To use an apt cliché: out with the old, in with the new.

The new being, of course, Nickelodeon Universe, the seven-acre theme park at Mall of America. It was kid-tested at a grand opening Saturday and apparently passed with flying colors.

Crowds were even larger than mall officials expected, said Dan Jasper, MOA spokesman.

"We had an estimated 150,000 people here at the mall Saturday," Jasper said. "That's almost double the number that we had for the same Saturday last year.

"We had every single ride up and running, and all the characters were out meeting people," he said. "It seemed like everyone was having fun."

Waits for some of the most-popular rides were longer than expected, Jasper said, "but that just meant there were a lot of people in the park."

The rides got "rave reviews" from young patrons and their parents, Jasper said.

"One comment I got a lot from parents is that the park seems brighter," he said. "They like the colors and the lighting."

Chris Lake-Smith, the park's director of IT, said the public probably doesn't know how much work went into transforming the park from Camp Snoopy to Nickelodeon Universe.

"This has been a wonderful work of collaboration," said Lake-Smith, who's responsible for keeping Nickelodeon Universe running smoothly.

"Everything looks great now, but a few days ago I wondered if we could finish it on time," he said.

Among the most-popular new rides are the SpongeBobSquarePants Rock Bottom Plunge, a "Euro-Fighter" style coaster, the Splat-O-Sphere, the Splat-O-Sphere, a tower drop-ride in the center of the park, and the Avatar Airbender,"

Chicago-based Levy Restaurants offers an eatery with healthy food choices. It replaces one of the earlier food courts.

Jodi Ousley of Burnsville, who attended the grand opening with her son, Hayden, 5, and 9-year-old daughter Madison, gave the new park a thumbs up.

"I'd actually have to say I think it's pretty cool," she said. "I like it better than Camp Snoopy."

The park is more colorful and there are more-exciting rides for young children, she said. In addition, Ousley said, the Nickelodeon characters are more interesting to children than the "Peanuts" brigade that were the park's first theme characters.

Mother and daughter agreed the park's prices were a little steep.

"If they lowered the price," Madison said, "I bet more kids would come."

An annual pass at Nickelodeon Universe now costs $250, compared to $99 for Camp Snoopy. The price of wristbands for daily unlimited use will increase from $24.95 to $29.95.

Mall officials said the increases are needed to keep Nickelodeon Universe a leader in kid-friendly features.

Few reminders of the park's former theme remain. The log chute still operates much as it did when Woodstock and Snoopy were premier characters.

But the log chute will be "re-themed" to a new Nickelodeon television series, "Back to the Barnyard," by the end of the year, Jasper said.

Gene Dugal, Bloomington fire inspector, gave a favorable impression as he strolled KU Saturday afternoon.

"It's a little like taking the State Fair and putting a roof on it," Dugal said.

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Chicago-based Levy Restaurants offers an eatery with healthy food choices. It replaces one of the earlier food courts.

Jodi Ousley of Burnsville, who attended the grand opening with her son, Hayden, 5, and 9-year-old daughter Madison, gave the new park a thumbs up.

"I'd actually have to say I think it's pretty cool," she said. "I like it better than Camp Snoopy."

The park is more colorful and there are more-exciting rides for young children, she said. In addition, Ousley said, the Nickelodeon characters are more interesting to children than the "Peanuts" brigade that were the park's first theme characters.

Mother and daughter agreed the park's prices were a little steep.

"If they lowered the price," Madison said, "I bet more kids would come."

An annual pass at Nickelodeon Universe now costs $250, compared to $99 for Camp Snoopy. The price of wristbands for daily unlimited use will increase from $24.95 to $29.95.

Mall officials said the increases are needed to keep Nickelodeon Universe a leader in kid-friendly features.

Few reminders of the park's former theme remain. The log chute still operates much as it did when Woodstock and Snoopy were premier characters.

But the log chute will be "re-themed" to a new Nickelodeon television series, "Back to the Barnyard," by the end of the year, Jasper said.

Gene Dugal, Bloomington fire inspector, gave a favorable impression as he strolled KU Saturday afternoon.

"It's a little like taking the State Fair and putting a roof on it," Dugal said.

Comment on this article at our website, www.mnsun.com.