Where Shopping Meets Roller Coasters

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Nickelodeon Universe

Nickelodeon Universe sits at the center of Mall of America and is the largest indoor amusement park in North America. Unlike a traditional amusement park, admission is completely free, allowing visitors to wander through the park and simply pay for the rides they want to experience. The result is a lively atmosphere that lasts all day.

The park opened in 1992 as Knott’s Camp Snoopy, developed by Knott’s Berry Farm. Fans of the original Camp Snoopy in California will quickly recognize a few familiar details. In 2008, the park was reimagined as Nickelodeon Universe and today features attractions inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and many other well-known Nickelodeon characters.

Our tour begins with one of the park’s oldest roller coasters.

Pepsi Orange Streak

Pepsi Orange Streak is a Zierer Tivoli coaster and one of the park’s original attractions. Much like the very similar Jaguar! at the former sister park Knott’s Berry Farm, it features an unusually long layout for a Tivoli coaster.

The ride winds its way through the middle of Nickelodeon Universe, weaving between many of the park’s attractions. It isn’t until the train reaches the large log flume that the pace begins to slow slightly before gently returning to the station. Even by today’s standards, Pepsi Orange Streak remains one of the better Tivoli coasters I’ve ridden.

Log Chute

Log Chute is another original attraction dating back to the park’s days as Knott’s Camp Snoopy. Built by Hopkins Rides, this classic log flume takes guests into the world of Paul Bunyan and has become one of Nickelodeon Universe’s signature attractions thanks to its charming theming and surprisingly long ride.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to experience it during my visit, so Log Chute has earned a spot at the very top of my to-do list for my next trip to Mall of America.

Fairly Odd Coaster

Fairly Odd Coaster is a Gerstlauer spinning coaster with a fun layout that gets off to a promising start. Unfortunately, the ride is surprisingly rough, which takes away much of the enjoyment. That’s a shame, because the coaster itself has plenty of potential.

Shredder’s Mutant Masher

Shredder’s Mutant Masher is a KMG Afterburner that combines powerful G-forces with moments of surprisingly strong airtime as the gondola swings high above the midway.

By the time the ride reaches its finale, the gondola is spinning like crazy, turning the whole thing into an absolute puke machine. I loved every second of it, but anyone with a weak stomach has been warned.

Back at the Barnyard Hayride

Back at the Barnyard Hayride is a small Zamperla powered coaster aimed primarily at families with young children. While it’s a perfectly pleasant ride for its target audience, there’s simply not much to remember once it’s over.

Brain Surge

Brain Surge combines the familiar feeling of a classic Musik Express with the ability to flip your gondola upside down whenever you feel like it. Since every rider controls their own flips, no two rides are ever quite the same.

If you really want an unpredictable experience, let a child take control. Chances are you’ll spend the next few minutes upside down far more often than you expected.

Ghost Blasters

Ghost Blasters is a classic Sally interactive dark ride where guests use laser guns to blast ghosts, skeletons and other spooky creatures. Its light-hearted haunted house theme makes it a fun attraction for the whole family.

While Ghost Blasters is an enjoyable ride, it never really stands out from other interactive dark rides. It’s fun while it lasts, but once it’s over, there’s very little that sticks with you.

SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge

After climbing the vertical lift, the train dives straight down a 97-degree first drop and charges through a fast-paced opening sequence featuring a loop, a small airtime hill, an overbanked turn and a heartline roll. It’s an intense and thoroughly enjoyable start that showcases just how much Gerstlauer managed to pack into such a compact layout.

Unfortunately, the ride loses some of its momentum after the mid-course brake run. While the second half is still enjoyable, it never quite matches the intensity of the opening sequence. Even so, SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge remains a very good coaster that simply deserved a stronger finish.

TMNT Shell Shock

TMNT Shell Shock is a Gerstlauer Sky Fly, a ride type I’ve always been a big fan of. Unfortunately, this newer generation comes with redesigned restraints that offer noticeably less upper-body support. As a result, pulling off flips is far less comfortable than on the original Sky Flys at Nigloland and Legoland Germany.

Despite the lack of wind inside the building, it’s still surprisingly easy to flip the gondola throughout the ride. TMNT Shell Shock is definitely a lot of fun, but for me it never quite recaptures the magic of those original installations.

Avatar Airbender

Avatar Airbender is an Intamin Half Pipe Coaster that holds a very special place in my coaster journey. It was here that I reached my 1,000th roller coaster—a fitting milestone for an Intaminion, considering I had already been working for Intamin for more than two years at the time.

