A complete guide to the upcoming Universal Kids Resort, including the opening timelines and what to expect for the theme park.

When most people think of Universal theme parks, they picture thrilling roller coasters, intense attractions, and blockbuster franchises that tend to appeal more to older kids, teens, and adults. But Universal is about to introduce something completely different.

Opening July 1, 2026, Universal Kids Resort is an entirely new theme park concept designed specifically for families with young children. Located in Frisco, Texas, the resort combines kid-friendly rides, immersive themed lands, character experiences, interactive play areas, splash zones, live entertainment, and an on-site hotel into one destination created through the eyes of a child.

The new resort marks a major expansion for Universal Destinations & Experiences and represents the company’s first theme park built from the ground up for younger guests. Inspired by beloved franchises from DreamWorks, Nickelodeon, Illumination, and Universal Pictures, the park will invite families to step inside the worlds of Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, Trolls, Minions, Jurassic World, Puss in Boots, and Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Here’s everything you need to know about Universal’s newest resort destination, including a review after experiencing the park for myself.

Universal Kids Resort Overview

Universal Kids Resort is a first-of-its-kind destination that blends a theme park, entertainment district, and family-focused hotel into one compact, easy-to-navigate experience.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Unlike Universal’s larger parks in Orlando and Hollywood, which often feature attractions geared toward older audiences, Universal Kids Resort was specifically created for younger children and the adults who visit alongside them. Across the approximately 20-acre resort, families will find rides with lower height requirements, interactive playgrounds, splash areas, character meet-and-greets, live entertainment, and hands-on experiences that encourage exploration and imaginative play.

The park will feature seven immersive themed lands, more than 30 attractions and experiences, multiple dining locations, sensory-friendly spaces, and opportunities to interact with favorite characters throughout the day.

I Visited Universal Kids Resort—Here’s What Surprised Me Most

As a mom of a four-year-old who has visited plenty of theme parks, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from Universal Kids Resort. What surprised me most wasn’t the rides or even the characters – it was how clearly the entire park was designed around what young children actually enjoy.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

At many theme parks, parents spend a good portion of the day explaining why a child can’t ride something, isn’t tall enough for an attraction, or has to wait until they’re older to experience certain areas. At Universal Kids Resort, the opposite was true. My daughter was tall enough for most attractions, could participate in nearly every experience, and never felt like she was on the sidelines. My daughter rode Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, splashed in the Shrek play area, danced with Gabby, and met SpongeBob – all in the same day.

The other surprise was how much the park embraces play. The rides are certainly fun, but some of my daughter’s favorite moments happened away from traditional attractions. She climbed through playgrounds, cooled off in splash areas, danced during shows, and eagerly sought out character encounters throughout the day. The park feels less focused on checking attractions off a list and more focused on letting kids explore.

By the end of the day, I asked my daughter what her favorite part had been. Her answer? “Everything.” That probably tells you more about the park than any attraction review ever could.

Is Universal Kids Resort Worth It?

For families with young children, I think the answer is yes.

Universal Kids Resort isn’t trying to compete with larger destination theme parks like Universal Orlando or Walt Disney World. Instead, it fills a very specific niche: a theme park built primarily for children in the preschool and early elementary years.

If your child is between roughly 3 and 8 years old, there’s a good chance they’ll find more attractions they can enjoy here than at many traditional theme parks. The lower height requirements, accessible rides, interactive play spaces, and abundance of character experiences create an environment where younger kids can take the lead.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Parents will likely appreciate the park’s manageable size as well. Unlike some larger parks where you can spend much of the day walking between attractions, Universal Kids Resort feels compact and easy to navigate. We were able to accomplish a lot without feeling rushed or exhausted.

That said, families with older children looking for thrill rides may find the experience more limited. This is very much a park designed around younger kids and their interests. But for families in that target age range, Universal has created something that feels surprisingly unique in the theme park industry.

Who Is Universal Kids Resort For?

While many theme parks try to appeal to every age group, Universal Kids Resort was intentionally designed with younger children in mind. After visiting, I’d say the sweet spot is roughly ages 3 to 8, with preschoolers likely getting the most out of the experience. While older children may enjoy select attractions, the park’s focus is clearly on younger guests who still love character meet-and-greets, playgrounds, splash areas, and family-friendly rides.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

For families who have felt that Universal’s existing parks skew a bit too old for their youngest travelers, Universal Kids Resort fills a gap in the company’s lineup. It’s also likely to appeal to families looking for a shorter, more manageable alternative to larger destination theme parks, with enough attractions to fill a day or weekend without the overwhelming scale of a traditional theme park resort.

