The Mall of America is huge in size, is filled with a variety of stores, and has a wide selection of food choices for meals and snacks. When first entering the Mall of America it can be a little overwhelming wondering where to start. Kids are attracted to Nickelodeon Universe, and every adult in a group is probably interested in going in all different directions to see what they are most interested in first. There are a few simple steps that can ensure everyone in your family or group gets to see and do everything they want at the Mall of America. Planning ahead also ensures a great trip where everyone leaves very happy.
Step #1: Look at a Mall Map
Before your trip to the Mall of America, first look at a map of the mall on their website. The website has a list of all the stores, restaurants, etc. nicely organized into categories for quickly finding which places everyone in your family or group might be interested in visiting. Have each family member or person in your group spend some time looking through the list of stores (about 20 to 30 minutes). While looking through the list of stores, make a list of the names of the stores you want to visit along with recording each store’s location (for example, N302 which means the store is located on the north side of the building, and the first number, the ‘3’ indicates that it’s located on 3rd floor).
Step #2: Organize Stores You Want to Visit
Next, take each person’s list of stores, combine them into one list, and then group all the stores by floor and direction (north, south, east, or west). For example, a list of stores might look like this:
(store name) S107
(store name) S202
(store name) E217
(store name) E347
(store name) N304
(store name) N108
(store name) W150
(store name) W320
During this step you can ignore the names of the stores, but be sure to keep a copy of the store names along with their locations. The first number shown in the 3-digit location number tell us which floor that store is located on, so we can ignore the last two numbers when organizing stores.
Some people might assume that it’s easiest to just visit all the stores on the list by each level of the building, but it’s actually faster to visit stores by going up and down the floors and staying on one to two sides of the mall at a time. In the list above, let’s assume the people visiting these stores are starting out on the south side of the mall on level 1.
They could visit the store located at S107 first. Since they only plan on visiting one other store on the south side of the mall, a good plan would be to next take an elevator up to second floor to visit the store at S202.
Next, they could choose between going to stores on either the east or west side of the mall. If they go east, then the next place on the list is E217 since they are already walking around on second floor. After that, going up to third floor while still on the east side is a good idea. This way they can easily visit the store located at E347.
Now they can walk over to the north side of the building to visit the store at N304 (remember they are on third floor and were just on the east side). Next, it would be best to take an elevator down to first floor while still on the north side to visit the store located at N108.
Finally, they could walk over to the west side to visit the W150 store. Now, the only store left on the list, W320 is on third floor on the west side which is a fast, easy trip up the elevator.
As you can see, the above list was already organized into one of the best plans for visiting stores at those specific locations. Of course, everyone’s list will be different. If there are stores located along two adjacent sides of the mall, and if they are on the same floor, then it’s also fast to visit all of those stores on one floor before moving onto other levels of the mall.
What if your family or group is on third floor on the west side of the mall and someone decides they want to visit a store on second floor on the east side (the opposite side of the mall)? Of course everyone could simply walk around half the length of the mall to get there, but there is a faster and easier way. First, get on an elevator from your current location (west side, third floor) and go down to first floor. In the middle of the Mall of America there is an amusement park which also makes for a great way to quickly walk to opposite sides of the mall (less walking distance). Now that the group has walked from the west side to the east side on first floor, taking an elevator up to second floor is the fastest way to arrive at the store on the east side on second floor.
There is a fourth floor located on both the south and east sides of the mall. The south side has movie theaters while the east side has a few restaurants and bars on fourth floor. Level four of the mall is a great place for entertainment, and it can quickly become a very busy area of the mall on Friday nights along with weekends.
Step #3: Make a Plan
Once the list of stores is nicely organized so everyone can visit the stores they want to see, then it’s time to make a final plan. Where do you plan on eating meals? The Mall of America has two food courts located on third floor on opposite sides of the mall, the North Food Court and South Food Court. The majority of places in the food courts only offer fast foods, but some do carry healthy foods too (such as salads). If you plan on eating at a restaurant, getting a reservation in advance might be a good idea to ensure a seat without too long of a wait.
What times do you plan on eating? The food courts and restaurants can fill up quickly around noon and again around 5 pm. Eating lunch at 11 am is good because it is easy to find a spot to sit in the food courts. And planning a mid-afternoon snack is a great way to take a break from walking and shopping.
Do you plan on going on any rides at the amusement park? If yes, which ones? The Mall of America’s website has a separate map for Nickelodeon Universe which also shows the number of points required for each ride. On busy days, it can take a full hour just to enjoy three different rides. And, it’s very easy to spend two hours exploring the ropes course and making it to the very top of the course (assuming a person walks across every rope obstacle on a day when there are only a few people on the rope course). If there are kids in your family or group, would it be more cost-effective to purchase unlimited ride tickets? If yes, you may be able to get a discount by purchasing unlimited ride tickets online at the Nickelodeon Universe website before your trip.
How many hours do you intend on being at the Mall of America? After answering that question, add on another one or two hours because it’s very easy to not get done as quickly as you might think (due to stopping at other stores that were not on the original list, extra time that is needed to walk through the mall when it’s crowded, long lines if going on rides at the amusement park, and sometimes long food lines).
Fully Enjoying Your Trip
When visiting the Mall of America, it’s important to remember that people in your group may get tired of walking and need breaks. Plus, kids can become crabby when they are tired and need some quiet time in one of the family rooms. Planning a trip does take some time, but can lead to a really fun trip that everyone enjoys.
If your list of stores to visit is rather long or if kids want to spend a lot of time having fun on rides, then consider making it a 2 day trip. The morning hours are great for shopping when there are the fewest number of people in the mall. It’s also easier to get more shopping done faster when you do not have to maneuver through crowds.
During the afternoon hours, more and more people begin arriving at the Mall of America. Usually between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm the mall’s hallways become very crowded. Sometimes it can be a little challenging walking in the hallways because crowds may seem like obstacles between you and where you want to go. Planning for this in advance can prevent the crowds from becoming a source of stress. Typically, the heaviest crowds are on first floor, so visiting stores on second and third floors during the afternoon hours is a great idea. The best times of the day to get in a lot of rides are the morning hours and lunch hours when there are less people around and sometimes no waiting lines.
The Mall of America’s wide variety of stores and entertainment provides a fun atmosphere for people of all ages. With a little planning in advance, everyone in your family or group can fully enjoy a trip to the Mall of America anytime of the year.
