This is a fun indoor amusement park. They pack a ton of rides into a relatively small space, including several rollercoasters. You can walk around for free and purchase wristbands if you want to enjoy the rides. I came on a Thursday and lines were not too long. Most rides require kids to be 3 feet in height. There were not really any options for babies under 1, except for a play space with blocks and climbing. They have a good amount of seating and a small arcade inside as well. It's part of the American Dream mall with tons of other attractions, including a water park and an aquarium, so it's a great place to spend a full day. read more

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We did bundle tickets with the water park. We visited on a Saturday. We arrived around 10:30am and there was a line already for the 11:00am opening. They had a character come out for pictures for some entertainment. I visited with a 48" kid and a 36" kid. The taller one could go on most things but they interpreted 48" as not tall enough to ride things that said "those 48" and under" must ride with an adult, so since I was unable to leave the smaller child, he couldn't ride those ones. The smaller kid was limited in rides though. No roller coasters for the little one which was disappointing for her. I loved the 90s Nickelodeon nostalgia. Still had a bunch of Paw Patrol for current littles. There's also an arcade but luckily I was able to avoid that. We went to the food court for lunch and returned after. There are also character appearances-we got pics with Marshall and Rafael. I'd love to return when my little is just a little bigger! read more

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This place is huge for an indoor amusement part. It's pretty nice honestly, and especially good for young kids too. There are some nice rides for teens and adults. The Shell Raiser was very fast and very entertaining (I did not go, but my wife and kids did), and we all liked the Sandy's Blasting Bronco. Note that if you aren't going to ride, i don't tink you have to pay for the wrist strap. You can just follow the people that are riding around! Save a little money! read more

I got my daughter a sunset session ticket from 5pm-8-pm for $49.99 online. It cost $59.99 if you buy it from the kiosk. Decent price for 3 hours unlimited rides when there are short lines. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Other than pricey I will say this park is great for the whole family. You can buy all day wristbands and enjoy all the rides. The arcade games are additional. All the rides we tried were adult and kid friendly. There are more intense roller coasters and each one has their own height requirements. They do safety checks and before you go in you can see if any rides are not operating. Located in American Dream Mall so you will pay about $6 for parking. There's so much to see at the mall itself that you can make it an all day experience including dining there! One other thing to note I don't think their cameras work on the rides. We went on a few that we weren't able to locate on their kiosks. read more

I'm part of a coaster club and travel all over the country visiting theme parks. I've been to Nickelodeon Universe a few times now, and as an adult, don't discount it. There are some legitimately fun thrill rides here along with plenty of family attractions. Every time I visit, guests seem to be having a great time. My biggest complaint, by far, is the staff. Almost everyone looks absolutely miserable to be there. On my visit today, I can only think of two employees who seemed like they were genuinely enjoying their day. Everyone else looked like they hated their job. And this was on a slow day. I can't imagine what it's like when the park is busy. There was one operator at the Fairly OddParents half-pipe coaster who was friendly, chatty, and engaging, but unfortunately that was the exception rather than the rule. My other major issue is ride operations, specifically with lap bars. I assume employees are trained to push restraints down as far as possible, but there needs to be a balance between safety and guest comfort. As someone who has operated rides at multiple theme parks, I know a lap bar does not need to be cranked down to its absolute limit to be safe. On the spinning coaster today, the operator pushed the restraint down so hard that I actually yelled out in pain and had to ask him to raise it. He seemed reluctant to do so. It made me wonder how many guests are sitting through uncomfortable or painful rides simply because they don't feel comfortable speaking up. Will I be back? Absolutely. Do I have a good time when I visit? Yes. But I genuinely think there needs to be some serious retraining when it comes to both guest interaction and ride restraint procedures. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Fun space to visit and you're free to enter and exit at your discretion. There are some fun thrilling rides for older kids and an ok selection for littles. I think they limit the littles a bit too much with size restrictions but it is a fun day trip and you will spend hours here for sure! read more

1.1 billion doesn't buy what it used to. New Jersey dumped a ton of state financing into what is now the American Dream Mall only to see payments missed and the mall still languishing. What the hell, Nickelodeon sensing paydirt built an amusement park inside, so for a cool $100 day pass you can go crazy on a handful of rides, some of which may actually be working on any given day. Considering Nickelodeon the cable network has lost half their audience in the last five years and may be sold or shut down, the mall and their namesake park seem like a house of mirrors (or cards) running on borrowed time (or at least borrowed money.) Who would have thunk that the second largest Mall in the country in the age of Amazon and all things e-commerce would ever have issues... everyone except the numbskulls who financed this albatross. That's a ride and an adrenaline rush that I can certainly skip. Two stars. read more

