Whether you’re a veteran Black Friday shopper or new to the experience, every consumer could use a survival guide to Black Friday. After releasing a “5-Step Survival Guide” the past four 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…not to mention the new onsite Embassy Suites hotel at Destiny USA featuring a midnight breakfast for hotel guests!

Here’s the NEW Black Friday Survival Guide, still in an easy-to-follow 6-step process:

Step One: Shop and STAY at Destiny USA (You’ll Save Big!)

Shop and save all day (and night) this Black Friday and leave the bags to us! That’s right, any guest that stays at Destiny USA’s new onsite Embassy Suites hotel Thanksgiving weekend will enjoy extra savings with the exclusive Destiny USA “Stay & Save” Savings Pass upon check-in. It’s full of deep discounts, freebies and deals ON TOP OF Black Friday savings at various Destiny USA shopping, dining, outlet and entertainment venues.

Plus, hotel guests will receive access to the exclusive Shop & Drop Shopping Bag Delivery Service. Hotel guests simply shop ‘till they drop, and leave their shopping bags with us at Destiny USA’s Guest Services. The hotel will pick them up and deliver them to the hotel’s front desk. It’s that easy!

Plus, save up to 25% OFF your Black Friday stay with our special booking link. Restrictions apply. Subject to availability.

Step Two: Select your top priority stores and research their deals (and hours) 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 with perfect weather and 72 degrees! But not all stores open at the same time, which means you need to check out our hour-by-hour listing of which stores open when all throughout Thanksgiving Weekend.

Step Three: 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 newly renovated and spacious indoor parking garages (north and south), 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.

Plus, 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 available here.

Step Four: 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 Cheesecake Factory entrances for only $10 a day, which includes bag delivery to your car.

Step Five: 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 has moved to the commons level and will be available to take photos and meet kids 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. Find complete Santa schedule here.

Step Six: 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 RPM Raceway, enjoy cutting-edge, live-action entertainment with an adventure at 5 Wits, work together to Escape the Mystery Room, test yourself on the largest indoor ropes challenge course in the world atWonderWorks, play arcade games built for kids and adults at Dave & Buster’s, or go bowling at All-Star Alley & Tavern.

Plus, don’t forget to check out the limited-engagement showing of The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Memorabilia Exhibition at The Muzium, Destiny USA’s latest third-level attraction featuring high-quality traveling exhibitions of art, science, and history, located across from Margaritaville on the 3rd level. 

Destiny USA wants to hear from shoppers, too. Share experiences and tips on Twitter with @DestinyUSA and on Facebook at facebook.com/ExperienceDestinyUSA.

BONUS: FREE Ginormous Shopping Bag (While Supplies Last)

Bask in the ease of Black Friday with Limited Edition Destiny USA Ginormous shopping bag available beginning Thanksgiving night at 8PM at Guest Services, through Black Friday (while supplies last). Simply shop 2 or more stores and bring your bags to Guest Services for your free ginormous shopping bag!

BONUS: Shop. Snap. WIN!

Share your shopping experience with Destiny USA on Snapchat (@destinyusa) all Thanksgiving Weekend long. Simply send your shopping snaps to us for your chance to win one of 5 $100 gift cards! Be creative, and may the best shots win! Winning SNAPS will be selected on Monday, November 27! No purchase necessary. Only Snapchat photos will be counted as entry. Must be 18 or older to participate.