First Look: Checking In at Universal Kids Resort in Frisco

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.

Live updates from Frisco

Newest first. I am posting these straight from the resort as I explore.

Dinner at the Curiosity Cafe. I tried the Penne Rosa, which runs $13.99 with grilled chicken and mozzarella in a tomato cream sauce over penne. It is genuinely tasty.

Here is the Penne Rosa from the Curiosity Cafe at Universal Kids Resort Hotel!

$13.99 Penne pasta, grilled chicken, tomato cream sauce and mozzarella cheese!

Very tasty! 😋

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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. Universal parks have always meant a trip to Orlando or California. Now families across middle America have one close to home. For a lot of us, that is a first.

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 clearly built with families in mind. I walked the lobby and headed right for the cafe to see the food.

Here is a look at what it’s like to walk through the main lobby of Universal Kids Resort and into the Curiosity Cafe!

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The Curiosity Cafe is the hotel’s main dining stop. The menu covers pizza, salads, pasta entrees, and a full kids section. I walked through every dish and price in my Curiosity Cafe menu guide.

The freestyle cup is a smart touch

One detail jumped out at me. 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. That is a fun bit of theming on something as simple as a drink.

For $19.99 here is a look at the refillable freestyle cup at the Universal Kids Resort! The cup can be filled all day and brought back on subsequent days for refills at $12.99 for the following days!

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Standard Queen room with a theme park view

I also 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, from the patterned wall to the orange rug.

The window is the highlight. It looks right out at the colorful park buildings. Kids will love waking up to that view.

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.

One ride already catches my eye. From my window I can see the Bello Bay Cruise in the Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club land. It looks like the first one I want to ride.

Even from the outside, the place looks alive. I caught a full minute of the park with multiple rides running.

Here is one minute of theme park ambiance with multiple rides functioning at Universal Kids Resort #Hosted

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The Universal Kids Resort Hotel sits right at the park entrance. It carries 300 rooms and family suites, dining, and an outdoor pool. Stores for all seven lands are already revealed too, which I covered in my merchandise and stores roundup.

First impression

This place is built for families with young kids, and it shows in every detail. The color, the scale, and the room design all point at one audience.

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.

My early tip is simple. Book a theme park view room if you can, because that window is half the fun. Tickets are on sale now at UniversalKidsResort.com.

For background on the park, see my earlier coverage of the lands and the Jurassic World Adventure Camp first look.

Related Articles

• Curiosity Cafe menu and prices at Universal Kids Resort
• Universal Kids Resort merchandise and stores for all seven lands
• First look at Jurassic World Adventure Camp

Source: Universal Kids Resort official site.