We had a great time at this amusement park, and one of the best parts is how convenient the location is, it's connected to a mall, so you can easily make a full day out of it. There was a long line to get in at first, but I think that's mostly an opening rush situation. If you arrive just a little after opening, it would likely be much smoother. Definitely recommend buying tickets online ahead of time, since that's much easier than waiting at the kiosk. Once inside, there were a ton of rides for different ages. My son was able to ride many attractions by himself, which made it even more fun for him. I also have a two-year-old, and she was able to enjoy a few rides as well. Just something to note, adults do need a ticket too if you want to ride along with your child. Overall, it's a fun and convenient spot with lots to do for kids of different ages, especially if you plan ahead a bit. read more

- Fun for both kids and adults, with plenty of rides for little ones (clear height requirements for riding alone or with an adult) - Large for an indoor theme park, though still small compared to a full outdoor park - Regular all-access passes are expensive, especially since everyone 3+ pays the same price--free to enter, but you pay for rides - We visited with a 40% Black Friday discount, which made it feel like a good deal - All-access passes include wristbands for unlimited rides; otherwise, it's pay-per-ride using prepaid points (adds up fast) - Lines moved quickly--most waits were under 10 minutes - Staff was a mix: some attendants were friendly and enthusiastic, others were less engaged and didn't return smiles - Noticeably busier in the evening than in the afternoon - Plenty of lockers available for rent and stroller parking available wherever you can find space read more

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This is a pretty legit amusement park at the American Dream Mall. It's right by the water park and it has a huge foot print. The walkway and stairs down into the park is on a platform and you can get a good view of the entire park from there. There are is a seperate area within the park for the younger kids as well. I would say there are two or three large legit roller coasters as well for the older kids and adults. Then a handful of mid range rides as well. They have lockers as well there for backpacks and what not. I'm not sure if there were concessions to be honest but I'm sure there was. There's also a discount if you purchase tickets later in the day. Everything is done online and there's are kiosks to print your wristbands. read more

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Great theme park! Took my kids here for the day and they had a blast. The little kids rides were a hit. From the paw patrol ferris wheel, to the teacups, to the reptar carousel. Thomas the train ride tour was also really fun. They also had rides for big kids as well. These included the shredder, slime fest, Dora the Explorer Sky Coaster. and the Avatar Airbender spinning coaster. My daughter and I went on these multiple times and she had a really good time. Everything is super clean, bright, and colorful. It really feels like stepping into your favorite Nickelodeon shows. The staff was amazingly friendly and helpful, constantly high-fiving the kids and making sure everyone was having a great time. Wait times were reasonable save for a few specific popular rides. We spent the whole day there and never got bored. The food options in the park and the surrounding American Dream Mall are great as well. If you have kids who love Nickelodeon (or even if you just want to feel like a kid again), this place is a must-visit. To quote my kids. "10 out of 10!" read more

For the price of admission, I guess? I've been spoiled by living near a kings dominion where soak city is included in the admission so maybe that's it. However, it's worth the add on if you're already in the area so it's something you accept. There were a total of 5 rides my kids could get on before they were over it so we probably won't be back. The splinter literally broke down right before my kids went to get on so that was a bummer. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

we did both theme park and water park geart placed i will recommond that you DO NOT go on the weekend. and stay at the hotels outside the mall 2 miles away it worth the money. read more

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Totally awesome amusement park Nickelodeon universe is!! They have a bunch of rides from family rides, to extreme rides that take you out of your seat!! my experience at Nickelodeon universe was awesome. Shell razer is a must and heads up to the staff member. Geoff. We stayed till closing, and since there was nobody in line, he let us go five times in a row. Highly recommend this place if you visit the American dream read more

I had the most amazing visit today! We were a group of 30+ year olds without kids and it was the biggest thrill. My throat hurts from screaming. Would definitely come back! read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

