Editor's Note: Originally published Nov. 18, 2018.

Excitement -- and a healthy dose of Jersey resentment -- have been building around the American Dream mega-mall for over a decade. But now that construction is well underway, and there are waterslides involved, we are really jazzed.

Photographers recently captured shots of slide pieces and construction taking place at the development, which is set to become one of the largest malls in North America when it finally opens in the Meadowlands next March. In addition to the 450 retail shops, dozens of restaurants, indoor ski park, Nickelodeon indoor theme park, aquarium, ice skating rink, and luxury movie theaters, the mega-mall will house a DreamWorks waterpark -- promoted as 8 acres of glass-domed, animation-themed water fun.

The project's developer, Triple Five, did not respond to requests for comment on the current waterpark construction, but have previously said it will open in the fall of 2019, a few months after the rest of the mall does. With a target date about a year away, here's what passersby are seeing of the future waterpark at the American Dream.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

All together, there will be about 18 acres of entertainment at the American Dream, including the 8-acre waterpark. Last week, the bones of waterslides could be seen jutting out from parts of the development.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

Parts of the waterslides for the DreamWorks-designed park are sitting in a lot along Paterson Plank Road, across from the American Dream complex. The attractions at the park will be based on characters like Shrek and Kung Fu Panda (though we haven't seen any giant Lord Farquaad sculptures anywhere -- yet).

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

And, the water rides are not all that appear to be taking shape at the mall.

Blue roller coaster tracks are visible through another of the attraction's buildings perched beside Route 120.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media

The main atrium of The Luxury Collections section of the property is nearly enclosed. The Collections, a 200,000 square foot building dedicated to luxury shops and iconic brands, will be anchored by a Saks Fifth Avenue and include high-end retailers such as Hermes and Lord & Taylor, among others.

Don't Edit

American Dream

The complex will include 450 retail, food and specialty shops. Future tenants include: Gap, Victoria's Secret, MAC, Uniqlo, Microsoft, Century 21 and many others.

Don't Edit

American Dream

Once it is all finished, the American Dream will span 3 million square feet and be comprised of 55 percent entertainment and 45 percent retail.

Don't Edit

Rendering courtesy of American Dream

The 8.5-acre indoor theme park, called The Nickelodeon Universe, will house two record-holding roller coasters -- one for steepest drop and the other for longest free spinning coaster.

Don't Edit

Triple Five

Shoppers will have more than 100 dining options, including about 20 full-service restaurants, a first-of-its kind Kosher food hall and a 38,000 square foot gourmet food court with 18 vendors and chef demos operated by MUNCHIES, a youth-driven food and culture website.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

American Dream

Additional entertainment includes a 16-story indoor snow and ski park, a performing arts theater, a 285 foot tall Ferris wheel, a Lego Discovery Center, an NHL-size ice rink and two 18-hole miniature golf attractions.

Don't Edit

Triple Five

Triple Five expects 40 million people to visit the mall each year and has said about half of them will be drawn from the 62 million tourists who visit the tri-state area annually. There will be 33,000 parking spaces, a train station and bus hub on site, and buses are planned from ferry terminals.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva

Construction at the site began 13 years and three developers ago. First it was Mills and Mack-Cali's Xanadu. Then Colony Capital took over in 2006 and in 2011 Triple Five, owners of the Mall of America, acquired the project and renamed it American Dream.

Don't Edit

Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Work resumed at the site in 2015 after a six year stoppage, then stalled again. Triple Five secured $2.75 billion in bonds to finish construction in 2017 and earlier this year the developer said the project was about 60 percent complete and on-target for a spring 2019 opening.

Don't Edit

Triple Five

The American Dream is expected to cost more than $5 billion when it is completed. It will stand apart from other mall experiences, Don Ghermezian, president and CEO of American Dream, told Women's Wear Daily, largely because of its experiential retail and unparalleled entertainment.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

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