I am on the ground in Frisco, Texas for an early look at Universal Kids Resort. This is Universal’s first theme park built specifically for kids, and it opens July 1, 2026. Here is my first impression checking in.
Universal brought me out to Frisco for this hosted media preview event.
This one hits home for me. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Back then a big weekend meant Dave and Buster’s, the bowling alley, or Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Now Texas has a Universal park of its own. That still feels surreal to write.
Having a brand like Universal in Texas is a big deal. For families across middle America, a Universal park is suddenly close to home. Instead of a drive to the coasts, it can sit in your backyard.
One note up front. Everything here comes from my arrival and my hotel room view. I have not stepped inside the park yet. My park day is Thursday, June 18, so these are first impressions from the outside.
The drive in sets the tone right away. The hotel facade is a wall of bright color blocks with round windows. A giant “kids” letter sculpture sits out front on a bold blue pad. The whole arrival feels playful before you even step inside.
Checking in at the lobby
Check-in runs through the main lobby, and it leads straight into the Curiosity Cafe. The space is bright, open, and built with families in mind. I walked the lobby and headed right for the cafe to see the food.
The Curiosity Cafe is the hotel’s main dining stop. The menu covers pizza, salads, pasta entrees, and a full kids section. I covered the full menu in a separate guide.
The freestyle cup
The refillable freestyle cup runs $19.99 and you can fill it all day. Bring it back on later days and refills are $12.99 per day. Just like at Epic Universe, the freestyle machine carries unique flavors tied to the park’s central lands.
Standard Queen room with a theme park view
I toured a Standard Queen room with a theme park view. The room pairs a queen bed with a built-in bunk, so it sleeps a family with ease. Color pops everywhere. The window is the highlight. It looks right out at the colorful park buildings.
The park ahead
From my window the park is already taking shape. It is built around seven themed lands. Those are DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, DreamWorks’ TrollsFest, DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar, and the Isle of Curiosity featuring DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse.
Even from the outside, the place looks alive. I caught a full minute of the park with multiple rides running.
The Universal Kids Resort Hotel sits right at the park entrance with 300 rooms and family suites, dining, and an outdoor pool.
First impression: built for families with young kids. I am holding my big opinions until I step inside on June 18. For now I am just excited. A Universal park in Texas could be the start of something that spreads to more of the country.
Tip: book a theme park view room. Tickets are on sale now at UniversalKidsResort.com.
Related Articles
- The Curiosity Cafe Menu at Universal Kids Resort: Every Dish and Price
- Universal Kids Resort Reveals Merchandise and Stores for Seven Lands
Source: Universal Kids Resort official site (universalkidsresort.com).
Discover more from Theme Park Shark
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
