Adults: Tommy, Jeanna, Jean, Laura, Gerard
Children: Ashem
Trip window: Thursday night, April 23, 2026 through Sunday, April 26, 2026
Hotel: JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America
Trip priorities
- SEA LIFE at Mall of America
- Como Park Zoo & Conservatory off-site visit
- Dedicated LEGO stop
- Build-A-Bear stop
- Crayola Experience
- FlyOver America
- Nickelodeon Universe rides
- Hotel pool time
- Casual shopping time
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner built into each day
- Nice sit-down dinner on Saturday night
Tickets to buy if needed
These are the main activities in the itinerary and whether they need advance tickets or paid ride access:
| Activity |
Ticket needed? |
Notes |
| SEA LIFE at Mall of America |
Yes |
General admission ticket; can also be bundled with other attractions |
| Crayola Experience |
Yes |
General admission ticket; can also be bundled with SEA LIFE or other attractions |
| Como Park Zoo & Conservatory |
No |
Free admission; voluntary donation; parking is free |
| Nickelodeon Universe rides |
Yes |
You need either an Unlimited Ride Wristband or a Point Pass |
| FlyOver America |
Yes |
Ticketed attraction; available individually on-site or through attraction bundles |
No ticket needed
- Entry to Mall of America itself
- The LEGO Store
- Build-A-Bear Workshop unless you buy a bear or accessories
- The JW Marriott pool for hotel guests
- Como Park Zoo & Conservatory; donations are optional
- Casual shopping time
- Food court meals and most restaurants
- Rainforest Cafe is covered by the reservation, not an attraction ticket
Daily rhythm
| Time |
Best use |
| 8:00-11:30 a.m. |
Breakfast + off-mall or slow morning activity |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
Early lunch |
| 12:00-2:00 p.m. |
Nap |
| 2:15-5:45 p.m. |
Mall attractions + shopping + early dinner |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Back in the room winding down |
| 7:00 p.m. |
Ashem asleep |
| 7:15 p.m. onward |
Adults-only time if the baby monitor setup is working and everyone is comfortable with it |
Meal approach
- Breakfast: likely off-site most mornings to keep costs down, stretch the morning, and make the first part of the day feel more relaxed; hotel breakfast is still an easy backup for one morning
- Lunch: casual and flexible, with everyone free to grab their own food
- Dinner: planned earlier in the evening so everyone is back in the room by 6:30 p.m.
- After bedtime: if the monitor setup works reliably between rooms, adults can go to the hotel bar, hang in one of the adult rooms, or do another easy adults-only block after 7:00 p.m.
Confirmed hours for the trip dates
| Place |
Hours |
| Mall of America |
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
| SEA LIFE at Mall of America |
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. |
| Nickelodeon Universe |
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
| Crayola Experience |
Monday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. |
| FlyOver America |
Monday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
| The LEGO Store |
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
| Build-A-Bear Workshop |
Monday-Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. |
| Como Park Zoo & Conservatory |
Daily: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. |
Nickelodeon Universe note: Nickelodeon Universe lists a scheduled early close at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026.
Optional add-on potential: Minnesota Horse Expo
- Dates during the trip: Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26, 2026
- Location: Warner Coliseum, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Ave. N, St. Paul, MN
- Expo hours: Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Sunday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
- Ticket link: Minnesota Horse Expo 2026 gate admission
- Best slot in this itinerary: Saturday, 9:15-11:15 a.m. in place of the current slow-morning block. That is the cleanest fit because it keeps the noon nap, does not cut the Friday Como plan, and still leaves the afternoon/evening mall plans intact.
- Backup slot: Sunday morning only if departure timing is flexible, but Saturday is the better fit.
Quick location guide
Use the Mall of America directory + interactive map for wayfinding inside the mall.
Ride height guide for Ashem
Assumption for this guide: Ashem is currently under 30 inches tall.
