Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[Mr. DNA]

Hey friends. Long time lurker, first time poster (well maybe not first i don't actually remember!)

Been a big Universal fan all my life. I'm more of a Disney guy in the end, but in the last 6 or 7 years I have fully immersed myself into theme parks of all kinds and grown to have such a deep love and appreciation for Universal and all they do.

Epic was my first time getting to see a Universal park come into being, and while I have some issues with it, I overall think it's a very good park that's only going to get better with time. I was excited to follow along with the building of the Kids Resort as it's a concept I think on paper is really cool and unique.

But now that it's open, and we've been seeing glimpses of it for a few weeks now, I'm really just kinda disappointed that Universal felt that this was a respectable way to go about this. They have a lot of talent in their ranks and this just isn't a proper reflection of that to me. This is a park that feels like it was budget cut to hell and back and it gives off an aura of the people at the very top just not caring about it as much as they should, or as much as we thought they would.

It feels sloppy in a way that Universal hasn't been in a long, long time. I think we all remember well what the 2000s was like for the Universal parks and this feels like a throwback to that, and not in a good way. It feels pretty thoughtless and underbaked.

Yes, it's a park for kids, but I am of the mind that kids aren't dumb. They can find a way to have fun almost anywhere, but they also know what places they prefer to have fun in and what places they don't. They are indeed able to discern differences in quality, even if they cannot exactly put words to it. I feel it's a very misguided idea to say "it's for kids" and let that be an excuse for why this park is the way it is. And that isn't aimed at any of the fans, it's really aimed at Universal itself since that seems to be the stance they ended up taking.

I hope they continue to invest and pour more into it. I think in the future it could get better like DCA and WDS did after their disaster openings.

I guess in the end I'm just sad that after so many years of positive growth, Universal's opened a park that is need of fixing.

Looking forward to spending more time around this forum!

 

[Diservations]

Big changes between previews and opening day (umbrellas, paint, signage, ride ops, etc.). They can't really be called improvements, right? Nothing was official until yesterday. That being said, we expect plenty more glow-ups for the Minions ride.

By the way, it's one of the wildest white water rafting rides we've ever been on. They let us stay on yesterday to ride a second time. All four of us were out-of-the-shower soaked. But we had a blast.

Oh, and the Shrek convoy's loading and unloading was light-years ahead of what it was during previews.

Finally, some non-iPhone pics from opening day.

 

[Stonecoldfreak1]

Big changes between previews and opening day (umbrellas, paint, signage, ride ops, etc.). They can't really be called improvements, right? Nothing was official until yesterday. That being said, we expect plenty more glow-ups for the Minions ride.

By the way, it's one of the wildest white water rafting rides we've ever been on. They let us stay on yesterday to ride a second time. All four of us were out-of-the-shower soaked. But we had a blast.

Oh, and the Shrek convoy's loading and unloading was light-years ahead of what it was during previews.

Finally, some non-iPhone pics from opening day.

Had a good laugh at the people on Facebook claiming the gyrosphere was AI generated. I just don’t understand it.

Our morning was weird to say the least. Despite being told we wouldn’t be allowed inside for the opening ceremony, eventually a team member came up and asked why we weren’t inside. Explained that we were told we couldn’t go in unless we were VIP. They looked confused and then let us scan in. A few minutes later security came and tried to escort us out because we didn’t have VIP wristbands?

About 20 minutes later, I drenched Mark Woodbury and his kid on Bobbin Barrels. That’s when security really should have tried to escort us out.

Even after just being there on Saturday, we had another awesome day. The place is small and has it’s obvious shortcomings, but it’s a lot of fun. We’ll definitley be back when it gets a little cooler out. The Puss in Boots show is still MVP.

Oh and they opened up the theater… it’s pretty much just a rest area. I’m not expecting anything substantial in this space.

 

[Evan]

Had a good laugh at the people on Facebook claiming the gyrosphere was AI generated. I just don’t understand it.

Our morning was weird to say the least. Despite being told we wouldn’t be allowed inside for the opening ceremony, eventually a team member came up and asked why we weren’t inside. Explained that we were told we couldn’t go in unless we were VIP. They looked confused and then let us scan in. A few minutes later security came and tried to escort us out because we didn’t have VIP wristbands?

About 20 minutes later, I drenched Mark Woodbury and his kid on Bobbin Barrels. That’s when security really should have tried to escort us out.

