Universal has been having a busy year. Epic Universe opened in Orlando and immediately became one of the most talked-about theme park debuts in recent memory. Disney has tried to match that energy with the new Muppets coaster at Hollywood Studios, which opened to huge lines. And now, in the middle of all of that, Universal just quietly dropped one of its more significant announcements of 2026.
Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, opens July 1.
What Makes This Different From Every Other Universal Park
Universal Kids Resort is not a scaled-down version of Universal Studios Florida or a junior version of Epic Universe. It is the first theme park Universal Destinations and Experiences has ever built, specifically from the ground up, for families with young children. That is not a marketing distinction. It is a genuine design philosophy that runs through every element of the park, from the franchise selection to the ride scale to the sensory gardens built into the layout.
Most major theme parks accommodate young children. Universal Kids Resort was built around them. There is a meaningful difference between the two, and families who have spent time navigating parks designed primarily for older guests will recognize it immediately.
The Seven Lands
The park covers 20 acres in Frisco, a fast-growing suburb of Dallas suburb with a family demographic this kind of destination was designed for. Seven themed lands fill the space with franchises that have genuine and current resonance with the preschool and early elementary age group.
Guests will be able to enter Shrek's Swamp and an entire land themed to Puss in Boots. Kids will also get to witness DreamWorks' TrollsFest. No Universal park is complete without the minions, so guests will step into Illumination's Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club.
For more adventurous guests, Jurassic World Adventure Camp. You'll find the adults who grew up in the early 2000s at Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom. Last but not least, Isle of Curiosity featuring DreamWorks' Gabby's Dollhouse.
That lineup is a genuinely impressive collection of what young children are watching and loving in 2026. Gabby's Dollhouse specifically is one of the biggest preschool properties on streaming right now, and giving it its own dedicated land rather than a single meet-and-greet character stop signals how seriously Universal is taking the younger demographic with this project.
The Details That Make It Work for Families
Beyond the themed lands, Universal Kids Resort features interactive elements scattered throughout the park. Water blasters, bubble blowers, and sidewalk chalk areas for creative play give children things to do between and around the more structured experiences. Multiple sensory gardens are built into the park layout as calming spaces where families can pause, reset, and connect through touch, sound, and color in nature-inspired settings.
The inclusion of dedicated sensory spaces is the kind of detail that families with children who need them notice immediately and remember when choosing where to go next time. It reflects a level of intentionality about accessibility and neurodiversity that is still not universal across the theme park industry.
The Hotel
Universal Kids Resort Hotel sits at the park entrance with 300 rooms and family suites that can sleep up to six guests. Dining is designed with young eaters in mind. An outdoor pool is available. Hotel guests receive Early Park Admission as part of package options, which is the same on-site advantage Universal offers at its Orlando properties.
Tickets and How to Book this Universal Vacation
One-day and two-day general admission tickets are on sale now. The Universal Kids Resort Silver Annual Pass covers 12 months of access with applicable blockout dates. Parking-inclusive pass options are available. A Create Your Own Package bundles tickets, hotel accommodations, and flights with benefits including Early Park Admission, resort-wide charging, and free merchandise delivery.
A specialty one and a half day ticket option is part of the package structure for families who want more than a single day without committing to two full days.
Hotel rooms are bookable for stays beginning June 30, the day before opening, with room types ranging from Standard Queen to Family Suites sleeping up to six.
Universal Kids Resort opens July 1 in Frisco, Texas. Three weeks from today. Tickets are on sale. The hotel is bookable. For families with young children who have been looking for a theme park built for their kids rather than for everyone, and adjusted slightly downward, this is the park that answers that question.
