Excitement is building ahead of the July 1 opening of Universal Kids Resort, a first-of-its-kind theme park created specifically for young children and their families.
The 20-acre resort, located at the corner of Dallas Parkway and Panther Creek Parkway in Frisco, Texas, features seven themed lands inspired by popular franchises from DreamWorks, Illumination and Nickelodeon, including Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Minions, Trolls, Puss in Boots, Jurassic World and Gabby’s Dollhouse.
A select group of children recently received an early look inside the park before its public debut, allowing them to experience rides, attractions, and character encounters ahead of opening day.
“I’m very excited,” said Audree Allen, who attended the preview with her soccer teammates, according to WFAA. “I didn’t know that I got selected, so I’m just really excited to be here.”
Allen said one of her favorite attractions was a water ride she described as “the blue ride.”
Designed For Young Children
The park was designed with children ages 3 to 8 in mind, offering experiences that are easier for younger guests to navigate while still providing entertainment for parents and caregivers.
Among the attractions are a Minions-themed water ride, a SpongeBob SquarePants splash area in Bikini Bottom, a Jurassic World Adventure Camp ropes course, TrollsFest experiences and Shrek’s Swamp.
“We designed every aspect of Universal Kids Resort with kids in mind and their grownups,” said Molly Murphy, the president of Universal Creative, per NBC 5 DFW. “There are hundreds of our team members who’ve worked so hard to make this day.”
Murphy said North Texas was selected for the project because of the region’s rapid growth and strong appeal to families.
“We chose North Texas because it is one of the fastest-growing destinations in the United States and perfect for young families,” she said. “Frisco has been a wonderful, welcoming partner with us.”
Hotel Experience Extends Beyond The Park
The resort also includes a 300-room hotel featuring family-oriented accommodations, themed guest rooms, dining options, and a pool. Officials said the hotel is designed to extend the experience beyond the theme park and appeal to both out-of-town visitors and local families seeking a staycation.
“Locals might think they don’t need a hotel, but locals love a good staycation,” said Sharon Parker, the resort’s director of marketing and sales, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
Creating First-Time Adventures
Project leaders said the resort focuses on creating memorable first theme park experiences for children.
“Splashing around, singing and dancing, trying coasters for the first time, that’s what all of this park is about,” said Brian Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Universal, per WFAA.
Robinson said his own children helped inspire the design.
“I’m a dad with 9-year-old twins. Designing this was all about them,” he said, Fox 4 reported. “It’s all the first adventures for parents, and I think that is what makes all of Universal so proud of this park.”
The culinary program was also developed with younger visitors in mind. According to Robert Martiez, director of culinary experiences, menu development began by focusing on what children would enjoy rather than adapting adult offerings.
As opening day approaches, anticipation continues to grow among North Texas families eager to explore the new attraction.
Universal Kids Resort is scheduled to officially open to the public on July 1. Tickets and hotel packages are currently on sale, while preview events ahead of the grand opening have already sold out.