Even after just being there on Saturday, we had another awesome day. The place is small and has it’s obvious shortcomings, but it’s a lot of fun. We’ll definitley be back when it gets a little cooler out. The Puss in Boots show is still MVP.

Oh and they opened up the theater… it’s pretty much just a rest area. I’m not expecting anything substantial in this space.

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That's the theatre that said coming soon?

 

[Stonecoldfreak1]

That's the theatre that said coming soon?

Unfortunately. The marquee was updated to something along the lines of “Come in and cool off!” but when I went back around 4 that had been removed? The door was still open though.

 

[themeparktribune]

Big changes between previews and opening day (umbrellas, paint, signage, ride ops, etc.). They can't really be called improvements, right? Nothing was official until yesterday. That being said, we expect plenty more glow-ups for the Minions ride.

I think it's more than a bit charitable to call what we've seen as "big changes."

The new paint, though, makes me question Universal's decision to schedule their big media preview when there was a chance of that not being complete. It created a much worse first impression. Unless, of course, the new paint was added *because* of those bad first impressions.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Has the Gabby show opened? I don't see any videos or pictures of that

 

[Brian G.]

Has the Gabby show opened? I don't see any videos or pictures of that

It’s not a show per se, but a flash mob/meet and greet similar to what they did at USF a couple years ago.

 

[Stonecoldfreak1]

It’s not a show per se, but a flash mob/meet and greet similar to what they did at USF a couple years ago.

I wish they would run more little moments like this in Isle of Curiosity. It brought a lot of life to the area when we saw that.

 

[Andysol]

Yes, it's a park for kids, but I am of the mind that kids aren't dumb. They can find a way to have fun almost anywhere, but they also know what places they prefer to have fun in and what places they don't. They are indeed able to discern differences in quality, even if they cannot exactly put words to it.

Welcome to the forums!

I would have agreed with this statement regarding kids, but from every single review I’ve read from families; kids are going absolutely head over heels for it and families are enjoying it quite a bit.

When the crowds start coming in on Saturdays, etc, who knows if that continues. But as of right now, it’s rave reviews from people who have actually gone with kids.

I think the things you can’t see on instagram/youtube make all the difference in the world. The enthusiasm and quality level of TMs is astounding there. Does that change next year in August when they’re beaten down with heat and the newness/excitement has worn off? Potentially. But for right now, the quality level of operations themselves are making up and surpassing any shortcomings we may think of.

I guess in the end I'm just sad that after so many years of positive growth, Universal's opened a park that is need of fixing.

Can I show you over to USF? We have a whole thread about how much work that needs. @belloq87 and others will welcome you with open arms

About 20 minutes later, I drenched Mark Woodbury and his kid on Bobbin Barrels.

This is amazing. The amount of money people would pay for this opportunity.

Oh and they opened up the theater… it’s pretty much just a rest area. I’m not expecting anything substantial in this space.

Space is completely drab looking and those benches look not fun.

That space would be improved 1000% by removing the benches, having round tables with chairs, coloring pages and colors and have 2-3 TMs in there.

More people would use it, it would be more functional, and it would look like a legitimate rest area.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I wish they would run more little moments like this in Isle of Curiosity. It brought a lot of life to the area when we saw that.

This is more a general comment on Universal but they have been trying more Mini Moments at Fan Fest and especially the Yoshi moment where they all danced got some pretty big crowds considering. So hopefully this park can talk to the other parks and get more idea's on how to make more of these meet and greets mini moments/shows to make them feel more unique and one of a kind special moments

 

[Evan]

Space is completely drab looking and those benches look not fun.

That space would be improved 1000% by removing the benches, having round tables with chairs, coloring pages and colors and have 2-3 TMs in there.

More people would use it, it would be more functional, and it would look like a legitimate rest area.

And here I thought it was going to be an actual indoor theatre

I let my imagination think of these sort of settings:








Shame.

 

[Jerroddragon]

And here I thought it was going to be an actual indoor theatre

I let my imagination think of these sort of settings:

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Shame.

To me this is once again I don't think customers are asking too much for having these

Like the Trolls show looks fine and Gabby being a moment is fine

Puss in Boots is also cute but....I just don't get why in Texas where it gets Hot as heck, randomly rains and snows doesn't have a real show venue that is fully enclosed