How Long Do You Need at Universal Kids Resort?

After spending a full day in the park, I think most families can comfortably experience the majority of Universal Kids Resort in a single day or two.

The resort’s compact layout makes it easy to move between lands, and there are enough attractions, shows, and character experiences to fill a full day without feeling overwhelming. We never felt like we were constantly rushing across the park to make it to our next activity.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

That said, families staying at the on-site hotel may enjoy stretching their visit into two days. One of the biggest advantages of a longer visit is having time to slow down and let kids revisit their favorite areas. Younger children often enjoy riding the same attraction multiple times, returning to playgrounds, or spending extra time meeting characters.

Unlike some larger theme park destinations where multiple days are necessary to see everything, Universal Kids Resort feels intentionally manageable. Whether you’re visiting as a day trip from the Dallas-Fort Worth area or making it a weekend getaway, the park is designed to be approachable for families with young children.

Universal Kids Resort Lands

Universal Kids Resort will feature seven themed lands, including 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.

What Rides Will Be at the Universal Kids Resort?

Curious what rides you’ll find at the new Universal Kids Resort? Here’s everything that has been revealed so far.

Jurassic World Adventure Camp

At Jurassic World Adventure Camp, you’ll find the ride Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster. The backstory is about the curious Ankylosaurus, Bumpy, who has gone missing. Riders will travel on the coaster to find her. Other rides will include Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin and the Pteranodrop, giving guests a bird’s eye view of the park from high up. There will also be a Jurassic World Lookout Towers play area, as well as Paddock Play.

For food, guests can eat at Jurassic World Canteen or shop at Jurassic World Outfitters.

Jurassic World Adventure Camp Rides

• Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster
• Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin
• Pteranodrop

Jurassic World Adventure Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• Jurassic World Canteen
• Jurassic World Outfitters
• Jurassic World Lookout Towers
• Paddock Play

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom will feature the attraction Jellyfish Fields Jamboree, where guests can hop aboard a Jelly Angler and bounce around with SpongeBob SquarePants. Barnacle Bus is another attraction, showcasing Bikini Bottom’s sights and residents. Bobbing Barrels features water cannons for families to blast water at each other as they spin around, and Mrs. Puff’s Boating School provides a boating lesson on a specially designed course.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

For food, Goofy Goober’s will offer guests chicken sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, and sundaes. Barg’N-Mart can be found in a sunken wooden treasure chest, with merchandise like apparel, toys, plush, and more. And Mussel Beach will be home to meet and greets with SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, and Sandy Cheeks.

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom Rides

• Jellyfish Fields Jamboree
• Barnacle Bus
• Bobbing Barrels
• Mrs. Puff’s Boating School

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• Goofy Goober
• Barn’N-Mart
• Mussel Beach

DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp

DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp will serve as home to Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ever After, a family ride taking riders through the story of how Shrek met Fiona.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

For food, stop by Swamp Snacks, which will serve food such as the Shrekzel. Triplets Treasures will be a store with apparel, accessories, and plush. The land will also feature two interactive play areas, Shrek’s Swamp Rompin’ Stomp and Shrek’s Swamp Splash & Smash, as well as meet and greets with Shrek and Fiona.

DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp Rides

• Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After

DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• Swamp Snacks
• Triplets Treasures
• Shrek’s Swamp Rompin’ Stomp
• Shrek’s Swamp Splash & Smash

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club will be home to a splash zone with Bello Bay Cruise, where you’ll “witness the antics between the Yellow Minions and their Purple counterparts.” The other ride will be the Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Shopping includes Bello Bay Boutique, where you can outfit yourself with Team Yellow, Team Purple, and other themed merchandise. Snacks can be found at Bello Bay Bites. The land will also be home to a Minion meet and greet,

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club Rides

• Minions Bello Bay Club
• Bello Bay Cart Derby

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• Bello Bay Boutique
• Minion Meet and Greet

DreamWorks’ TrollsFest

At DreamWorks’ TrollFest, step into an indoor interactive experience at King Trollex Techno Dance Party, or learn dance moves at a Trolls-themed amphitheater stage show.

For rides, hop on board Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express “to twist and turn through the festival grounds on an armadillo bus ride,” or ride on Hair in the Clouds, featuring a mix of flower-faced balloons.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

TrollsFest food will include Trolls Eatz!, or ice cream at BroZone Cones. Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow will offer a unique Troll-ify Me! experience, or you can shop there for headbands, apparel, make-up, and more. For more subtle merchandise, Mr. Dinkles’ Market will feature colorful, concert-ready t-shirts, souvenirs, and more.