I finally got an opportunity to go to Nickelodeon Universe a few weeks ago. My kiddos and I met up with a few other families to explore and celebrate a birthday. The layout and theming of the park is pretty cool. I've never been to an indoor amusement park so this was definitely an experience. I'm also a fan of all the old (and new-ish) Nickelodeon shows. I loved the Rugrats! I do appreciate that you can walk around and not have to purchase a ticket. My kids had wristbands and I didn't have to pay for myself. That's definitely a huge plus. There are a good amount of rides. A nice area for littles, and some bigger coasters as well. My 9 year old was able to get on a lot of rides, but I feel like my 7 year old felt a little lost. He was too big for the little rides, but too tiny for many of the older rides so I don't think he had as much of a good time. The jellyfish swings were fun and they really liked the slimer roller coaster. My daughter looooved the shredder ride. She also enjoyed the Fairly Oddparents surfboard (skateboard?) ride but after a few rides she started to get nauseous. If you suffer from motion sickness you may want to take it easy at this park. It seems like EVERY ride spins, or has a spinning component. She had to tap out after too much spinning. Overall, the park is fun and interesting to walk around. Personally, my anxiety couldn't take it as the attendants buckled my kids in and I constantly needed to make sure they were doing it correctly. haha. read more

This was my 85th theme park. I was extremely excited to go as I was a kid of the 90's, a huge coaster enthusiast, and even born in Jersey even though I live in Florida. What a disappointment. The theming and rides are great. They pack so much in a tight space. But literally EVERY RIDE I WENT ON BROKE DOWN BEOFRE AFTER AND DURING. As I said, this is my 85th theme park. I have tour entire themeparks with about 10x more attractions than this in a quicker time. The ride operations are horrible, too. They just don't care about the guests time. I enjoyed this park for the nostalgia but I plan to never go back. I did create a full tour when I was here. Just search MrBucketlist Nickelodeon Universe on youtube. I hope you have better luck than me. read more

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I've been to this indoor amusement park a couple of times and now my tweens are old enough to enjoy all of their rides. They had a blast. We went on a Monday. It wasn't busy at all. It was perfect! They do offer military discount so that's a plus. If you're not planning on going on any rides, you don't have to purchase a ticket. Anyone can enter the park but a wristband is needed to go on rides. There's also an option of purchasing points if you're not planning on going on all the rides. You just need to know how many points each attraction is that you decide you want to go on. There are seating areas all around the park, outlets to charge your phone, and lockers for your personal belongings. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

Im rounding up to a 4! It's more like 3.5 stars depending on your kids age. For my 2-3 y.o it was ok, she had abt 3 rides she enjoyed. The crazy part for me was there wasn't any food at NickU you have to leave and go in the mall, I guess I'm comparing to Mall Of America in MN. We could only find one bathroom all the way in the arcade! Wasn't too bad overall just a few nuances. I would like to visit the water park next time and probably can do without visiting NickU read more

I had a very disappointing experience at Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream. On July 18, 2026, I purchased an Annual Thrill Pass and visited with my 23-month-old son. Throughout the day, he was measured multiple times, and we were able to enjoy several attractions together without any problems. At our final attraction, Dora's Sky Railway (La Aventura de Azul), we waited about 20-30 minutes in line before the ride attendant repeatedly measured my son's height and told us he could not ride. Multiple supervisors became involved, and we spent even more time waiting while the same measurements were repeated. Despite asking for an explanation, no one clearly explained why we were being denied boarding. The situation eventually escalated to the point where security was called, and I was asked to leave the attraction area and escorted to Guest Services. After returning home, I reviewed the park's published ride policy and learned that children under 36 inches may ride this attraction when accompanied by a qualified chaperone. My son was 23 months old, and I intended to ride with him as his qualified chaperone. If another policy or safety concern applied, it was never clearly explained to me. I fully support ride safety rules. My disappointment is not about following safety requirements--it's about the lack of clear communication and how a simple question escalated instead of being resolved with a straightforward explanation. After spending hundreds of dollars on an Annual Thrill Pass, my family left disappointed. I hope management reviews this incident, improves staff communication, and ensures that families receive clear explanations when ride decisions are made. read more

This was fun to explore and walk around. We didn't pay to get in because we blew loot on the water park admission. But there were areas we could see without paying. They have crazy rides including a roller coaster and all sorts of things. And, as you can imagine, all of the Nickelodeon characters are everywhere the eye can see. I mean who doesn't love an amusement park inside a mall? read more

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We love this amusement park and it is a great option when the weather is too cold or hot outside. You don't have to buy a ticket to enter. You can walk in and accompany other people on rides and decide whether you want to go on rides first. They have a large variety for different ages. read more

I like the theme park is indoor and no tickets required to enter. You need tickets/wristband to get on the rides. BUT it's very chaotic and crowded. Lots of people especially in weekends. Rides for toddlers/kids/adults. They have the staff check the height at almost every ride. Not bad for a toddler who just needs to get the energy out, even I feel drained after spending 3 hours there. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

