Will this be Universal's Legoland?
Universal is on a roll lately. Thought their only big news would be the release of Epic Universe on May 22, 2025, in Orlando, Florida? Nah. They are also gearing up to launch Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, in 2026 - a theme park aimed primarily at kids and families who want to have a great time with popular franchises like Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, and even Jurassic World. Relax, friend, these dinosaurs won’t bite.
Universal Kids Resort is a brand-new adventure for Universal, which is mostly known for theme parks catering to an older crowd. Islands of Adventure boasts some of the best roller coasters in the world, while Universal Studios is famous for its awesome motion simulators. Until now, they haven’t been particularly known for super kid-oriented theme parks, but that seems about to change.
Will this be Universal’s Disney World, or maybe even its Legoland? Time will tell, but just a few days ago, Universal unveiled the lands that will be part of Universal Kids Resort.
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The Universal Kids Resort Lands
Universal Kids Resort will feature several themed lands based on popular franchises, including:
- Shrek: Guests can explore a full-sized playground themed after our favorite ogre’s swamp.
- Puss in Boots: Universal promises sideshow games, fun rides, and festive food. Guests can even recharge and take a nap in a local sensory garden.
- Trolls: Universal says that we are invited to the “biggest music festival of all time”, so there is a good chance that this land will have some sort of live show for children.
- Gabby’s Dollhouse: A hub area featuring meet-and-greets and interactive games for kids.
SpongeBob SquarePants: A water-themed area with fun rides for kids, so don’t forget to bring your swimwear and sunscreen! - Minions: Located in the central area of the park, apparently within the SpongeBob section. It also includes water rides and splash areas.
- Jurassic World: A fun, lighthearted area featuring not-so-scary dinosaurs for young explorers.
- The Universal Kids Resort Hotel: While not exactly a themed land, Universal Kids Resort will include an on-site, 300-room hotel, similar to what Epic Universe is doing with the Helios Grand Hotel. The Universal Kids Hotel is actually located above the main entrance to the theme park, meaning guests will enter Universal Kids Resort by passing under the hotel, a unique and exciting concept for sure!
Here’s what Sarah Gibbon, VP & Executive Producer of Universal Creative, had to say about Universal Kids Resort:
“It’s an amazing opportunity to bring these iconic stories to life for kids and families to experience, interact with, and play together. At each point, we considered how we could design a place especially for kids where they could explore, imagine, and adventure with their families and friends. They’ll be able to do all this while being fully immersed in some of their favorite stories—ones full of curiosity, laughter, and joy.”
What can we expect to see at Universal Kids Resort?
Universal has been quiet about the specific rides we can expect, but I bet they’ll unveil more details after Epic Universe opens on May 22, 2025, once the company is ready to focus more on this brand-new theme park.
I’m really interested to see how a kids-focused Universal park will fare. If it’s a huge success, I could see Universal Kids Resort expanding to other locations, perhaps as an addition to Epic Universe in Florida or Universal Studios Hollywood in California.
As for rides, I expect at least a small, family-friendly roller coaster, along with plenty of mini-games and playgrounds for toddlers. However, don’t expect Universal Kids Resort to be a massive, blockbuster park. The total cost is rumored to be around $600 million, whereas something like Epic Universe costs roughly $7 billion. So, yeah, completely different parks with different goals in mind.
I’d say Universal Kids Resort will be a small theme park where families can bring their kids to enjoy mini-games, carnival-style attractions, lighthearted rides, and meet-and-greets above all else. Maybe something like Dreamworks Land at Universal Studios Florida, but only bigger?
Universal Kids Resort FAQ
When will Universal Kids Resort launch?
Universal Kids Resort theme park is expected to launch sometime in 2026.
Where is Universal Kids Resort located?
Universal Kids Resort is located in Frisco, Texas.
What rides can I expect to see at Universal Kids Resort?
For now, Universal has been quiet about the rides at Universal Kids Resort, but expect family-oriented rides for kids of all ages, similar to what you’d find at Legoland Florida and Legoland California.
Is there a hotel inside Universal Kids Resort?
Yes, there is a 300 room hotel inside Universal Kids Resort.
How much is a ticket to Universal Kids Resort?
Ticket prices have it to be unveiled for Universal Kids Resort, but expect prices to be lower than those for Universal Orlando.
Why book Universal Orlando with us?
We’ve been going to Universal Orlando since Universal Studios first opened back in 1990. Yes, some of us are pretty old. But what matters is that we’ve also been there since the days of Dueling Dragons at Islands of Adventure, and we were at Epic Universe on opening day too.
We have tons of guides about Universal Orlando and dozens of reviews covering pretty much every attraction across the parks. And yes, we’re still debating whether Stardust Racers is actually better than VelociCoaster. Tough call.
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