Rides and attractions Ashem can do now with a chaperone
| Ride or attraction |
Official height rule |
Chaperone required for Ashem |
| Big Rigs |
Under 36 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Blue's Skidoo |
Under 36 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Boots' Banana Swing |
Under 36 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| La Aventura de Azul |
Under 36 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Back at the Barnyard Hayride |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Bubble Guppies Guppy Bubbler! |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Carousel |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Diego's Rescue Rider |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| El Círculo del Cielo |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Ghost Blasters |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| Swiper's Sweeper |
Under 42 inches may ride with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
| PAW Patrol Adventure Bay |
42 inches and under must be accompanied by a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
Rides and attractions Ashem is not tall enough for yet
| Ride or attraction |
Official height rule |
Chaperone option |
Ashem under 30 inches |
| Wonder Pets' Flyboat |
36 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Pineapple Poppers |
36 inches minimum and under 58 inches |
No |
No |
| Rugrats Reptarmobiles |
39-52 inches |
No |
No |
| Anchor Drop spiral slides |
40 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| FlyOver America |
40 inches minimum; under 48 inches or under age 8 needs a supervising companion |
Yes, but only once tall enough |
No |
| Splat-O-Sphere |
42 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Pepsi Orange Streak |
47 inches minimum or 42 inches with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
No |
| Fairly Odd Coaster |
47 inches minimum or 43 inches with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
No |
| Log Chute |
47 inches minimum or 36 inches with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
No |
| Backyardigans Swing-Along |
47 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Avatar Airbender |
48 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Brain Surge |
48 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| SpongeBob SquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge |
48 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell Shock |
48 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Shredder's Mutant Masher |
48 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Barnacle Blast Zip Line |
48 inches minimum |
No |
No |
| Fly with Appa |
48 inches minimum or 36 inches with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
No |
| Crazy Cars |
48 inches minimum or 42 inches with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
No |
| Ghostly Gangplank ropes course |
48 inches minimum or 42 inches with a responsible chaperone |
Yes |
No |
Quick summary
- Can ride now: 12 Nickelodeon Universe rides and attractions, all with a chaperone
- Cannot ride yet: 18 Nickelodeon Universe rides and attractions, plus FlyOver America
- Best fit for Ashem right now: PAW Patrol Adventure Bay, Carousel, Big Rigs, Blue's Skidoo, Boots' Banana Swing, Diego's Rescue Rider, and Crayola Experience
Recommended itinerary
Thursday, April 23, 2026
| Time |
Plan |
Food |
| 12:00-3:00 p.m. |
Tommy, Jeanna, Jean, and Ashem arrive. Check bags if the room is not ready yet, ask the front desk for rooms on the same hall or close together, and have an easy lunch. |
Casual mall lunch or food court |
| 2:30-4:30 p.m. |
Flexible early-arrival block: settle into the room, decompress after travel, and do one easy activity if energy is good. Best fit here: hotel pool time, Crayola Experience, or a short walk through Nickelodeon Universe. |
- |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. |
Early dinner for the early-arrival group. Keep it simple so the evening stays easy. |
Cedar + Stone, CRAVE, or quick casual food |
| 5:30-7:00 p.m. |
Back to the room for bath, pajamas, bottles/snacks, and wind-down until Ashem is asleep. |
- |
| Around 8:00 p.m. |
Laura and Gerard arrive and check in. |
- |
| 8:00-9:30 p.m. |
Laura and Gerard can grab dinner if needed, then everyone does a short catch-up. If the rooms are close together and the monitor setup is reliable, Tommy and Jeanna can leave Ashem sleeping in their room while the adults hang in another room or at the hotel bar/lounge. |
Cedar + Stone, FireLake, room service, or hotel lounge drinks/snacks |
Friday, April 24, 2026
| Time |
Plan |
Food |
| 8:00-9:00 a.m. |
Breakfast nearby or at the hotel, depending on energy and timing. |
Off-site breakfast preferred; hotel is the backup |
| 9:15-9:45 a.m. |
Drive to Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Plan on about 25-30 minutes each way from the hotel. |
- |
| 10:00-11:10 a.m. |
Como Zoo + Conservatory visit. Keep it focused instead of trying to cover the full grounds. |
- |
| 11:10-11:40 a.m. |
Drive back toward the mall and hotel. |
- |
| 11:40 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
Early casual lunch before nap. |
Grab-what-you-want lunch back at the mall or a quick stop on the way |
| 12:00-2:00 p.m. |
Nap at the JW Marriott. |
- |
| 2:15-3:30 p.m. |
SEA LIFE visit. |
- |
| 3:30-4:15 p.m. |
Casual shopping block. |
Snack if needed. |
| 4:15-5:15 p.m. |
Nickelodeon Universe rides. |
- |
| 5:15-6:10 p.m. |
