Mall of America, budget-wise?

[mommyto2]

So I'm taking my daughter to the MOA for a couple days for a girls weekend. We won't have a car, but will be using the hotel's shuttle to get to the mall. Looking for advice on how to do this frugally. Any suggestions on how/where to get store or restaurant coupons? Or what more budget friendly restaurants you can suggest?

We have never taken a trip together, just the two of us, so I'm trying to think of ways to make it something she'll have a good memory of someday.

 

[maggiew]

There is a Rainforest Cafe, so you if you have the Safari club, you can get the free appetizer or discount. I usually get the free appetizer as my meal (pita quesadilla). If you do MyPoints rewards, you can maybe cash out for a Rainforest GC. But you need a few weeks to receive that. Sometimes there are free kids meal coupons out for RFC. You don't say your daughter's age.

There was a soup and salad special on weekdays at Cadillac Ranch that was reasonable.

I get an envelope full of coupon deals in the mail from our local area. There are usually Ruby Tuesday coupons in there (B1G1F). I am not sure if the MOA Ruby Tuesday's would accept those or not.

Tucci Benuch has a pizza that is reasonable.

There is a decent food court there. Lots of choices: Mexican, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, McDonalds, Long John Silvers, etc.

I really don't buy much when I go (for a yearly girls weekend). Mostly because of baggage restrictions, but also because it is stuff I can get at home. I don't find the prices to be better - except the no sales tax thing. What I have purchased has been some local Minnesota stuff like wild rice. There are a few stores there that I don't have at home, so I did buy a few things there. Like an Ed Hardy shirt for my DD, bath bombs from Basin, and loose tea from Teavana. Although we have gotten a Teavana since I went to MOA last, so I didn't buy tea this time around.

Also, request the Mall of America Visit Kit from their website. Sometimes they send coupons with those. The first time I went to MOA, I stayed at a hotel that had a "shopping package" where I got a free coupon book. I didn't find it very useful, but maybe you will. You can purchase these for $12.50 on their website. But I don't recommend it.
Maggie

 

[mommyto2]

Thanks for the info Maggie. It's good to know about the food court. Being 10, she might just prefer to eat there. I checked the mall's website earlier but didn't see anything about the coupon book. I'll check again.

 

[funnygarcia]

Some hotels have MOA packages and give you the MOA coupon book for free or you can buy it at one of the guest service centers (near most of the mall exits)
There are a few tourist websites that have info you can ask to be mailed or has printable coupons.
http://www.bloomingtonmn.org/
http://www.mallofamerica.com/visit/packages
http://www.exploreminnesota.com

Check with the various daily deal sites and see what is offered in the area like Groupon, Plum District, Purchase Party, Crowd Cut, Living Social.. and there are some where they have deals for purchase all the time. Trubates, Halfofftwincities, Travelzoo.

I've picked up offers for the Mirror Maze for half price (looks cheesey but was actually kinda fun), Tea Garden (serves bubble tea), restaurants, etc.


Purchase Party on facebook gives away tickets.. waterpark, Nickelodeon passes.

Here's a list for some...
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/blogs/130776653.html

This is one for Cantina (Mexican restaurant) $10 for $25
http://mpls.twincitiesbestdeals.com/index.php?index_type=promo-detail&h=9287018


Lots of selection for cheap eats... some places you can sign up for emails and get free stuff.

A very helpful local blogger is also on Facebook, I bet if you ask there you will get LOTS of people to help
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creative-Couponing/137799572948169?sk=wall

 

[funnygarcia]

Thanks for the info Maggie. It's good to know about the food court. Being 10, she might just prefer to eat there. I checked the mall's website earlier but didn't see anything about the coupon book. I'll check again.

There are two food courts plus restaurants/snacks in areas other than the food courts.
The food court overlooking the Lego Imagination Center is pretty lively and can get very busy and noisy, the other one (next to the mini golf place) is a bit more subdued.

 

[princessjv]

The MN Entertainment Book has coupons for Nick Universe and several other attractions in the Mall, If you have one for another state, I wonder if you could access them through the phone app or on the internet? They always have the shark walking around handing out coupons for Under Water World (I know they renamed it... but I don't remember the name). There is an Ikea across the street and they have very reasonable meal choices. Best of all- We don't have tax on clothing in MN!

 

[robinb]

If your DD is 10, she will definitely want to partake in the indoor Nick Amusement Park. I think that they have an after 5 pm pass that is $20 per person.

You may want to use Hotwire and Better Bidding http://www.betterbidding.com/ to get a cheap hotel nearby.