My family and I enjoyed our Spring Break here with the kiddos. Here are some takeaways if it's your first time like it was ours: -There is little to no signage on where to park that would give easy and closest access to the Nickelodeon Park itself. We had to circle around a few parking structures looking for where to park and eventually asking the parking attendant. We were told to park at Garage B or C and even parking there; you still have to walk a good portion of the mall to get to the park. Also note; the parking isn't free or validated. -I highly suggest buying pre purchased tickets beforehand. You still have to queue for your wristbands, but it makes it much more convenient. -You don't go through "security" or an entrance so everyone can pretty much enter the park. You just have to have a wristband to scan to ride the rides. This is a security risk as anyone can just enter. -There is a good number of rides for kids of all ages. Surprisingly even for toddlers too. You just have to accompany them on most. There are some arcade games and play areas too. There is something for all age ranges. -The park has an open skylight concept and even though it provides great natural light; it does get hot easily with the light from the sun constantly beaming down. And the day we went; we didn't feel the AC running; making it feel very hot and stuffy. -There are no food vendors inside the park. Only drinks and snacks available for purchase. Although you can get a bite by leaving the park and going over to the food courts in the mall. I hope this helps if you and your family are heading to Nickelodeon park! Have fun! read more

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I had a greatt time at Nickelodeon universe with my family. We purchased the double park pass for $140 per person (2 &under free), a little pricey but it was worth it! Mostly worth it in the theme park though because the water park was VERY busy, which is why I take off 1 star. So crowded, so full of chlorine, longg lines, the floors were slippery, very muggy.. but I feel like that is all expected in an indoor water park. The theme park was greattt though! Such fun rides for a theme park in a MALL! They had a few different roller coasters, a skyscraper ride, a bunch of baby rides, the swings ride and soo many more! They were testing a new human crane ride , it wasn't open yet i was so sad! Lol They also had an arcade. They have lockers to rent from $12-22. Plenty of restrooms, and the best part is your attached to a mall, so plenty of lunch choices! HIGHLYYY RECOMMEND coming here with your family & be prepared to spend some $$ ! :) read more

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One of our favorite rainy day activities! It can be costly but its worth the price because there are rarely big crowds and you can ride the rides as many times as you'd like. My son is a HUGE Paw Patrol fan and the character meet and greets are always adorable! The new playground is amazing and keeps my son occupied for a LONG time! There are so many options for toddler rides. Other than the rides there are lots of arcade games and boardwalk style games to play also. The entire facility is very well kept and gets tons of great natural light which is great for being inside a mall ! read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Came to Nickelodeon Universe because my 4 year old is obsessed with paw patrol and they just opened a paw patrol playground, but there is so much more beyond that playground to do so we spent the day there. This theme park is unique in the sense that you don't have to have a wrist band to enter the theme-park, you can walk around freely and decide once you're inside if you even want to pay for the rides or not. They have an option to pay per ride or to buy the all access pass to get on everything. The paw patrol experience on its own was like $12 but I saw there were enough rides for my daughter to get on that I decided on the all access pass which included the paw patrol experience and all the kiddy rides. I did manage to get the pass at a discounted rate because my husband is military or else it is a little pricey. Overall my daughter really loved the theme park and got on everything that was age appropriate. Children 2 and under don't pay, so some of her friends got on for free. I do love the theme and that they have a lot of options. I did see sponge bob walking around, so if your kids like Nickelodeon , they will love it here. It's a great place to spend the day and I love that it's indoors so you can come here even when there's bad weather outdoors. The paw patrol playground was worth it , she spent the most time there and there's an option for smaller kids to play too. I'd say to check them out for sure ! I'll be coming back! read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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If you are looking for a thrilling day at an amusement park, do yourself a favor and steer completely clear of Nickelodeon Universe at the American Dream Mall. This place is straight garbage and an absolute slap in the face to anyone over the age of ten. What is advertised as a world-class indoor theme park is actually just a heavily marked-up playground designed almost exclusively for toddlers and little kids, wrapped in a corporate cash grab that leaves you feeling utterly scammed. The biggest offense is the downright insulting pricing structure that gouges you the second you walk through the gates. Tickets can easily run you up to $80 or more on peak days, which is already ridiculous, but the real crime is the price of basic concessions inside. Charging an insane six bucks for a single bottle of water is borderline criminal for an indoor facility. You are essentially trapped in their ecosystem with no outside food or drink allowed, forcing families to fork over a small fortune just to stay hydrated while walking around a concrete jungle. A Massive Waste of Space When it comes to the actual attractions, the ride selection is a joke. Out of the entire park, there are maybe five decent rides worth your time--like Shellraiser or The Shredder--assuming they are actually running. The rest of the park is filled with garbage made for little kids that will bore anyone else to tears. A prime example is the Thomas the Tank Engine ride, which literally crawls along the track at a mind-numbing two miles per hour. It's a agonizingly slow experience that feels more like a chore than an amusement park ride. The Verdict: Between the $6 waters, the broken rides, and the toddler-centric attractions, this park is an overpriced disappointment. To make matters worse, the overall atmosphere completely kills any remaining fun because half the park looks like it is permanently under construction. You pay full price for admission only to be greeted by blocked-off areas, walls of bare concrete, and major roller coasters that are constantly shut down for "extended maintenance." Instead of a magical, polished theme park, you get an industrial, unfinished warehouse that feels completely abandoned by management. Save your hard-earned money and go somewhere that actually delivers on its promises. read more

