The one outside of Chicago is awesome. I saw your Irish luck. You can visit the many Chicago Irish events & the Doorway to Dream store. It has a replica room model of BLT.
The one here has DVC member events once or twice a year. Once the Long Island one opens, you can possibly ask to be put on a mailing list if you'd like to get invited to it, but w/ all the Jersey DVC people they'll have to take turns inviting different members.
PM me if you need any more info. I live 5 minutes from the one at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL.
We'd love to take a look at either or both! We'll be in New York City in August and had hoped to drop by. We did do the DVC traveling road show in Rochester last November and it was fun. As Canadians, we could not enter the door prizes but we did get a free family membership to the Strong Museum of Play for the year.
I was at the Doorway to Dreams in IL yesterday. They said they're hoping for a September opening in Long Island.
Sheribo, PM me if you want a DVC rep to stay in touch w/ re: the opening & making sure you get invited to any special events they have. I love my DVC rep at our Doorway to Dreams store: Diane Cisek.