Nick Universe at MOA thoughts...

[CoastsToCoasters]

In a bit of randomness, I am takin a road trip with my Dad tomorrow(today) to Minnesota. On our way, he's droppin me off at MOA to have fun while he does work for a couple hours tops.

What I was wonderin is who's been there that can tell me what to expect... I keep lookin up pics, & I'm worried that it'll be packed as it appears in photos. I know everyday a park is different, but will I have time to ride everything in 2-3hrs? Ugh haha. This is so random. Haha

[BP317]

The mall might busy if you go on a Friday night because local kids are looking for a place to hang out, but other than that I don't see why it would be busy. I think it's good for what it is, it's got one great coaster (Spongebob) and the other coaster Ripsaw/Orange Streak is unique and well worth a few spins, but other than that it's just a bunch of rides in a mall, not somwehere i'm running back to anytime soon. Some people really like the spinning coaster and Avatar, but I dislike both because they make me sick. Last time I was there they had new landscaping all over the park that smelled awful (fertilizer smell + indoors = no bueno) and gave me a heacache which did not help with the spinning coasters.

While you are up there check out Valleyfair also which has two very good coasters: Renegade at night is great and Wild Thing has some good airtime. You should easily be able to do both parks in the same day.

[monsterfan99]

Nick Universe is a weird mix of rides but overall a lot of fun. Whatever you do, ride the Log Flume as it's one of the best in the US. Loved Avatar and really enjoyed the Tak Attack ride. If you do character photos, they have random ones appearing during the day including the Wonder Pets and SpoungeBob.

I went on a Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, so the day was okay and night time the lines got bad. The only rides that were bad the entire time when I went were SpongeBob and Avatar with Fairly Odd Coaster being hit or miss. The flats never had more than a 2 cycle wait minus the Ferris Wheel which only loaded 6 gondolas each cycle.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Ok thank you guys, but I literally had no time to do anything but coasters. Sadly was shy of a wristband too, so I had to chose which rides I wanted to do & walked around the mall for a bit while my Dad went where he had to, put he was not gone long at all.

Fairly Odd Coaster I felt I could pass up for now cause I have been on its styles a couple times. I did Avatar, Pepsi Orange Streak, & Spongebob. I loved Avatar! Seriously. The park was oddly nice....It was weird bein indoors, cause at times it didn't feel like it with all the trees/plants & sun that was in there. I want to come back to get the entire park in & visit VF as well.

Like I said, I just came to help out witht the roadtrip for my Father, so I was lucky I went at all. I will hit it all next time!

[monsterfan99]

Glad you enjoyed the park.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Yes I did, thanks. I will say it sucks I couldn't ride more/stay but hey, it was all put together last minute for me to even stop in, let alone go at all.

Pepsi Orange Streak was like Whizzer where its smooth but has parts where it tosses you slightly with a transition. It was a very long relaxing ride, pretty awesome that it "zooms" around the entire park. It would fit in better if it wasn't the original green color from Knott's Camp Snoopy. It needs to be a diff color orange or green in my opinion.

Spongebob's RockBottom Plunge was my first euro-fighter. Seats were comfortable, didn't expect them to in those tiny trains. The lift "chugged" from goin to halting. Odd. First drop was great with the swoop into the loop, but some parts really rattled. It felt a lot more like a carnival ride than a coaster. But I naturally really liked it.

Avatar Airbender was my fave. I have always wanted to ride one since I discovered the first Halfpipe at Sarkennemi or however you spell it. I always thought they looked fun, but I didn't expect it to be as fun as it was. The spinning on my "row" of seats was insane. It really felt like it wanted to throw me out. Airtime while spinning was wicked. Loved it. I think I loved it too much haha.

Long story short, I NEED to get it all in because they had some crazy lookin flats. I thought the park was really well taken care of. Still weird its in a mall while people are just shoppin walkin past screamin roller coasters & rides but I liked it. Summer trip planned indeed.

[CoastaFreak]

Yeah you should return to ride some of the rides too, especially the log flume. I live about 10 minutes away from the Mall of America.

[w00dland]

Always enjoyed going to MoA on a random Thursday in Jan/Feb every year to ride the rides during the offseason. Get that wristband and you can ride everything 5x times in a night easily. When Nickelodean Universe was being added in 2007 it changed the park so much for the better. It's a great place now.

Agreed that Avatar is the best ride in the park, but the log flume, spongebob, and fairly odd parents coaster all hold their own quite well.

Certainly worth a look if you are in the area.