This is a cool place if you have kids. As a childless adult I don't think it's worth price. There's only 3 adult rides. The ambiance is a bit low. Maybe it's the indoor vibes I don't know. I also tried to get a coin flattened which is my favorite souvenir ever and the machine took my money and gave me nothing. I walked around looking for help for about 10 mins and gave up and lost my $5 read more

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This place was just ok. I feel they should've had more for the little ones. I brought my 9yr old he was excited at first but he want to leave sooner than we thought. My husband didn't realize he didn't have to buy me a bracelet so we wasted money. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

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Had such an amazing time today with my nephews reliving childhood memories. Not really a place a kid under 4 would enjoy as much since they'd likely be under the 40 inch height requirement for most riders but there are plenty rides for the little ones. We happened to visit on SpongeBob's birthday so we got to do meet and greets with all of Bikini Bottom at the "birthday party." I rated a 4 instead of a 5 because the TMT ride was shut down altogether, Blaze and the Monster Machines ride had a malfunction and so did another of the rides. What hurt me the most was that we paid to get slimed and it was closed for the day. We definitely plan to come back and check out the water park side one of these days. read more

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The people that work there either hate being there or just don't care about customer service. Every single person I encountered there were rude or clearly did not want to be there. read more

Took my 10 month old son and we enjoyed just walking around and watching the rides. We didn't pay for admission although there were definitely a few rides he could have done. There is a wide range of rides / some for younger kids and some for older teens and young adults. Games, arcades and more too! read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

On our subsequent visits, found out seasonal passes are mess. They print with the date of purchasing the pass, not the date of visit. On our subsequent visits the scanners failed to confirm our tags. Bunch of crew members gave us a hard time to get on ride. Some made us wait until they talked to the supervisor, others made it sound like they are doing us a favor. Some told us we were trying to use tags from previous days. Seemed like so many of them didn't know how the winter/seasonal pass works!!! read more

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Nice spot with an assortment of rides. Bright and colorful. It would be nice if security was a bit tighter to enter. There are no people checking bags or metal detectors. Anyone in the mall can stroll into the area. In this day and age, that's a disaster waiting to happen. Nice place family friendly and fun but could use a bit more supervision. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - View from Slime Coaster - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

Took my son for his 16th bday and he had a blast!! I like that adults who are not riding dont have to pay to enter so i just found a nice area to relax and let the kids go from ride to ride! They have a good amount of rides for the thrill seeker and a few smaller rides for the little ones. They also have military and first responder discounts so if you qualify dont forget to use it! Overall its a fun time for the kids. Parking is only $5 for the entire day. read more

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The nostalgia is real. The park is clean and the attendants very friendly. The park itself could afford to not have rides go down during the day. We watched rides be open to be shut down by the time we got to them, unfortunately there were no ETA's or explanations - so we didn't wait around. Otherwise, it was a real good time. It is disappointed that both the Shell Shocker and Fairly Odd Parents ride were both closed AGAIN for the second visit. read more

I've always liked this park since it opened. It's so great for kids. The rides are super cute for them & I like that the characters come out. Specifically, paw patrol cuz my son loves paw patrol. I don't like that it's $85 inc a fee if paid online $95 inc a fee if paid at the door. It's too expensive for a 3 year old, luckily my grandson was 2. I feel the fees should be different for different ages. I don't like that all the rides don't work. Any time I come there's at least 3 rides that don't work. My son paid for the fast pass but most rides don't use fast pass so we had to get that refunded. read more

Nickelodeon Universe - Chase & Marshall - Amusement Parks Near Me - East Rutherford, New Jersey

We had a blast here! Although my son is too short for most of the rides, he was able to enjoy the ones that he could ride on. I also had fun with him. We probably will come back once he is a littler older so he can ride on other rides. read more