Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[theblueblurr]

If you planted some more trees and "elevated" the Shrek "show scenes" to the same style of three dimensional fiberglass figures (that they use to litter the park with Minions), you'd already be lightyears above what is currently offered on that attraction.

 

[Andysol]

If you planted some more trees and "elevated" the Shrek "show scenes" to the same style of three dimensional fiberglass figures (that they use to litter the park with Minions), you'd already be lightyears above what is currently offered on that attraction.

The cutouts are ok enough for me. Especially the ones with motion. It makes the storyline of the kids making the story fun and cute “ah look, little one- shreks kids made this ride. Isn’t it cool?”

They just need at least one more scene and way more landscaping. It should feel more like a swamp. The scenes should have been “revealed” at each little turn behind some forest instead of barren nothing in between.

But the real travesty on that ride is the onboard audio. It’s SO cheap. Just a rehash of old clips from movies- and terrible editing at that. They couldn’t have done anything unique? Just a little? You were literally recording the voice actors for Shrek 5 during construction.

 

[rhino4evr]

The cutouts are ok enough for me. Especially the ones with motion. It makes the storyline of the kids making the story fun and cute “ah look, little one- shreks kids made this ride. Isn’t it cool?”

They just need at least one more scene and way more landscaping. It should feel more like a swamp. The scenes should have been “revealed” at each little turn behind some forest instead of barren nothing in between.

But the real travesty on that ride is the onboard audio. It’s SO cheap. Just a rehash of old clips from movies- and terrible editing at that. They couldn’t have done anything unique? Just a little? You were literally recording the voice actors for Shrek 5 during construction.

I’m sure they would need to pay those actors, which wasn’t in the cards for this extremely low budget attraction.

I’d prefer static 3D figures over cut outs any day of the week.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I think it's a little much to assume kids like the park specifically because they prefer less-themed areas. Totally fair to say there are things about the park design and amenities that make kids/families enjoy it in spite of other issues. But do we really think if this thing looked like Isle of Berk, kids would like it less? Were there a bunch of children who never wanted to go into Fantasyland again after the 1983 redo?

Also, I've seen a bit of conflation between the sensory relief areas and the general lack of decoration. One is a very cool attempt by Universal to target an underserved audience. The other is... more complicated. Maybe I'm wrong, but I truly don't believe they held back set pieces from the Shrek ride out of respect for neurodivergent guests.

All that said, I think they've got the right idea with the stuff they've been adding to the Minions. Doesn't need to be "immersive" theming. Stylized decoration will do just fine. Excited to see what else they add, and I'm glad it's pulling crowds.

So I read this and it stuck in my craw since yesterday and I figured out why. I think a lot of folks are conflating three separate things here.

1) Sensory gardens & certified austism center - These are spots around the park to rest. I don't think anyone is really complaining here.
2) Intentional Kids Design - This is the one that really confuses people. This is the "see the rides while off it", the smaller design, less towering things, etc come into play.
3) Unacceptable Design - While mixing in those prior two decisions Universal also made bad deicisons, either at the start of design or in the rust to get the park open.

I'm very frustrated with the folks conflating #2 and #3 because it doesn't actually impact imporving the park and instead just trying to appeal to a childless group.

 

[rabbitsmoon]

So I read this and it stuck in my craw since yesterday and I figured out why. I think a lot of folks are conflating three separate things here.

1) Sensory gardens & certified austism center - These are spots around the park to rest. I don't think anyone is really complaining here.
2) Intentional Kids Design - This is the one that really confuses people. This is the "see the rides while off it", the smaller design, less towering things, etc come into play.
3) Unacceptable Design - While mixing in those prior two decisions Universal also made bad deicisons, either at the start of design or in the rust to get the park open.

I'm very frustrated with the folks conflating #2 and #3 because it doesn't actually impact imporving the park and instead just trying to appeal to a childless group.

I think we pretty much agree, but your breakdown is helpful. I was trying to say that I saw folks handwave away examples of #3 by claiming they were actually examples of 1 and 2. But I can understand frustration with people who've taken it too far the other way.

 

[tielo]

Currently watching an Efteling podcast created by them explaining the fairytale forest. There is a lot of psychology going into development of these tiny buildings who depict one scene in a story, how to get trough the forest without feeling lost, how scary and fun come together for small kids etc. The quality is very high but the costs are relatively low. Where Disney has "verwondering" (its a Dutch word with no real translation but you could say "a sense of wonder", Universal is in your face action all the time. The difference is the speed of emotions that follow each other. One is working for small kids and (most) adults, the other for teens and people who want to have their adrenalin pumping (I like both as in so many things ).
So the kids resort is veering very well to the "verwondering" experience with mild thrills for the kids who can handle it.

