Universal Kids Resort

I want to save other families the disappointment—do not waste your time or money here. This park is nothing like the other Universal parks. It feels much more like a small pop-up carnival designed for young children than a full-scale theme park. If you have children under 40 inches tall, don’t expect them to enjoy much, as they won’t be able to ride most of the attractions. To make matters worse, during our visit many of the rides were closed because the seats were too hot, and several shows were canceled due to the extreme heat. Considering this park is in Texas, it’s surprising that there doesn’t seem to be a better plan for handling the summer temperatures. Another major disappointment is the no re-entry policy. You can’t leave to grab lunch, let your kids take a nap, or cool off without having to pay admission again. That makes for a very long and uncomfortable day, especially with young children. Overall, there are plenty of family attractions in the area that cost less, offer more to do, and provide a much better experience. Unfortunately, this park did not live up to the Universal name, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

We spent a full day at the new Universal Kids theme park in Frisco, Texas this past Saturday and had an absolute blast. If you wonder if you can have fun, let me tell you that we had all ages (7, 20, 27, 30, 57 and 58) and loved every minute of it. Was it hot? Of course, we're in Texas, but they provided shade options and had places to retreat if needed. The rides were good for adults and children, the splash pads saved everyone and the character experiences were accessible and fun. Oddly enough the food was incredible. We had flautas at one of their restaurants, burgers at another etc... and everything was truly great. Everyone was friendly and we stayed almost until close. I personally loved that I could ride all the rides with the 7 year old...instead of it being either/or. It was great fun!

My wife and I, accompanied by our grandson and great-granddaughter (age 5) attended Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, TX from 10:30AM to 3:30PM on Friday, July 10, 2026. Following are our comments and observations on that experience. 1. Parking was plentiful and painless, especially with a NTTA TollTag on our vehicle. 2. Security screening and entry ticket scanning (both located in a ground-level breezeway underneath the hotel) was quick and efficient. Individual photos of all patrons were taken immediately after ticket scanning. 3. Every park employee that we encountered was friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely happy to work there. 4. The size of the park was very manageable and just about right for the target age group (3-8). It seemed much smaller than either Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando or Disneyland in Anaheim. 5. There were abundant comfortable benches (made of sturdy and cool HDPE “plastic lumber”) for seating, but most were not in shade. 6. While there were a number of large shade sail installations in various areas, they probably need to double that amount to effectively combat the Texas sun. 7. The landscaping is young and will obviously need several years to grow to maturity that provides shade. 8. There were quite a few shaded areas (that obviously change with the season and time of day) throughout the park that had little or no seating. We would recommend that Universal conduct a walk-around survey to identify locations and add more benches in these areas. 9. While the water fountain outside the first bathroom and locker rental area (located about 100 feet prior to entering the Security screening area) contained wonderfully refrigerated chilled water, all of the remaining water fountains (which accommodated refillable water bottles) that we used contained only unchilled water. The lack of cold water on a hot day was a major annoyance, and Universal needs to step up and add chillers to all existing water fountains. (Yes, I know that cold water is available from restaurants, but really need it at water fountains.) 10. The target age group absolutely loved the several splash pad areas, so bring a swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes for your little ones. 11. The theater shows were cute and appropriate to the target age group. 12. Maintenance personnel were constantly patrolling throughout the park with tool backpacks, apparently ready to address any ride or equipment malfunction that might arise. 13. Security personnel were plentiful and wore easily identifiable bright yellow shirts. 14. There was an unusually large amount of trash in the landscaping around the park entry seating area (perhaps the remnants of a recent special event) that should be cleaned up ASAP, as it detracted from the immaculate appearance of the rest of the park. 15. The price of food was less than that typically found in a major theme park. 16. There was inadequate signage for theater showtimes and character meet-and-greet events (which are huge attractions with the target age group). 17. This park is missing from the existing Universal app… patrons need an interactive map and schedule of events. Otherwise, please provide paper equivalents. 18. Despite what some may view as an overabundance, we much preferred the unpainted concrete to stinking, melting asphalt (like that typically encountered at other local theme parks). Painting the concrete, while aesthetically pleasing, becomes a maintenance issue, so we understand their reluctance to do so. 19. Ride safety was impeccable, with adequate staffing by well-trained operators and lots of cameras for observation. 20. As local residents, we find it inconceivable that Universal would choose to open the park amid the extreme heat of a Texas summer. Spring or Fall would have been a much wiser choice. 21. Despite all the negative early reviews, we didn’t see a single kid in the target age group that wasn’t having a great time with a big smile on their face. From this perspective, Universal has accomplished the mission.

Showed up late morning and barely any cars in parking lot. I found it odd but after my day I get it. 100+ degrees and finding your way in park it seemed unfinished and not very inviting. 4 and 5 yr olds dont really care but wow it felt like a carnival or local theme park operator trying to save a buck here and there, Also I didnt understand why there is a hotel. We were done in half a day and why on earth would anyone pay 400+ a night for this or go back the next day? The rides and theming were grossly underwhelming. Literally shrek area had wood cutouts. Kind of think this place really wont make it when there wasnt much interest the first week it opened. I hate to say it but the online reviews are pretty spot on about how lackluster this is. At least the residents wont have to deal with a ton of traffic!