Tell me about the Mall of America.

[Muffin]

@kushiel

I know it’ll be a lot of walking and power shopping, but I’ve done the West Edmonton Mall many times so I know the drill.

But West Edmonton Mall has a bigger roller coaster, a skating rink, and a water park (too bad about the submarines).

[friedo]

@DCnDC

All I know about it is what I’ve seen on Mall Cops. It’s available straming on Netflix (in the USA, I don’t know about Canada).

I love that show. STOP! MALL SECURITY!

[Hampshire]

It’s a pretty nice place and better than your typical mall in a lot of respects.
They have a curfew after 4 on weekends for kids under 17 so you won’t see gangs of youth hanging out. It’s also cleaner than most malls I’ve been to and occupancy by tenants is always near 100%.
The two food courts get a bit cramped on weekends but there’s plenty of nice restraunts throughout.
Sealife Aquarium is very well done and now has an octopus exhibit.
They just grand opened the Radisson Blu hotel last month which is attached to the mall.
They’ve broken ground for the Phase 2 expansion and working on the street level infrastructure on the north side of the ball. It will be completed in 2015.
Probably not your thing but the amusement park, Nickelodeon Universe is top notch. They took over when Camp Snoopy bailed and did a lot of upgrades and added a lot of new rides.
The restaurant chain Dick’s Last Resort recently took over the space of the old Planet Hollywood.
There’s a comedy club on the fourth floor with night time shows.
Since Bloomingdales left (which was one of the 4 (3-story) anchor stores) they have been busy remodeling that space into individualized retail spaces. Forever 21 is one of the larger ones.
Take note of where the elevators are. The main mall has a set in the center of each of it’s four sides. The 3 anchor department stores have them, and Nickelodeon has one between the 1st and second floors hidden in the northeast corner.

[Hampshire]

@DCnDC

It looks like - a mall. A really big one. With a roller coaster.

3 roller coasters and a few other newer thrill rides (Avatar Airbender & Ninja Turtles).

[phreesh]

@kushiel

You forgot the part in the OP where I said I wasn’t from the US and I’m from a small city. In addition to the stores that aren’t in Canada (Nordstroms, Macy’s, Torrid, Hot Topic, Lane Bryant) there’s a huge list of shops that I would have to drive 6+ hours to get to here (Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Disney Store, Sephora, Sanrio, Lego Store).

But please continue to feel superior on your anti-consumerism high horse while you likely live in a big city.

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Thanks for the replies everyone! I know it’ll be a lot of walking and power shopping, but I’ve done the West Edmonton Mall many times so I know the drill.

I’ve been to both and I humbly think that West Edmonton is better.

[MeanOldLady]

@thatguyjeff

It’s a big, giant square, with an amusement park in the middle. There’s no easy, short-cuts from one side to the next, even going through the park.

Yes, which is extremely annoying if you’re actually there to buy stuff. But I’d suppose a tourist wouldn’t mind having to walk in a giant circle to get to something that’s right across from you since a lot of the appeal for them is looking around. Also, a lot of the restaurants on the top floor sell booze in them, so if you’re tired while waiting for someone to finish shopping, you can stop at the bar and have a drink. Or at least that’s what I did.

There’s also a ropes course in the park that I wanted to try, but moved before I could find anyone to agree to do it with me. Stupid grown ups are no fun.