Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[AvoidTIMtation]

We're taking the trip up there next month and my kids are going to love it. The fact that this park is for kids like 8 and under makes me shrug at the less than great theming. The only problem 44 year old me has with this place is how hotel prices are too high for the park they built lol

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

 

[Evan]

I enjoy all the hate this place gets from childless adults. Once you have kids and take them places you will be amazed at what things actually grab their attention. I am not saying this place looks great, but it was designed this way for a reason.

For the crowd saying that six flags is where I would take my kids, you are missing the comfort of a place dedicated to families with little ones. As a parent it is so nice going somewhere and not having to worried about crazy teens and people swearing all over. You pick universal kids for a place where you can just let your little one run with no worries. Also going to a normal park with young ones nothing can kill their mood quite like looking at a ride only to tell them they are too small.

Walt Disney built Disneyland because families, including smaller children, deserved better than what was being offered.

This is fun, and will entertain many, but it’s not worthy of the Universal name.

 

[Brian G.]

Walt Disney built Disneyland because families, including smaller children, deserved better than what was being offered.

This is fun, and will entertain many, but it’s not worthy of the Universal name.

We’ve got to stop with the Disneyland comparisons. Even if some of the criticisms are fair, this resort was built for kids so young that the bathrooms have smaller/potty-training seats attached to the toilets. That’s a completely different audience and set of priorities.

 

[Thatguyoverwhere]

I know I'm not the target audience for this park as a childless millennial but:

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Also, why does it feel like so many theme parks are allergic to having shade?

Missed opportunity not building this for the SpongeBob area tbh

 

[theblueblurr]

I guess I just have a hard time even quantifying this as a resort in my mind. In what reality would what's inside this park justify the need to stay at an on-site hotel for longer than a day? I guess you could argue for folks who made a long drive and don't want to drive back the same day but nothing I've seen so far would justify such a drive, even if I had kids. It just feels like a barren, concrete wasteland with virtually no effort put into it.

I don't know anything about Texas but I feel like there has to be better options for families than this out there? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there will be a market for this. I didn't exactly graduate from business school. I get that it's built for the smallest of the small kids but those kids still need to be brought there by their parents. I guess we'll just have to see how many of them are willing to put up with Universal is serving up here.

 

[sonoma15]

I don't know anything about Texas but I feel like there has to be better options for families than this out there? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there will be a market for this. I didn't exactly graduate from business school. I get that it's built for the smallest of the small kids but those kids still need to be brought there by their parents. I guess we'll just have to see how many of them are willing to put up with Universal is serving up here.

The closest thing nearby that serves the market this park is catering too would probably either be the Peppa Pig park that's about 40 minutes away or possibly family entertainment centers. The Peppa Pig park is a lot smaller than this park is though.

 

[Brian G.]

I guess I just have a hard time even quantifying this as a resort in my mind. In what reality would what's inside this park justify the need to stay at an on-site hotel for longer than a day? I guess you could argue for folks who made a long drive and don't want to drive back the same day but nothing I've seen so far would justify such a drive, even if I had kids. It just feels like a barren, concrete wasteland with virtually no effort put into it.

I don't know anything about Texas but I feel like there has to be better options for families than this out there? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there will be a market for this. I didn't exactly graduate from business school. I get that it's built for the smallest of the small kids but those kids still need to be brought there by their parents. I guess we'll just have to see how many of them are willing to put up with Universal is serving up here.

I think they’re aiming for weekend getaways, not weeklong vacations (judging by the 2 day ticket).

Whether that model works long-term remains to be seen, but there clearly is a market for it since APs are already sold out, and fast.

We’ll see how softs go, but I know ignoring all the noise about the visuals, families there seemed to be having a great time (and no, not all were media).

Basically, I don’t think “week long getaways” is the metric Universal is using for this place.

 

[Andysol]

I think they’re aiming for weekend getaways, not weeklong vacations (judging by the 2 day ticket).

Forget the 2 day ticket- they offer a 1.5 day for those staying at the hotel. That alone tells you they know exactly what they’re aiming for.

People shouldn’t underestimate the desire for parents to get that “extra hour before park opens” mentality that many park-goers have become conditioned to expect and desire. Add that with the “mid day break” and that hotel will do just fine.

And I cannot express to you enough the disposable income available in our area. They’re going to have a flippin’ VIP paid tour eventually (based on the signage).

And if it somehow doesn’t do well, then they cut back on staffing and rotate the rooms.

The hotel was a smart move, period.

 

[themeparktribune]

Kudos to the few bloggers who got invited out to the opening and are not shying away from criticism. There's just no reasonable way I can see to spin the park's overall appearance as if it's not embarrassing.

 

[Mr_Pendington]

Honestly my main issue with this park is the lack of passion put into it. The food looks amazing, ironically, but the theming (...or lack thereof) makes this park look terrible. Magic Mountain, a company not very famous for making alot of money recently, refurbed their kiddie land into something truly special. That land is themed and colorful top to bottom (even the concrete!). Why couldn't Universal just paint the brutalist Minions ride purple and yellow like it was supposed to be?

I didn't expect Epic Kiddie-Verse but like... jeez. The park looks so cheap, it's kind of embarrassing for the brand imo

 

[Achtzehn]

I'm a bit skeptical about the long-term future of Universal Kids Resort. In the US, we're seeing fertility rates decline sharply, especially in urban areas. That means a growing share of children will be born in more rural, spread-out regions, making it less likely that families will travel to a destination designed exclusively for young kids.