Regarding Sherk ride: I miss the kids who created the ride, they could be behind or just to the side of a display, maybe being dreamy or naughty depending on the scene, a story in a story. They should be the 3D glasfiber statue kinds. Kids could point them out and having time to laugh about it before getting to the next scene.

 

[FBarnhill]

Maybe small kids actually do prefer less theming as their imaginations are so much grander than adults. Or they actually are just dumb.

The same kids that made the Minions icons? Yeah, we all know the real answer here.

 

[Diservations]

Universal has added vinyl to the exposed concrete near Bello Bay Cruise’s whirlpool. Unlike other parts of the ride, this section didn’t receive a base coat of paint.

 

[SeventyOne]

Poseidon Entertainment video is out. It is not kind.

 

[Diservations]

Poseidon Entertainment video is out. It is not kind.

So not for him.
Calling it a financial failure when Universal was still throttling attendance is a choice. So is reviewing a ride he didn't actually ride.

 

[DOOMBOT]

Universal has added vinyl to the exposed concrete near Bello Bay Cruise’s whirlpool. Unlike other parts of the ride, this section didn’t receive a base coat of paint.

Hmm, the lack of a base color is still kinda throwing things imo. The decals are considerably better, no doubt; but the still-visible weathered concrete retains the strange industrial look that this area has.

I have to imagine this Minion water feature and the now-defunct W&WO feature shown below are made of similar concrete components, and the latter just has a much more appealing look to me (without necessarily breaking the bank.)

 

[Parkscope Joe]

So not for him.
Calling it a financial failure when Universal was still throttling attendance is a choice. So is reviewing a ride he didn't actually ride.

I've learned Posideon puts the emphasis on POS.

 

[Andy]

Poseidon Entertainment video is out. It is not kind.

Yeah it was pretty brutal

I've learned Posideon puts the emphasis on POS.

I mean at least he travelled there to review it instead of sitting behind a keyboard mocking others opinions

 

[Diservations]

Hmm, the lack of a base color is still kinda throwing things imo. The decals are considerably better, no doubt; but the still-visible weathered concrete retains the strange industrial look that this area has.

Paint would probably require them to shut the ride down for a day or two, something that can't happen right now. Our weather absolutely sucks.

I wonder if they'll paint during the offseason and reapply the vinyl.

 

[DOOMBOT]

I've never personally been able to get into Poseidon's work. We just fundamentally disagree on too many things, and have much different priorities in why we enjoy theme parks. They seem to be pretty popular though.

Paint would probably require them to shut the ride down for a day or two, something that can't happen right now. Our weather absolutely sucks.

I wonder if they'll paint during the offseason and reapply the vinyl.

Good point. It looks weird to me still, but if the alternative is to have the best attraction in the park closed for a number of days during the summer, that'd honestly be worse for everyone. Given their relatively consistent energy put into plussing up the aesthetic so far, I trust it'll happen at some point.

 

[Mad Dog]

Poseidon Entertainment video is out. It is not kind.

Well, lots of hot concrete for sure. Must have received a good twofer deal from a national concrete company for this and Celestial....Anyway, three park highpoints;

*Nice Gift Shop at the entrance...*Popcorn is real good.....Quote *"Food is better than the Pig Slop at Six Flags."

Three reasons for a Texas or Okie family to save up their money for a vacation at Universal Kids Resort-Frisco.

I'll take the 100 plus year old Idlewild Park in Ligonier Pa. over this any day.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I mean its all fair things to say

You can disagree but its not like he is lying at any part

Showing how bad the Shrek ride is with NO shade at the end....and the fact the website doesn't use videos from the park now that its open.....

The park needed more love and money

 

[Brian G.]

I almost always find his critiques and observations fair. It’s usually the conclusions he draws from them that I think are weak.

Either way, it’s his opinion, and I don’t look to opening this can of worms again.

 

[TexasMidway]

I've never personally been able to get into Poseidon's work. We just fundamentally disagree on too many things, and have much different priorities in why we enjoy theme parks. They seem to be pretty popular though.

I purposely avoided his work because for the longest time he focused on negativity in all of their videos, with some lectures feeling disingenuous. However, it looks like he's scaled back on that, and this video seems fair.

I get those who try and support this park and it hits the mark in some areas, but the resort shouldn't have been this polarizing in the first place.

 

[Diservations]

They have valid criticisms. I just called out the stuff that weakens their argument. It felt like piling on.