Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[Andysol]

One aspect that I don’t think is getting any attention: when this opens, won’t this be Universals first hotel that they fully operate?

The very first Universal hotel. No Loews or Chinese company running it.

Correct. I mentioned that a couple times upthread.

It’s exciting.

 

[PurpleFrog]

Anyone else living vicariously through all the influencer footage of the hotel today?

 

[Andysol]

I’ve been pretty hyped about all of this. Hotel looks great but that entrance once you pass under the hotel is… not good.

So it’s just shade and benches for their “Main Street”. It seems super weird and underwhelming.

And the influencer hype has been its typical brand of annoying that I expect. Overhyping the littlest thing and obviously not daring say a negative word about it (obviously; or else they wouldn’t fly them out).

The stores and restaurants in-park better knock it out because that hotel room theme park view of the entrance is lacking… a lot. And that’s being nice.

 

[Jake S]

The hotel is also, in my opinion, pretty whelming. Clearly the idea was a type of fun that roughly translates to "kids like tacky stuff, right? If it's really ugly that'll be fun, right?" and I just don't think that works all that well. I'm also pretty surprised by the relative lack of IP integration in the hotel. There are a handful of (not great) character artwork pieces near the elevator area and ... that's it! There's no Universal IP inside the hotel room. You could be staying at a kookie Hampton Inn for all you'd know.

Fun to have a view of the park from the room, but as was already mentioned ... that front entrance area looks bad. We'll see what the rest of the park looks like (and what it's like to be in it, obviously) but the park is very small. We all knew it was small, but it's hard to capture just how dinky the place looks from the hotel room window. You can basically see the entire park all at once.

 

[PurpleFrog]

I enjoyed the colorful arch hallway people keep posting. I was also happy to see refillable mug program and the unique freestyle drink mixes like they have in Epic.

The pool was the super underwhelming bit for me. Someone had a pool view and they were showing it off, and there was maybe like 10 people swimming and the pool was full. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like when the hotel is actually booked up.

 

[Jake S]

Yeah, the pool is nice but nowhere near big enough for a 300-room hotel. Especially when you consider the park closes at 6 — every family is going to descend on that pool after dinner and there is not going to be room for them.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think the hotel looks fun and good. I disagree it needs characters everywhere considering it’s attached to a park with said characters. A breather is good.

 

[Jake S]

A breather is good.

This hotel does not provide a breather lol.

 

[PurpleFrog]

I’ll say this, I’m watching a longer video of the hotel with my 3 year old (we’re both home sick lol) and her review so far: I LOVE IT!!! WOW! I LOVE RAINBOW.

So. There ya go lol

 

[Hatetofly]

Couple of things after seeing the preview pictures hitting the socials. I think there is going to be a lot of warranted concerns and discussions revolving around weather, heat, lack of indoor offerings, concrete pathways, theming or lack there of etc.

So far from what I’ve seen the biggest issue is the movement away from the brand itself. Universal has been on an absolute tear for over a decade. Their rides, themed environments, and overall increase in quality has elevated the brand. It takes time to build that reputation and level of consistency for the consumer. 20 years ago, when you mentioned the leading brand in complete immersion and thematic design it was Disney. Fast forward to today and Universal is a name that is synonymous with theming and quality.

My point is, once you put the Universal brand on a project and turn out something that resembles that of a Six Flags park you can devalue or damage the brands integrity.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

Couple of things after seeing the preview pictures hitting the socials. I think there is going to be a lot of warranted concerns and discussions revolving around weather, heat, lack of indoor offerings, concrete pathways, theming or lack there of etc.

So far from what I’ve seen the biggest issue is the movement away from the brand itself. Universal has been on an absolute tear for over a decade. Their rides, themed environments, and overall increase in quality has elevated the brand. It takes time to build that reputation and level of consistency for the consumer. 20 years ago, when you mentioned the leading brand in complete immersion and thematic design it was Disney. Fast forward to today and Universal is a name that is synonymous with theming and quality.

My point is, once you put the Universal brand on a project and turn out something that resembles that of a Six Flags park you can devalue or damage the brands integrity.

Anecdotally, I've been seeing content about this park that seems like it comes from the I-live-in-Texas part of my algorithm, rather than the I-love-theme-parks part. And it fits right in line with what you're talking about, where locals are saying how underwhelming this looks compared to what they expected when Universal announced a park coming to their area.

I think folks like us understand Universal's going for a different market segment, and I hope it works out. I hope it funnels kids and families into the "real" parks as they grow. But there's definitely the risk that this park doesn't make the right impression and scares them away.

I think a lot of this looks cute and fun, so I'm holding out hope, but I'm not rushing out to take my nephews like I thought I would. The shade situation really is unconscionable. This and Tormenta will have to wait till the fall weather hits, which in Texas might mean I'll be back here reporting on the Christmas decorations after my first visit.

 

[TexasMidway]

I went out to get a Starbucks across the highway from the park, and I drove by the resort to see what the vibes were like. The in-park music was blasting, families screaming on Cretaceous Coaster and it looks like all the finishing touches have been completed. This is a huge milestone, especially since I've seen that plot of land grow from day 1.

Also, it's very hot and humid, and I went out at 10am. The park is really going to get tested today.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

This hotel does not provide a breather lol.

A breather from characters.

 

[Jake S]

A breather from characters.

If that was their intent, it’s pretty clearly undercut by designing a very stimulating hotel.

 

[Alicia]

The problem is its main competition is supposed to be parks like Legoland—as it’s not meant to be on the level of a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando theme park—and yet it doesn’t even look as good as Legoland.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The problem is its main competition is supposed to be parks like Legoland—as it’s not meant to be on the level of a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando theme park—and yet it doesn’t even look as good as Legoland.

It looks like sesame place.

 

[TheGentTrent]

The problem is its main competition is supposed to be parks like Legoland—as it’s not meant to be on the level of a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando theme park—and yet it doesn’t even look as good as Legoland.

How about a dark ride? Would a dark ride help? We think a dark ride would help.

 

[Clive]

The problem is its main competition is supposed to be parks like Legoland—as it’s not meant to be on the level of a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando theme park—and yet it doesn’t even look as good as Legoland.

This is my main criticism right now from the photos and videos I'm seeing. Legoland is mostly populated with simple attractions and diversions (along with some higher tech/more elaborate stuff in some locations!), but they're generally attractive parks. I would not characterize much of this park as attractive, currently. Trees growing in will hopefully help, but there's a stark lack of theming in numerous areas.

The main differentiator appears to be the entertainment, which looks cute and pleasing so far for the target audience. The issue there is it's the first thing that gets cut.

 

[Evan]

Let's be real. So far it looks like a concrete "wonderland". Where are the gardens? I know trees take time, but there could be lush gardens, flowers, designed landscaping...

Everything looks so regional. Is Universal unable to build a small scale kids park still up to their current standard?

It's fine though, kids will love it.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

How about a dark ride? Would a dark ride help? We think a dark ride would help.

They can’t built indoor rides.