The other issue is the target audience. A park aimed mainly at ages 3 to 10 has a very short window of appeal. Once kids age out, there's little reason to return. Most major theme parks are designed to appeal to guests throughout their lives, not just during one small stage of childhood. And that specific age group is also one of the fastest-shrinking segments of the US population.

Tokyo Disneyland is taking almost the opposite approach. Their recent expansions are clearly designed with an aging audience in mind. That's one reason Fantasy Springs doesn't include any roller coasters, and why they're unlikely to build major thrill rides there in the future. Their strategy seems focused on creating timeless, multi-generational experiences rather than targeting a narrow age range.

We're taking the trip up there next month and my kids are going to love it. The fact that this park is for kids like 8 and under makes me shrug at the less than great theming. The only problem 44 year old me has with this place is how hotel prices are too high for the park they built lol

I think it’s 3 to 10.

 

[rhino4evr]

Kudos to the few bloggers who got invited out to the opening and are not shying away from criticism. There's just no reasonable way I can see to spin the park's overall appearance as if it's not embarrassing.

I’ve already seen plenty of influencers spinning this park as a “must do” and “10/10”. I guess they really want a press pass for fast and furious.

There is some interesting excuses / defenders on this forum. All which don’t defend the lack of quality.

A “Universal” park should be just that. Dropping the term “studios” doesn’t change the perception or expectation.

Just because this is aimed at smaller kids doesn’t mean kids don’t like better theming. Legoland Orlando is much better themed.

The brands they are utilizing deserve better theming in general. The park is just ugly. This is the same company that just built Epic universe ?

Imagine if this was the first theme park they ever built. Would they have the fandom to build another?

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think they’re aiming for weekend getaways, not weeklong vacations (judging by the 2 day ticket).

Whether that model works long-term remains to be seen, but there clearly is a market for it since APs are already sold out, and fast.

We’ll see how softs go, but I know ignoring all the noise about the visuals, families there seemed to be having a great time (and no, not all were media).

Basically, I don’t think “week long getaways” is the metric Universal is using for this place.

The ticketing shows this too - they have options for one day, one and a half days, and two days, but no 3 or more days. And I don't think they're expecting anyone to fly in to do this.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

And can I mention one defense that no one has brought up? It’s still universal team members and operations. So the comparison to Six flags, Peppa or sesame place is night and day in that department. The difference in operations is so significant between those companies that they aren’t even comparable.

Along with this - the food looks legitimately on-par with the Orlando parks as well. Far and away better than the food you get at Sesame Place/Legoland.
(The food at Sesame Place was particularly embarrassing)

I think, long-term, this is what the park should aim for over the next 2 years or so:

- Add shade
- Paint the walkways
- Add more already-grown vegetation
- Add at least ONE actual indoor dark ride (assuming this is allowed)

The dark ride doesn't need to be anything crazy- throw Villain Con or Minion Mayhem in there or something. But that could give a legitimate preview for kids to see what is found at the other parks!

 

[Parkscope Joe]

The dark ride doesn't need to be anything crazy- throw Villain Con or Minion Mayhem in there or something. But that could give a legitimate preview for kids to see what is found at the other parks!

I don't think they'll go for something that custom, I bet it'd be another off the shelf something that they can easily repair and subcontract out for. Maybe a new Sally dark ride. Remember, maintenance guys are expensive!

*edit*

I think one of the first additions should be a water park focused attration, like a water play ground for kids and their parents.

 

[Brian G.]

Kudos to the few bloggers who got invited out to the opening and are not shying away from criticism. There's just no reasonable way I can see to spin the park's overall appearance as if it's not embarrassing.

The talk has been getting out of hand, with some folk leaving nuance completely out of it; and even a few going after a reporter's kid’s opinion.

 

[PurpleFrog]

The talk has been getting out of hand, with some folk leaving nuance completely out of it; and even a few going after a reporter's kid’s opinion.

Completely agree that it’s getting out of hand. Legitimate criticism and discussion is always welcome, personal attacks or just saying “this looks like absolute (curse word of your choice)” with zero other thoughts is really not a good look. I’ve been seeing a ton of the second on my own socials, and very little of the first in other online spaces.

I wonder what the Universal media office is looking like right now….

 

[theblueblurr]

After watching an in-depth video about the park last night I have come to the conclusion that everything about the way this place was built was done so in case it were to fail. In the event that Universal doesn’t like the results of this experiment, everything “Universal” about it comes down stupid easily and can be replaced with whatever who buys it from them wants.

Nothing about any of the architecture I saw came off as unique, it’s mostly just big boxes with decal wraps applied or easily removable flat pop outs attached to them.

I’d even go so far as to wager this is why they didn’t include a Krusty Krab in the Bikini Bottom area, because doing so would have required the construction of a shape that wasn’t a square. Obviously I have no proof to back that up, but if I were a betting man, I would take that wager. The same way I’d wager we never see or hear any of the vloggers who pretended to love it ever visit or speak about the location again.

Side note: I was having a hard time putting into words just how ugly the Minion’s water ride looked until others in this thread correctly pointed out that it looks like the water treatment facility I drive by every day on my way to work here in Carlsbad. Best joke I’ve seen so far related to it was someone asking: “What, did they just flood a parking structure?”

Side, side note: Attacking people’s children online who did enjoy their time there is genuinely awful. I can’t believe this needs to be said (actually, given the world we live in, I do) but to anyone out there who needs to hear it: don’t do that. Tear apart the park all you want but leave people like that out of it.