The Ultimate Destiny USA “Black Friday Survival Guide”


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 three 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 (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.

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 newly renovated and spacious indoor parking garages (north and south), valet parking (near the Carousel AND Cheesecake Factory entrances) or utilize the Solar Street parking lots while parking. The Solar Street 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 available here.

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 Carousel or Cheesecake Factory entrances for only $10 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, 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 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.

BONUE: FREE Limited Edition Black Friday Shades (While Supplies Last)

Bask in the glow of Black Friday with Limited Edition Destiny USA Black Friday Shades, available beginning Thanksgiving night at 8PM at Guest Services, through Black Friday (while supplies last).

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 28! No purchase necessary. Only Snapchat photos will be counted as entry. Must be 18 or older to participate.