I first saw a glimpse of the American Dream Mall on TikTok and it drew me in. Where was this place and why had I not heard of it before? American Dream is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It's a mega-mall with an indoor ski slope, a water park, an amusement park, other experiences, luxury stores, budget stores, and many food options. It has enough square footage to be the second biggest mall in the U.S. after Mall of America. After seeing the alluring TikTok video, my curiosity got the best of me, and I visited over the course of one day.
I discovered that the American Dream Mall is not just a mall—it’s an experience. Below, I’ll break down the pros and cons based on my own experience.
One of the biggest advantages of American Dream Mall is variety. I don’t mean “a few clothing stores and a food court” variety. I mean everything variety. On one visit, I browsed clothing stores, had a bubble experience at Bubble Planet, experienced an indoor water park, ate Korean food and Mexican food. and ended the day watching people ski indoors—while it was warm outside. That alone still feels surreal to me. If you’re visiting with others and your interests and/or tastes are not the same —kids, teens, adults, shoppers, non-shoppers, adventurous, not so adventurous, foodies, non-foodies—this place actually works. Some people can shop, others can ride rides, and no one has to pretend they’re having fun.
One thing I genuinely appreciate is that American Dream Mall is completely weather-proof. Rainy day? Freezing winter? Heat wave? It doesn’t matter. I went in August and had tickets to the water park but I could have just as easily went skiing or snowboarding. The indoor amusement park, water park, and ski slope make it possible to have a full day out without checking the forecast. In a region where winters can drag on and summers can be brutal, that’s a real advantage.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect to be impressed by the attractions. I assumed they’d feel gimmicky. They’re not. The indoor ski slope is genuine. Watching people ski and snowboard in a mall was so cool. The water park is massive, colorful, and clearly designed to compete with standalone water parks. It is also great for adults. The water is warm and the slides are thrilling (unlike some indoor water parks that are more geared for kids). There is also a Nickelodeon Universe amusement park, which isn’t just for little kids—there are serious thrill rides there as well. Even if you don’t personally ride anything, just seeing all of this under one roof is entertaining in itself.
The shopping options span a huge range. That makes the mall accessible to a lot of people. You can window shop high-end stores, grab basics at more affordable retailers, or do both.
One thing that surprised me was the food. Yes, there are the usual fast-food options, but there are also sit-down restaurants as well. As soon as we walked in the mall, there was a food court that had many Asian food options from Korean to Japanese. We stopped there for lunch and for dinner, we had Taco Bell at a food court in a different area of the mall. Having a variety of decent food options made this foodie's heart happy.
American Dream Mall works well as a planned outing. We went there knowing we'd like to visit Bubble Planet and the water park this first time. Knowing that you'll be there for hours instead of hopping between locations—shopping center, restaurant, entertainment venue—you can stay in one place. That’s convenient, especially for families or groups. A visit to this mall can truly feel like a mini vacation.
As impressive as it is, American Dream Mall can have its downsides.
Let’s get this out of the way: the mall is huge. The first time I went, I felt genuinely overwhelmed. There are multiple levels, massive open spaces, and so much happening at once that it can be mentally exhausting. If you’re someone who prefers calm, quick shopping trips, this is not the place. After one visit, I don't know everything that's there.
This might sound obvious, but American Dream Mall makes it very easy to overspend. Between attractions, food, shopping, and impulse purchases, money disappears fast. Even if you plan to “just walk around,” there’s constant temptation. If you’re on a tight budget, this can feel stressful instead of fun.
The American Dream Mall is ambitious, impressive, and undeniably unique. I really enjoyed my visit and would love to go back to maybe spend a couple days there to allow for enough time to enjoy the water park again and check out the other attractions like the Big SNOW attraction, Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, museums, and aquarium.