Fortunately, the ride itself is every bit as memorable as the milestone. Avatar Airbender delivers an intense and surprisingly long ride experience, while the gondola rotates just enough to keep things interesting without ever feeling out of control. Personally, I would have loved a little more rotation, but that’s a minor complaint. Overall, it’s an excellent attraction and a worthy coaster to celebrate such a special milestone.

Pictures Nickelodeon Universe

Spongebob Squarepants Rock Bottom Plunge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock

Conclusion Nickelodeon Universe

Nickelodeon Universe probably isn’t a park worth traveling to Minneapolis for on its own. As part of Mall of America, however, it’s a completely different story. The combination of shopping, dining and a surprisingly diverse collection of rides creates an experience unlike any traditional amusement park.

My personal highlights were Avatar Airbender, Shredder’s Mutant Masher and SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge. While not every attraction was equally memorable, it’s the mix of classic rides and modern thrill attractions that gives the park its unique character.

If you’re visiting Mall of America and enjoy amusement parks, Nickelodeon Universe is an easy recommendation. My visit became even more memorable thanks to my 1,000th roller coaster on Avatar Airbender.

What is your opinion about the amusement park Nickelodeon Universe? Just write it in the comment field below the report!

Click here to get to the next report of The Great Mid-Western Road Trip.

Click here to get to the overview page of Nickelodeon Universe.

TKathke August 19, 2024 September 13, 2026 Nickelodeon Universe / The great Mid-Western Road Trip Day 4 - 5

The many novelties of the Wiener Prater

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Hochschaubahn

During my last visits to the Wiener Prater, the world-famous Hochschaubahn was closed each time. This time, however, I planned my visit much earlier so that I could take a ride on the classic Scenic Railway. The ride, which is still traditionally controlled by a brakeman who rides along with the train, impresses with its gradients and the quite distinctive curves. It is the most family-friendly of all scenic railways, but a ride on this 70-year-old roller coaster is a must for every theme park and roller coaster enthusiast.

Rollerball

Another novelty for me is the Rollerball. This utterly imposing roller coaster from RES is an extremely fun family roller coaster with one small problem: it’s a one-trick pony. The roller coaster, which runs vertically, convinces with its rocking moments initiated by the bizarre drops – but that’s about it. The very family-friendly ride is very enjoyable for a single ride, but the very repetitive course of the track does not awaken the desire to ride it again straight away. In addition, the ride is simply not accepted by the visitors and therefore you never know whether it is running or not.

King Size Turbo Booster

Also new to me is the King Size Turbo Booster – the second iteration of Funtime’s Vomitron, which is very popular in the Prater. However, instead of just doing its flips straight on a circle path, the King Size Turbo Booster takes it up a notch. The seats are now all separate from each other and can each rotate around their own axis. The gondola carrier itself also rotates and is driven by a motor. The superimposition of all the rotational movements creates an extremely fast ride in which you can experience all kinds of crazy moments. Interestingly, the ride is still quite stomach-friendly, although it doesn’t look like it from the outside.

Gesengte Sau

The biggest novelty of the past years is the roller coaster Die G’gengte Sau. This is a bobsled coaster from Gerstlauer, but here it is primarily built up high and takes an absolutely wild route back to the station.

The start is made by classic hairpin bends, as you would find them on a Wild Mouse. After a total of three, we race down a big drop. Just past the Black Mamba, the path leads us back up a little and immediately into two more hairpin bends. Straight away we are pulled down a steep bend. After another valley, we climb a small straight section before leaning further and further to the right and plunging towards the ground one more time. After another climb, we race through a block brake and into another hairpin. Once again narrowly missing the Black Mamba, we go down the biggest drop of the ride. On the other side of the ride, the facade of the Funhouse Funball awaits us, which we also narrowly miss. Three tight turns follow, which lead us to the other side of the ride. We then repeat the whole thing in a small steep curve and several bunny hops. For the finale, a downward curve and several swerves to the right and left await us before we find ourselves in the brake and the absolutely brilliant roller coaster comes to an end.

The Gesengte Sau is an outstanding novelty and one of the best bobsled coasters from Gerstlauer. The extremely compact ride convinces with its multitude of drops and breathtaking curves.

Bilder Wiener Prater

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TKathke September 17, 2022 July 19, 2026 Wiener Prater

Everything new at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind

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A lot has happened since my last visit to Freizeit-Land Geiselwind. In 2016, the animal and amusement park was taken over by showman Mathias Mölter and has been steadily expanding ever since. Interestingly, the charming funfair is developing more and more into a theme park as more and more funfair rides are added.

