Five things we learned about American Dream on opening day

At long last American Dream finally opened.

The mall and entertainment complex, in the works since 1996, welcomed people inside to see the amusement park and ice rink Friday. Gov. Phil Murphy and local students were among the first to check it out. 

Reporters and photographers from NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey were there too with a comprehensive look at American Dream. Here are some of our takeaways:

There's still a long way to go

Murphy said it best.

"This is a journey that we’re all still on,” the governor said while at the site Friday.

American Dream looked very much like the work in progress it remains. There were plenty of construction workers around, plus tiles piled on the ground and an aroma of fresh paint in the air.

Many of the attractions are still in the works, with the indoor water park, snow slope and shops and dining planned for the coming months. 

Parking was confusing

When one of the guests says he wished he left a trail of candy to find his way back to his car, it's not ideal.

“I should’ve brought M&M’s to track how I got here from my car,” said Bob Kahn as he recalled his trek to the entrance. 

Cones blocked the way drivers were led to by signs, and after that there were no directions at all. Parking was not much clearer, and will also cost you after the opening weekend.

Alternatively there's a bus running directly from Port Authority to American Dream, plus several other routes.

Transportation:A quick guide: How to get to the American Dream mega-mall

Column:American Dream? More like American Nightmare. The swamp dream NJ can't walk away from

It's a great place to get your '90s nostalgia fix

If Nickelodeon's lineup from the late 1990s into the early 2000s defined your childhood, prepare to feel like a kid again. 

The Nicktoons from that era are heavily featured in the park. "Rugrats," "Hey Arnold" and "Invader Zim" plus the infamous slime can be seen throughout the amusement park portion of American Dream.  

The displays had a wide array of characters, not just the most popular ones. Even our host and food reporter Rebecca King was stumped by Olmec from "Legends of the Hidden Temple." 

The displays move into the 2000s with "SpongeBob" and "The Fairly OddParents." The newer generation gets its share too with a "PAW Patrol" display. 

You'll have plenty of Instagram opportunities

Speaking of nostalgia, you can easily pose with "Rugrats" figurines. You can sit next to Grandpa Lou, ride on Spike's back or stand next to Angelica. 

Boomerangs of the rides and check-ins at the long-awaited attractions will be hard to resist. Plus, who can turn down a chance to post a meme about the length of the construction.

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The skating rink is HUGE

It's NHL size after all. 

Hearing that and seeing it for yourself are two different things though. Once you see the Zamboni cleaning the ice you really appreciate its size. 

The ice rink is free for opening weekend, but prices afterward were not immediately available. The rink will include open skating, figure skating and hockey tournaments. A Halloween skate is also scheduled for the holiday. 

Joshua Jongsma is a breaking news reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all the major news happening in North Jersey, subscribe here. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com Twitter: @jongsmjo