Mall Of America

04/24/07

Weekend of Endless Good Times

by my3sons822 at Citysearch

This is the place for everybody to have a good time. I was just there 2 weeks ago, met my oldest son and his 4-year-old son there for the weekend. Did the aquarium, Legoland, and most of the rides at the amusement park. There is something for everyone and it's impossible to get bored! Stayed at a close motel (Ramada Mall of America-great, too), and we were close to the airport so my grandson could see the planes go over. I can't recommend this kind of experience enough, and we're doing it again this fall for a weekend of Christmas shopping.

• Pros: So much to do, wide variety of stores to find just what you're looking for; no problem parking
• Cons: busier on weekends, lines longer, wait for seat at Rainforest Cafe was over an hour

12/14/08

Go to get harassed

by chicopaparazzi at Citysearch

My wife and I have visited this mall on many occasions and it's an absolute gruesome expense of time being harassed by all the little mall kiosk vendors ALL OF THE TIME. We can't walk through the hallways without the kiosk vendors walking in front of our path "excuse me sir, can i ask you a question", "beautiful wife sir, beautiful wife, can i speak to you for a second", "wow look at this couple, come over here for a moment, let me show you something"... then when you ignore them they say "Have a GREAT afternoon" and you know by GREAT they mean "go f yourself" On most other occasions when you ignore them as you walk by they speak to your back in a foreign language (most of these harassers appear to be of Persian descent), and again, you know that what they're saying to you must not be good at all.

On an occasion where my wife went alone, one of the kiosk vendors (on the 2nd floor next to the escalator in front of Nordstrom) a couple of guys who work that kiosk continually followed my wife as she came up the escalator as she walked around their kiosk to the escalator for the 3rd floor asking for her phone number.

I am considering speaking to the police or mall management about this harassment, and I'm sure my wife and myself surely aren't the only people to get harassed while walking through the halls.

• Pros: Food courts getting better food vendors
• Cons: Get harassed down most hallways by the kiosk vendors and sworn at in a foreign language when you ignore them, spiked prices, failed 4th floor clubs.

02/20/08

Yarn Knit and

by SandyKlug at Citysearch

I flew into Bloomington, MN from Santa Cruz, CA to the "Great Mall" for a yarn knitters and crochet convention. It had a really big turn out of 50,000

06/12/07

It is big, I'll give them that.

by filmless1 at Citysearch

It is a huge facility. If you have kids and one spouse wants to shop...then this is your place. Otherwise, you seen on big mall you've seen them all in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, there were shops there that we don't have but still. The amusement park is scaled down and great for kids. I DO NOT recommend the aquarium. It was a HUGE dissapointment. The only nice thing was the underwater tube you walk thru but that was it!! Definitely not worth the $13/person!!! Save your money for a full scale aquarium instead on your next vacation!

• Pros: No sales tax on clothing! Huge mall! Great place for kids!
• Cons: Aquarium HUGE dissapointment!!!

Bloomington's shopping extravaganza draws locals ready to devote a day to it and tourists who come just for it.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
This cement-and-plastic Bloomington behemoth is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States. At 4.2-million square feet, it's home to more than 500 stores, 60 eateries, a 14-screen movie theater, an indoor amusement park and an aquarium. The mall is anchored by Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Nordstrom and Sears, but also includes local finds and a wedding chapel. Notable restaurants include the Rainforest Cafe and Tucci Bennuch, as well as plenty of fast food.

01/13/07

Worth checking out, unless you hate malls...

by sharopooks at Citysearch

My family recently met up in Minneapolis for Thanksgiving at my sister's...how could we NOT check out the MOA while there?! I'm not a big shopper but this place has enough non-shopping stuff to keep the entire family occupied while waiting for those who do shop a lot. 1st off, we went on Black Friday, surely a sign of madness on our part if we wanted to avoid crowds, right? Wrong! Despite the packed parking garages, this place didn't get maddeningly cramped w/ people because it is H.U.G.E. So even when packed, the crowds aren't so bad (I'm from NYC, I know crowds). The amusement park and aquarium are great fun for those who don't want to shop, plus the park's point system (as opposed to paying 1 flat fee for the whole thing) lets people ride a few rides & go on; you don't feel like you have to spend your whole day there because you spent so much money for admission. Don't expect a 6 Flags or something, there are a few coasters that satisfy that urge, but it's more like a sampling of different attractions rather than a nonstop journey of big thrill rides. The aquarium is very cool. The store selection is vast for those who DO want to shop, there were definitely a few specialty stores that we don't have around here. Food/snack selection good throughout the mall. It's a bit tough getting a table in the food court but oh well, that's life. Because it was the holidays, they had some great musical performances going on throughout the mall; I don't know if they normally do that, but it was cool to see/hear. Not just a mall, a great destination for families if only a few people wanna shop!

• Pros: Amusement park, aquarium, selection of stores, musical performances
• Cons: Crowded parking, tough to get food court tables

09/16/05

More than just a mall...

by lindy24 at Citysearch

Let's be serious, the mall is nice for shopping, but that's not the REAL attraction to visiting this Mega-temple of consumerism. There is so much entertainment! Camp Snoopy is good clean fun, and Underwater World is also a cool experience for visitors. If you live here, it's not your first destination for excitement, but it is a GREAT place to spend a day with out-of-town visitors, or stop by yourself when you come to the Great North Woods!

• Pros: l

08/19/05

Go with an open mind

by thewired1 at Citysearch

My husband and I have spent a few days here and there at the MOA and will definately go back. There are a few unique shops that are really worth searching out, and the anchors are unlike anything we have at home.

Plus, we really love Underwater Adventures! Go early, your wristband is good all day and for just a little extra you can get set up on one of the behind-the-scenes tours and even get to help feed some of the fish!

• Pros: Free Parking, Lots to Do
• Cons: Loud

06/09/05

If you've seen one mall, you've seen them all.

by discocactus at Citysearch

There is nothing extraordinary about this mall; if you've ever been to any metro-area mall, there isn't anything in the Mall of America (MOA) that you'd find unique. Yes, there is an amusement park, but its nothing spectacular. If you're expecting a Six Flags,you will be highly disappointed. Overall, its nothing to go out of your way to see. If you want shopping and amusement parks you'd be better off going to the greater Chicagoland area, which has the 2nd or 3rd largest mall in Schaumburg, a Six Flags in Gurnee, and plenty of other attractions.

• Pros: lots of chain stores
• Cons: only chain stores, not unique, semi-crowded

04/18/05

American jokes ain't funny

by quiddity9 at Citysearch

I worked for a major airline, some years back. We trained for 10 weeks. Six weeks into training we were given flight privileges allowing us to travel anywhere in the world. I looked at Russia, Africa and South America. The only other trainee I respected had eyes set on Northern Europe.

Approximately 12 of the remaining 24 students had no plans beyond going as a group to The Price is Right. 10 others could imagine nothing greater than The Mall of America. How utterly pathetic. The Mall of America is an even more vile example of consumerism than the corporatization of Times Square.

What a shame it's in an otherwise cool State like Minnesota.

• Pros: a.k.a., corporate, wenches
• Cons: soulless, vacuous, tripe