Character meet and greets with Poppy, Branch, and the rest of the DreamWorks’ Trolls gang will also be at the land, along with two interactive play areas, Poppy’s Playland and Trolls Critter Crawl.

DreamWorks’ TrollsFest Rides

• Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express
• Hair in the Clouds

DreamWorks’ TrollsFest Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• King Trollex Techno Dance Party
• Stage Show
• BroZone Cones
• Trolls Eatz!
• Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow
• Mr. Dinkles’ Market
• Poppy’s Playland
• Trolls Critter Crawl

DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar

Swings Over Del Mar will serve as a swing ride in this land. You can also check out a puppet show with Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day! Food options will include Comidas y Leche, or candies and treats can be found at Tienda de Dulces. Merchandise can be bought at the gift shop, Mercado de Perrito.

DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar Rides

• Swings Over Del Mar

DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day!
• Comidas y Leche
• Mercado de Perrito
• Tienda de Dulces
• Character Meet and Greets

Isle of Curiosity

The Isle of Curiosity will serve as the gateway to the other themed lands at Universal Kids Resort. Here you’ll find Gabby’s Cat-Tastic Dance Party!, where guests can dance with Gabby from DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse.

This area will also be home to Cakey’s Cupcakes, which will serve up a variety of cupcakes. Universal Kids Resort Café will be another food option, with options to sit down or take food to go. Then, the Universal Kids Resort Store will serve as the flagship merchandise shop, offering gifts from each land.

Isle of Curiosity Shopping, Dining, and Attractions

• Gabby’s Cat-Tastic Dance Party!
• Cakey’s Cupcakes

Character Meet-and-Greets Are a Major Highlight

If your child loves meeting characters, Universal Kids Resort may be one of the strongest theme park destinations for character interactions. Character interactions felt far more accessible than at many larger theme parks. We never felt like we had to choose between spending all day in attraction lines or meeting characters.

Throughout the day, we encountered opportunities to meet characters from some of Universal’s most popular franchises, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Shrek, Fiona, and the Trolls. Rather than feeling tucked away in corners of the park, character encounters are woven into the experience.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

For younger children, these interactions often become the most memorable part of the day. While adults may focus on rides, kids frequently remember the chance to hug a favorite character, take photos, or share a brief conversation.

What stood out to me was how accessible these experiences felt. Because the entire park is geared toward younger children, the characters feel like a central part of the experience rather than an add-on. My daughter was constantly spotting familiar faces and eagerly asking who we could meet next.

For families with children who may not yet be ready for bigger attractions, the character experiences alone provide significant value and help create those core theme park memories.

Universal Kids Resort Height Requirements

One of the biggest differences between Universal Kids Resort and Universal’s other theme parks is that most attractions are designed with younger children in mind. While some rides do have minimum height requirements, they’re significantly lower than many attractions found at Universal Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood.

Current attraction requirements range from no minimum height at all to a maximum minimum height of 42 inches, meaning many preschoolers and early elementary-aged children will be able to experience most of the park’s rides. Children below the listed accompanying height requirements must ride with a supervising companion.

No Minimum Height Requirement

• Jellyfish Fields Jamboree (Supervising Companion required for children under 48″)
• Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin (Supervising Companion required for children under 53″)

30-Inch Minimum Height Requirement

• Barnacle Bus
• Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After

36-Inch Minimum Height Requirement

• Bobbing Barrels
• Mrs. Puff’s Boating School
• Pteranodrop
• Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby
• Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express
• Hair in the Clouds

39-Inch Minimum Height Requirement

• Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster*

40-Inch Minimum Height Requirement

• Bello Bay Cruise

42-Inch Minimum Height Requirement

• Swings Over Del Mar

Universal Kids Resort Hotel

Located just steps from the theme park entrance, the 300-room Universal Kids Resort Hotel serves as the resort’s on-site lodging option and extends the playful atmosphere beyond the park gates.

Rooms are designed with families in mind and can accommodate up to five or six guests. Options include Standard Queen, Deluxe Queen, and Signature Queen rooms featuring a queen bed and twin-over-full bunk beds, as well as larger Family Suites that offer a separate king bedroom, additional sleeping space, and a dedicated dining area.

Photo by Morgan Flaherty

Beyond its family-friendly accommodations, the hotel will feature the quick-service Curiosity Café, a full-service lobby bar, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a game room, and kid-focused activities. Together with the theme park, the hotel creates what Universal describes as a complete “kidcation” destination, allowing families to stay immersed in the experience throughout their visit.

Thank you to Universal Kids Resort for inviting me to experience the park, including its attractions, food, and experiences, prior to opening.