Editor's note: Check out more of our comprehensive coverage about American Dream Meadowlands.

EAST RUTHERFORD — Construction workers in hard hats and lime-green vests seemed to well outnumber visitors to the American Dream mega-mall and entertainment complex Monday afternoon, after a grand opening weekend that kicked off Friday with visits by Gov. Phil Murphy, local politicians, a high school marching band and busloads of high school students.

When the clock struck noon Monday, visitor traffic at American Dream was anemic. Granted, it was a Monday, it was a school day and only a few of the complex's attractions are open: the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park rides and the professional-sized ice rink.

The complex, which has been in development since the 1990s, is still very much a work in progress. The atrium near the first-floor welcome desk smelled of sawdust and plaster, and the whirs and screeches of construction echoed through the building. Above, signage for Old Navy, Ulta and Sephora was being installed.

One construction worker taped wallpaper to a temporary wall, building a neon mural to mask the makeshift atmosphere.

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The temporary walls didn’t quite match up with the gleaming tile; dust and bits of paint collected in grooves between the two.

Deeper into the building, around half a dozen skaters slid across the NHL-sized ice rink. A woman pushing a stroller that carried two small dogs talked to an employee at the skate rental desk.

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People loitering near the ice rink looked through glass windows at what will be North America’s largest indoor water park, which is set to open Nov. 27. Building materials were scattered everywhere, and construction cranes rose above fake palm trees. The wave pool was partially filled with water.

A family restroom and a nursing room near the theme park were blocked with yellow construction tape. A ceiling panel hung open, exposing wires. An elevator blinked an out-of-service message.

Families with small children dotted the theme park, but few of them had to wait in line for rides. Employees working the ticket counter chatted with each other, waiting for visitors.

Customers meandered through the sleek behemoth, heads tilted back to take in the panoramic view. Some hadn’t come to skate, ride a Thomas the Tank Engine roller coaster or play cornhole in the halls; they walked in, stared and walked back out again.

All-day parking was supposed to cost $24 after opening weekend, but it was still free Monday afternoon.

The DreamWorks Water Park will open the day before Thanksgiving, with more than 40 slides and 15 attractions. It will have the world's largest wave pool and the world's tallest indoor body slide.

Just one week after the water park debuts, American Dream's long-anticipated indoor snow park, called Big SNOW, is slated to open.

In March, more than 350 shopping venues and 100 dining venues are expected to debut. Officials also expect Merlin Entertainments’ SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center to be open by March.

Alexis Shanes is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: shanesa@northjersey.com Twitter: @alexisjshanes

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