your tickets at the kiosk anyway. I’d do your research ahead of time and decide on everything you want to do, then choose that when you get there.
The only time I might recommend buying online is if you can find a promo code for a discount (they do exist.) I’m not sure if you can apply promo codes on-site. (You could always try it and if it doesn’t work, buy on your phone with the promo code then redeem it.)
Since the rides are open to the rest of the mall, most ticketing is done on kiosks – touchscreens that look just like the website. Once you make your selections and swipe a card, a wristband will print out automatically. (If you buy online, scan your phone at a kiosk for it to print your wristband.) If you need a person’s help, there’s supposed to be a live ticketing desk in one of the corners. Alternatively, you can redeem or buy at any Mall of America guest services counter.
Touring
I arrived a touch after 10 am – everything well up and running already! – and rode everything I wanted to by noon. The Log Chute was set to open at noon, but it already had a long line waiting for it to open, so I found lunch, shopped a little, then came back to do FlyOver America, tried the 5D Mine ride, then rode the Log Chute a couple of times and was leaving by early afternoon. So it’s not an all-day park, by any means, especially for thrill-seeking adults. You can easily spend the rest of your day at other mall attractions, or shopping around. That being said, I visited on a Friday and it got markedly more crowded as the day went on.
I recommend a visit to the Nickelodeon Universe at least once – or at least to the Mall of America. It’s really a horse of a different color! And I think it’s really fun for folks in the Twin Cities area to be able to go to the mall and fit in a roller coaster or a water ride when the snow is deep outside. I wish my local mall had that!
Be First to Comment