Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas will officially open on July 1, expanding Universal’s theme park empire to include a smaller, more kid-centric experience compared to its previous projects. 

The 20-acre park (which had been sized at 32 acres in previous Universal press releases) will have seven themed lands, as Universal revealed last year: 

  • Shrek’s Swamp
  • Puss in Boots Del Mar
  • Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club
  • Jurassic World Adventure Camp
  • TrollsFest
  • SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
  • Isle of Curiosity featuring Gabby’s Dollhouse

The lands of Universal Kids Resort (Universal)

In a statement issued last year, Universal Creative president Molly Murphy said: “Universal Kids Resort embodies the spirit of igniting thrill that drives everything we create — designed to bring our youngest guests and families together through play, creativity, and beloved characters and stories. It’s a destination made for kids and, as a regional theme park, brings Universal’s signature storytelling to families close to home.”

The opening date reveal also included the first news about ticket prices for the park. One-day admission will range in price from $55 to $80, depending on the date, with annual passes starting at $130 (or $165 if you want parking included). 

These prices are well below what Universal charges for its parks in Florida and Hollywood, but are in line with similar kid-oriented parks. For example, a one-day ticket for Legoland Florida starts at $69 per person while offering more attractions than the Universal Kids Resort. The smaller Peppa Pig Theme Park in North Richland Hills, Texas, is priced at $26 per person. 

Speaking of attractions, Universal Kids Resort is relying mostly on play areas and character greetings to draw in guests rather than any technologically-advanced rides. The largest rides appear to be the Bello Bay Cruise rapids ride and two small-scale roller coaster: Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster (which is a clone of Universal Hollywood’s Flight of the Hippogriff) and Rhonda’s Trollfest Express. 

Family suite at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel (Universal)

The park entrance will be crowned with the Universal Kids Resort Hotel, offering 300 rooms and family suites sleeping up to six guests. 

Rooms appear to have already sold out for the hotel’s first day of operations on June 30, but reservations are available after the July 4 holiday weekend for $329 per night for standard rooms.

One other detail revealed for the first time Thursday: Universal Kids Resort will have seasonal closures. According to the calendar released by Universal, the new park will be closed on the following dates:

  • Nov. 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 26
  • Dec. 25
  • Jan. 5–8, 11–15, 19–31 (in 2027)
  • Feb 1-10, 16-19, 22-26 (in 2027)
  • March 1, 2, 3, 9 (in 2027)

This will make Universal Kids Resort the first Universal theme park in the U.S. not to be open 365 days a year