Early family dinner. |
CRAVE, Cantina Laredo, or Rainforest Cafe |
| 6:10-7:00 p.m. |
Walk back to the hotel and finish wind-down until Ashem is asleep. |
- |
| 7:15-9:30 p.m. |
Adults-only option: hotel bar, one of the adult rooms, or another easy hang if the monitor setup is working and everyone is comfortable with it. |
Drinks, dessert, or just hang out |
Saturday, April 25, 2026
| Time |
Plan |
Food |
| 8:00-9:00 a.m. |
Relaxed breakfast. No rush. |
Off-site breakfast preferred; hotel is the backup |
| 9:15-11:15 a.m. |
Slow morning: hotel pool first choice, with hotel time or another easy low-stress outing as backup. Keep this intentionally light so the afternoon does not feel compressed. Optional swap-in: Minnesota Horse Expo at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. |
- |
| 11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. |
Early casual lunch before nap. |
Food court or grab-what-you-want mall lunch |
| 12:00-2:00 p.m. |
Nap at the hotel. |
- |
| 2:15-3:00 p.m. |
Dedicated LEGO stop at The LEGO Store. |
- |
| 3:00-3:45 p.m. |
Build-A-Bear stop on the east side of the mall. |
- |
| 3:45-4:15 p.m. |
Casual shopping block. Split up if helpful, then regroup near the restaurant area. |
Hold off on a big snack. |
| 4:15-4:45 p.m. |
Head toward dinner and get settled. |
- |
| 5:00-6:10 p.m. |
Rainforest Cafe reservation. |
Booked for 5:00 p.m. |
| 6:10-7:00 p.m. |
Back to the room and finish wind-down until Ashem is asleep. |
- |
| 7:15-9:30 p.m. |
Adults-only option: hotel bar, one of the adult rooms, or a quiet catch-up if the monitor setup is working and everyone is comfortable with it. |
Drinks, dessert, or just hang out |
Sunday, April 26, 2026
| Time |
Plan |
Food |
| 8:00-9:30 a.m. |
Breakfast, pack, and get organized. |
Off-site breakfast or hotel if that is easier before checkout |
| 10:00-10:45 a.m. |
Check out or leave bags with the bell desk. |
- |
| 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
Final mall block for Crayola Experience, Build-A-Bear if it gets bumped, backup rides, shopping, or anything missed earlier. |
- |
| 12:30-1:30 p.m. |
Casual lunch before departure. |
Food court or whatever sounds good that day |
| 1:30 p.m. onward |
Departure window or one last easy shopping pass. |
- |
Saturday dinner reservation
Saturday night nice sit-down alternatives
These are the strongest full-service options at or directly connected to the mall for a more polished Saturday dinner:
| Restaurant |
Why it stands out |
Saturday hours |
Best fit |
| Cedar + Stone, Urban Table |
Inside the JW Marriott, polished and easiest logistically, with the most "special dinner without extra hassle" feel. |
Dinner served from 3:00-10:00 p.m. on weekends |
Best overall pick |
| Twin City Grill |
Classic, elegant supper-club feel with a strong local personality. |
11:15 a.m.-9:00 p.m. |
Best if you want a Minnesota-feeling dinner |
| FireLake Grill House + Cocktail Bar |
Connected through Radisson Blu, polished but still relaxed, farm-to-table style. |
Dinner 5:00-10:00 p.m. |
Best connected alternative to Cedar + Stone |
| CRAVE |
Broad menu, stylish room, easy for mixed tastes in a larger family group. |
11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. |
Best group-pleaser |
| Benihana |
More of an experience dinner than a refined one, but still full-service and fun for a family night. |
11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. |
Best if dinner should also entertain Ashem |
| Cantina Laredo |
Solid modern Mexican option with a more lively feel. |
11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. |
Best lively option |
Recommended polished alternatives
Best alternatives for a more polished Saturday dinner:
- Cedar + Stone at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25
- Twin City Grill at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25
- FireLake at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25
Best meal plan by day
| Day |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Dinner |
| Thursday |
- |
Casual arrival lunch |
Early dinner for the first group, then Laura and Gerard dinner on arrival if needed |
| Friday |
Off-site breakfast preferred; hotel backup |
Casual lunch back at the mall or on the way from Como |
CRAVE, Cantina Laredo, or Rainforest Cafe |
| Saturday |
Off-site breakfast preferred; hotel backup |
Casual mall lunch |
Rainforest Cafe at 5:00 p.m. |
| Sunday |
Off-site breakfast or hotel if easier |
Casual final lunch before departure |
- |
Booking checklist
- At Thursday check-in, ask the JW Marriott for rooms that are adjacent or at least on the same hall
- Test the baby monitor setup between rooms after check-in so you know whether post-bedtime adult time feels workable
- No ticket needed for Como Park Zoo & Conservatory; just plan to leave the hotel around 9:15 a.m. on Friday
- Book SEA LIFE for Friday, April 24, 2026 around 2:15 p.m.
- Optional: if adding Minnesota Horse Expo, use the Saturday 9:15-11:15 a.m. block and buy admission in advance if you want to reduce day-of friction
- Rainforest Cafe is booked for Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- Leave Sunday as the built-in backup block for anything that gets bumped
Como Zoo cost
- Admission: free
- Donation: optional; official suggested donation is $8 per adult and $5 per child
- Parking: free
- Optional suggested family donation for 5 adults and Ashem: $45
Optional donation math: 5 adults x $8 = $40, plus 1 child x $5 = $45
Official links