 

[nchulka]

I'm doing a similar trip with my DD for her 10th birthday next year I have never been to MOA, this will be our first trip there also. I have no advice for discounts, but you said you wanted this to be lots of good memories for her. Last year I took DS on a trip and bought him a illustory kit. It's a kit that you can put pictures and captions or a story in. You fill in all the pages and mail them in a postage paid envelope and they send you back a hardbound book. My DS loves his memory book that he got to make himself. You can find them on amazon Hope you have an awesome mother/daughter trip

 

[jcemom]

There are coupons for .99 kids meals at Rainforest Cafe. Not sure if your DD still orders kids meals, but if she does ... http://www.rainforestcafe.com/pdf/rewardCalendars/bambaSports.pdf

 

[deide71]

There is a Chevy's fresh Mex restaurant across the street from the MOA that you can get a Restaurant.com certificate for. There food is pretty good. The Margaritas are better.

 

[SaraJayne]

This isn't budget, but we always get the kids wristband for the amusement rides and they love riding them.

Also, the American Girl store is a must for DD10.

We don't have a Rainforest Cafe by us, either, so we always eat there.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[KAYLI'S DAD]

I also recommend the wristband for the rides. We get the wristband every year even though my daughter is only 4 and doesnt ride that many rides. You can order it online on their website and I think you get a discount on there. I think I also heard that if you go to the subway in the MOA there is a coupon for $5 off the wristband. Maybe someone local can confirm that.

 

[rhiansmom]

Subway does have coupons but check out the MSP Craigslist as often you can get the "package" deal (unlimited rides, mini golf and i think the ropes course) often for about $20 per person.

 

[jennyf2]

There is a Chevy's fresh Mex restaurant across the street from the MOA that you can get a Restaurant.com certificate for. There food is pretty good. The Margaritas are better.

I work at the airport & we go to happy hour here OFTEN OP you should be able to find MOA coupons when you arrive or on their website. Depending on what hotel you are staying at they many have some for you..

Have a great time!!!!!!

 

[mommyto2]

Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice and links! It is very much appreciated.

 

[sarahbug79]

There is also Ikea a short walk away. They have 2 places to eat and it's fun to shop.

 

[hercamore]

Cheap food at ikea and its good. Swedish meatballs and potoatoes. Some food is half off between 2-4 pm.

This is their 2nd floor restaurant, not the first floor deli.

 

[Arkansan]

We always enjoy eating at the cafe in Nordstrom It is on the 3rd (I think) floor. Not the little coffee shop in the mall area outside the shoe department. You order at a counter but they bring the food to you in the seating area. Prices are reasonable and the food is good. They have a great tomato basil soup! Have a fun trip! We love the MOA!

 

[maggiew]

There is also Ikea a short walk away. They have 2 places to eat and it's fun to shop.

Yeah. We went to IKEA (not to eat, but to shop) and there was a sign for breakfast .99 which included bacon, eggs, toast. I don't remember all exactly from the picture, but it was a full plate!!!

They also had a sign for hotdog and drink for I think $1.99!

Personally, I wouldn't walk over there just for the cheap food. (It is walkable, but you have to walk across a big parking lot, so its a little hike.) But you could plan your shopping trip there to coincide with a meal.

Your hotel shuttle could also drop you off there one day. Then you could walk over to MOA. Or you could walk over there around dinner time and have the hotel shuttle pick you up there at IKEA.

Maggie

 

[pannm]

My DH and I ALWAYS do priceline for hotels. If you select the same area as the MOA, about 98% of the hotels have shuttles in that area AND you get a pretty nice hotel for a SUPER discount!!! We've named your own price there and selected a 3 star in the MOA area and gotten it for $50-$60 per night (when it's usually in the $100's).

We ALWAYS get the MOA coupon book. Look for a coupon online to use and buy one at a discount. There USED TO BE (not sure if it's changed? We've not purchased one in about 18 months now) quite a few really good discounts for restaurants, attractions in MOA and shopping!!!

I like IKEA, but if you don't have a car, the only thing you'll want to do there is eat. Obviously, you don't intend to make many purchases of the 'home store' variety. Ikea food is cheap (MOST of the time you can get a breakfast for 99 cents, but if you have a hotel with free Bkfst, that's even cheaper anyways!!!)

Sometimes if you go to MOA's website, they'll list places with deals. Last time we went, we bought this 'movie pack' that included movie tickets, a drink and a pop corn for each person and it was like $8 per person before 6 or 7??? I don't remember what time.

We like to eat at KoKomo's, their portions are HUGE and if you eat at 'happy hour' at some of the restaurants in MOA at certain times of the day- they have cheaper appitizers and if you order 1 app and 1 meal, it stuffs you both and you got a good deal!