So much for a big grand opening next month at American Dream.

The mega-mall in the Meadowlands on Thursday announced some stores -- although they wouldn’t say how many or which ones -- and the long-awaited water park will open March 19.

A few restaurants that will serve fast food or snacks will also open next month. No sit-down dining has been mentioned in this next phase of the opening.

And The Collections, American Dream’s enclave of luxury stores, won’t open until September, the developer said.

It’s a fraction of what the developer promised last fall when it announced a chaptered opening that would culminate this spring with all the retail and dining opening. But it’s also welcome news to many who have been eagerly waiting for the first-ever DreamWorks Water Park to open.

Tickets for admission to the water park are now on sale on American Dream’s website. Prices listed are $99 for those over 10 years old and $89 for those ages 3 to 9. Twilight admission -- two hours before the park closes -- is $74.

“We can’t wait for guests to visit DreamWorks Animation Water Park and experience the completely unique, jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring destination that we have created,” said Don Ghermezian, Co-CEO of American Dream. “We also look forward to welcoming a new audience to the property with the introduction of retail, opening some of the largest flagship stores globally.”

Visitors to the water park will be able to swirl through more than 40 water slides and 15 attractions themed after DreamWorks characters like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar. The water park has a lazy river, a children’s play area and the world’s largest indoor wave pool -- at 1.5 acres. The park itself is also record-setting -- it’s the largest indoor water park in the country.

But it still won’t be completed when it opens. Luxury cabanas, designed by Jonathan Adler, party rooms “and more” will open “later this year,” according to the Thursday announcement.

The water park’s opening was originally scheduled for November 27, during phase two of American Dream’s four chapter opening announced in September. A week before the designated date, the developer said it would need more time.

No update had been given since then, but a spokesperson for the NJ Department of Community Affairs said this week that 18 of the 27 rides have been inspected and approved to open. Of the remaining nine, four rides have completed engineering review and are ready for inspection and the last five rides are currently in engineering review, according to the DCA.

American Dream debuted on Oct. 25 with what it called “Thrills & Chills” -- the first phase of the opening that brought guests into the Nickelodeon Universe theme park and The Rink, an NHL regulation-sized ice rink.

That was supposed to be followed by, “Make a Splash,” the opening of the DreamWorks Water Park, which was stalled. But the third chapter, “Everyday is a Snow Day,” occurred as planned on Dec. 5 with the opening of Big SNOW American Dream, the indoor ski and snowboard park.

Mall developer Triple Five said the final chapter would be in March 2020, “In Grand Style,” when the 350 shops and more than 100 restaurants would open.

A spokesperson for American Dream on Thursday would not say how many or which stores would open on March 19 -- but did say the store openings will stretch throughout the year and not be all at once as promised last fall.

Dining will also still be sparse. Cinnabon, Dunkin Donuts, Haagen Dazs, Panda Bubble Tea, “and more” will open March 19, an American Dream representative said.

As for getting a full meal, “an array of global cuisine will be available at Coca-Cola Eats, an experiential food destination that will include Charley’s Philly Steaks, Kelly’s Cajun Grill, Wendy’s, and more, alongside a variety of innovative beverage options from Coca-Cola,” an American Dream spokesperson said, adding, “we’ll be making more announcements around dining very soon.”

“A sampling of brands opening soon,” the developer said, but not necessarily on March 19, are:

Aldo

American Eagle

Aritzia

Baggalini

Box Lunch

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Century 21

Columbia Sportswear

EVEREVE

Fabletics

Foot Locker House of Hoops

H&M

Hot Topic

Levi’s

Lush Cosmetics

Morphe

Old Navy

Pac Sun

Pandora

Primark

Scotch & Soda

Sephora

SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker

Skechers

Swarovski

Tumi

UGG

Ulta Beauty

UNIQLO

Victoria’s Secret

Zara

See more of our ongoing coverage of the American Dream mega-mall here.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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