Whether you’re a veteran Black Friday deal-snagger, or new to the experience, every consumer could use a survival guide to Black Friday. After releasing a “5-Step Survival Guide” the past two years, Destiny USA in Syracuse, NY has added new items to its survival guide – and to its facility – to help make Black Friday easier, and more enjoyable.
Visitors travel from all over the U.S. and Canada to take advantage of the exclusive Black Friday deals and savings from the premium outlets, restaurants and entertainment venues at Destiny USA.
Here’s the NEW Black Friday Survival Guide, still in an easy-to-follow 5-step format:
Step One: Select your top priority stores and research their deals in advance
The most popular choices typically include Apple, Best Buy, Nordstrom Rack, Microsoft, Disney, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, Michael Kors, Victoria’s Secret and more. And at Destiny USA, they’re all under one roof.
Destiny USA also offers “Shop & Stay Packages” with Syracuse hotels that include overnight accommodations, a $25 Gift Card to Destiny USA and a Passport of Savings full of coupons for many of the stores.
Step Two: Map out your itinerary based on location, opening times and PARKING!
The easiest way to hit the most stores is to create a map of your target retailers and identify the most efficient route between them. This includes scoping out the parking situation in advance. Guests can utilize the indoor parking garages, valet parking (near the Cheesecake Factory entrance) or utilize the Solar Street parking lots while parking. These lots provide easy access on and off the property and are connected to Destiny USA’s expansion by an enclosed, climate controlled pedestrian bridge.
The times, they are a-changing… Not all stores open at midnight anymore. Be sure to check when each store opens. This may determine the order of the stores that you visit. Details for each store’s specific hours are availablehere.
Step Three: Divide and Conquer
Once you have your plan, arrive in a group and designate who will shop at each store. Share your lists so that one person can get everyone’s wish list items at each specific retailer.
This means that Black Friday shoppers accumulate a lot of stuff, however, in a very short period of time. Shoppers may need to make several trips out to the car to drop off packages. A great parking spot will make this easy; but if the car is parked far away, then another option is to use valet service. Shoppers at Destiny USA can enjoy valet parking at the Saks OFF 5th entrance for only $5 a day, which includes bag delivery to your car.
Step Four: Make time for food, beverage, bathroom breaks—and Santa
Even after a Thanksgiving feast, shoppers will get hungry and thirsty again – and food isn’t always convenient or even available at 2 am. It’s also important to know where bathrooms will be available to you.
There are a handful of restaurants inside Destiny USA that are open until late in the evening on Thanksgiving Day and opening early on Black Friday, so that visitors can take breaks and enjoy the facility as they prepare for the most important shopping day of the year. Shoppers may even want to make reservations in advance, to avoid waiting in yet another line.
Families should also remember that Santa will be available to take photos and meet kids in the Canyon Area on Black Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and every day until December 24. Photo packages are available for purchase.
Step Five: Bring your family
The adventure of Black Friday does not need to be rushed or stressful. While shopping at premium brand outlets, you can blow off steam by racing an electric go kart at speeds up to 45 mph at Pole Position Raceway, test yourself on the largest indoor ropes challenge course in the world at WonderWorks, play arcade games built for kids and adults at Dave & Buster’s, or go bowling at Revolutions. And a stunning three-story glass atrium provides perfect weather year round.
Destiny USA wants to hear from shoppers, too. Share experiences and tips on Twitter with @DestinyUSA and on Facebook at facebook.com/ExperienceDestinyUSA.
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Destiny USA is a 2.4 million square foot tourist destination in Syracuse, NY that includes a strong mix of luxury outlet tenants, restaurants and entertainment. New brands are continuing to open to create a unique and dynamic consumer shopping experience. A stunning three-story glass atrium provides perfect weather year round. Oxford Economics has projected an annual visitation rate of over 25 million visitors from throughout the U.S. and Canada. Destiny USA is expected to be the second most visited shopping center in the country, according to Travel and Leisure magazine. It is the largest LEED® Gold certified retail commercial building in the world.