Verrückte Farm

It all starts with the nice children’s area right at the entrance. The crazy farm is home to the Doggy Dog children’s roller coaster, a classic Big Apple.

Freizeit-Land

The charm of the old amusement park can still be discovered today in Freizeit-Land. Most of the rides have been given new names, and the Shot ‘n’ Drop Tower T-Rex Tower has been completely re-themed with an artificial volcano, from whose crater you are now ejected.

Drachenbucht

Wo früher noch Autos parkten, befindet sich heutzutage der Themenbereich Drachenbucht. Der weitläufige Themenbereich bietet fernöstlichen Charme, ohne dabei allzu kitschig zu wirken. Hauptattraktion hier sind die SBF Visa Frisbee Auge des Drachen, der überaus kurzweilige Walkthrough Meister Ling’s magisches Labyrinth (Master Ling’s magical maze) und die Drachenhöhle.

Drachen Höhle

Die Drachenhöhle ist die ehemalige Black Hole des Schaustellers Schierenbeck. Der Hell Diver aus dem Hause Zierer ist mit seiner rasanten Achterbahnfahrt in den kleinen Bobs auch heute ein wahres Highlight und sollte deshalb keineswegs ausgelassen werden.

Land der Piraten

The Land of the Pirates used to be home to the theme park’s terrific HUSS corner, where you could experience a variety of classic rides from the HUSS company. Today, the main attraction here is Jack’s Versteck (Jack’s Hideout)- a huge funhouse, as well as a variety of well-themed rides. Unfortunately, however, the new Bounty ship swing doesn’t really fit in here.

Fluch des Kraken

The world record roller coaster Boomerang now also belongs to this area. The ride, now known as Fluch des Kraken (Curse of the Kraken), convinces with a coherent overall concept and the still magnificent ride characteristics. Personally, however, I think it’s a shame that the original design has been thrown overboard, because it was actually very successful. It’s a pity that an Australian themed area didn’t fit into the concept of the theme park.

Safari

At the back of the Freizeit-Land, in the middle of the forest, is the Safari themed area. Here you will find a number of children’s rides, the great horror walkthrough Dr Lehmann Horror Lazarett, and the roller coaster Taka Waka.

Taka Waka

The roller coaster that sounds confusingly similar to Tiki Waka from Walibi Belgium is a cyclone coaster from SBF Visa. The medium-sized roller coaster offers a classic Figure 8 design based on the Pinfari model, with several smaller drops and a large number of helices, as well as rather rough brakes. The ride is not worth mentioning and looks outdated despite its fairly recent construction.

Forbidden Kingdoms

The newest themed area is the Forbidden Kingdom. This area is home to the Cobra roller coaster, as well as the Merlin sling shot and the Ramses walkthrough (the former Tal der Könige by showman Bügler). The theme area’s focus is a mishmash of all kinds of adventures, be it in mystical England, the ancient Egyptians or someplace in the jungle. Surprisingly, the concept works and the Forbidden Kingdoms proves to be an extremely coherent themed area.

Merlin

The undisputed main attraction of this themed area is Merlin – a Sling Shot from Funtime. The ride catapults two brave passengers to lofty heights, where they then experience several somersaults. The ride is absolutely breathtaking and definitely a recommendation for anyone who wants to brave the rather short (yet very long) queue.

For me, it was the first Sling Shot. Although I have already stumbled across many rides of this kind, the high price of the attractions, which are usually operated as up-charges, was never worth it to me. Here at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind, however, the ride is included in the park ticket, just like at Skyline Park, and is therefore a must for every amusement park fan. The ride, which seems quite extreme, is simply a great and surprisingly gentle experience in the end.

Pictures Freizeit-Land Geiselwind

Conclusion Freizeit-Land Geiselwind

Freizeit-Land Geiselwind has changed considerably. Although it was much emptier during my visit this year than during my first visit, I spent much more time in the park. Nowadays, there is something to discover around every corner, and sometimes you even come across attractions that you hadn’t even thought of before and which you really want to try out. Especially the self-built walkthroughs are all worth a visit. A visit is therefore definitely worthwhile, especially as the next few years will certainly offer one or two more surprises.

What do you think about the new attractions at Freizeit-Land Geiselwind? Just write it in the comment field below the report or on our social media channels:

TKathke July 19, 2022 July 17, 2026 Freizeit-Land Geiselwind