The summer of 2026 just got a major new attraction. Universal Kids Resort opens its gates on July 1st in Frisco, Texas — Universal’s first theme park designed specifically for families with young children — bringing SpongeBob, Shrek, the Minions, Jurassic World, and several other beloved characters to life across 20 acres of purpose-built family entertainment. Tickets and hotel packages are already on sale.
The park features seven themed lands built around franchises that have defined family entertainment for a generation — from DreamWorks Animation to Illumination to Nickelodeon. A 300-room hotel sits on site, giving families the option to stay close without the logistical headaches of an off-site location. Single-day passes start at $54.99 per person. An annual pass including parking costs $164.99. One-and-a-half-day pass packages are also available for families who want more time without committing to a full multi-day visit.
What Is Inside Universal Kids Resort?
The park opens with seven distinct lands, each built around a different franchise.
Guests enter through the Isle of Curiosity, where Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse hosts a Cat-Tastic Dance Party. From there, DreamWorks’ TrollsFest offers the King Trollex Techno Dance Party, a Trolls-themed stage show, and two rides — Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express and the elevated Hair in the Clouds attraction.
DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp centres on a ride called Shrek and Fiona’s Happily Ogre After, retelling the story of how the two characters met. The land also includes wet and dry play areas built around Shrek and Fiona’s triplets. Nearby, DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar offers aerial swings, a puppet show, carnival games, and character meet-and-greet appearances.
Illumination’s Minions vs Minions: Bello Bay Club pits yellow Minions against their purple counterparts, with guests caught in the middle on a boat ride and a golf cart derby. Jurassic World Adventure Camp brings a family roller coaster, a spinning attraction, a drop ride offering a bird’s-eye view of the park, and two separate play areas into the mix.
The showpiece land for many families will be Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, packed with attractions including a jellyfish-themed ride, a Bikini Bottom bus tour, a water battle, and Mrs Puff’s Boating School spinning ride.
Throughout the park, multiple sensory gardens offer quiet spaces for children who need a break to reset — a thoughtful inclusion that reflects the park’s stated commitment to designing genuinely inclusive family experiences.
The park’s design philosophy is anchored around children aged 12 and under, with ride heights, character interactions, and entertainment pacing all calibrated for younger visitors. It is the first time Universal has built an entire resort experience from the ground up with that demographic as the primary focus rather than the secondary consideration.
Universal Kids Resort officially opens July 1st in Frisco, Texas. Tickets and hotel packages are available now at universalkidsresort.com.
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