Universal’s brand-new $550 million theme park in Frisco, Texas is built just for your little ones. Here is every ride, show, play area, and character encounter across all 7 themed lands so you can start planning your family’s visit.
Last Updated: March 2026 | Attraction details verified for 2026 opening season
What Are All the Rides and Attractions at Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas?
Hey there, it’s Favorite Grampy! I have been counting down the days until Universal Kids Resort opens, and I know many of you have, too. If your kids are anywhere between 3 and 10 years old, this park was literally built for them. Not a kids’ corner inside a bigger park. Not just a small handful of rides that are tall enough. The entire 32-acre park, all 7 themed lands, every single sign, menu, and play area was designed through a child’s eyes.
According to Universal Destinations and Experiences, Universal Kids Resort features over 30 attractions including 13 rides, 6 live shows and dance parties, 9 interactive play areas, and character meet-and-greets with favorites from Shrek, SpongeBob, Trolls, Minions, Jurassic World, Puss in Boots, and Gabby’s Dollhouse. Construction began in November 2023 and, as FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported, the park will feature seven highly immersive lands with attractions, dining, and interactive elements for young families. Casting for park team members started in March 2026, which tells me we are getting very close.
I want to walk you through every land and every attraction, so you know exactly what your family can expect. And trust me, there is a lot to be excited about.
Quick Look: Every Attraction in All 7 Lands
Before we dive into the details, here is the full picture. I put together this table, so you can see at a glance what each land offers. If you are reading this on your phone (and 9 out of 10 of you are), just swipe left to see all the columns.
| Land | Rides | Shows & Entertainment | Play Areas | Characters | Dining | Shopping |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Curiosity | None | Gabby’s Cat-Tastic Dance Party | Sensory gardens | Gabby | Cakey’s Cupcakes, Universal Kids Resort Cafe | Universal Kids Resort Store |
| Shrek’s Swamp | Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After | None | Rompin’ Stomp (dry), Splash & Smash (wet) | Shrek, Fiona | Swamp Snacks | Triplets Treasures |
| Puss in Boots Del Mar | Swings Over Del Mar | Mama Luna’s Puppet Show | None | Puss in Boots, Mama Luna, Perrito | Comidas y Leche | Mercado de Perrito, Tienda de Dulces |
| TrollsFest | Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express, Hair in the Clouds | King Trollex Techno Dance Party, Amphitheater Stage Show, Trolls Pop It Up | Poppy’s Playland, Trolls Critter Crawl | Poppy, Branch | Trolls Eatz, BroZone Cones | Mr. Dinkles’ Market, Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow |
| Minions Bello Bay Club | Bello Bay Cruise, Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby | None | Water blasters, splash pads | Minions | Bello Bay Bites | Bello Bay Boutique |
| Jurassic World Adventure Camp | Cretaceous Coaster, Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin, Pteranodrop | None | Lookout Towers, Paddock Play | Baby dinosaur, baby Raptor | Jurassic World Canteen | Jurassic World Outfitters |
| SpongeBob Bikini Bottom | Jellyfish Fields Jamboree, Barnacle Bus, Bobbing Barrels, Mrs. Puff’s Boating School | None | Pineapple Paradise (wet), Mussel Beach, Glove World Midway | SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy | Goofy Goober’s | Barg’N-Mart |
Swipe left to see all columns on mobile.
SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom wins the ride count with 4 rides. TrollsFest wins the entertainment count with 3 shows plus the Troll-ify Me makeover. Lastly, Jurassic World Adventure Camp has the biggest thrills, including the park’s headline roller coaster.
Now, let me take you land by land.
What Rides Are in SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom?
This is the land with the most rides in the entire park, and if your kids are SpongeBob fans, you might not get them to leave. Bikini Bottom has 4 rides, 2 play areas, a midway game area, character encounters, a restaurant, and a gift shop.
Jellyfish Fields Jamboree is an aerial carousel where your family boards Jelly Anglers and bounces around with SpongeBob himself. My grandkids would go bananas for this one. Barnacle Bus is a rocking, sliding ride that coasts through Bikini Bottom. Bobbing Barrels puts you in spinning vehicles with water cannons, so your family can blast each other (Patrick and Sandy cheer you on). Additionally, Mrs. Puff’s Boating School is a spin ride where kids swerve through a driving course. Free boating lessons, one day only!
For play time, Pineapple Paradise is a water play area centered on SpongeBob’s famous pineapple house, and Mussel Beach is a shaded spot to catch your breath. Glove World Midway has carnival games like Gone Jellyfishin’ and The Great Snail Race. Your family can meet SpongeBob, Patrick Star, and Sandy Cheeks. For food, Goofy Goober’s serves chicken sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, and sky-high sundaes. As Attractions Magazine noted, this is Universal’s first-ever SpongeBob land, and Barg’N-Mart carries the souvenirs from inside a sunken treasure chest.
What Are the Jurassic World Adventure Camp Rides?
If your child is a dinosaur kid (and let’s be honest, most of them are), this is their land. Jurassic World Adventure Camp has 3 rides, 2 play areas, character encounters, a restaurant, and a shop.
The headliner is Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, the park’s biggest roller coaster. The storyline is that Bumpy the Ankylosaurus has gone missing, and your family zooms through twists, turns, peaks, and valleys to find her. This is designed for younger riders, but it is still a real coaster with real thrills. Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin is a twisting and turning ride, and Pteranodrop is a drop tower that gives brave adventurers a bird’s-eye view of the entire park.
Your kids can meet a newly hatched baby dinosaur and even encounter a baby Raptor up close. The Jurassic World Lookout Towers let kids climb for panoramic views, and Paddock Play is a ground-level play zone. The Jurassic World Canteen feeds carnivores and herbivores alike, and Jurassic World Outfitters has the dino gear.
What Rides and Shows Are in DreamWorks’ TrollsFest?
TrollsFest is the most packed land in the park when it comes to variety. You’ll find 2 rides, 3 live entertainment experiences, 2 play areas, a one-of-a-kind makeover experience, 2 dining spots, and a shop.
Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express is an armadillo bus ride that twists and turns through the festival grounds. Hair in the Clouds lifts your family above the land on a colorful aerial ride with flower-faced balloons. For shows, King Trollex Techno Dance Party is an indoor dance experience; there is a separate Trolls amphitheater stage show where kids lead sound check, and Trolls Pop It Up adds even more dancing.
The real showstopper for many families will be Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow, home to the Troll-ify Me makeover. Kids and grown-ups get Trolls-style hair, headbands, makeup, and apparel. I can already picture the photos. According to WFAA, kids will also be able to get makeovers to look like their favorite Troll character. Poppy’s Playland and Trolls Critter Crawl round out the play areas. Trolls Eatz serves family bites, BroZone Cones dishes ice cream, and Mr. Dinkles’ Market has the merch.
What Attractions Are in Shrek’s Swamp?
Shrek’s Swamp has 1 ride, 2 play areas, character encounters, a restaurant, and a shop. The ride is called Shrek and Fiona’s Happily Ogre After, where your family journeys through the story of how Shrek met and rescued Princess Fiona with help from Donkey along the way. Built by Shrek for his triplets, this one is all about family love.
After the ride, kids choose between Shrek’s Swamp Rompin’ Stomp (dry play) and Shrek’s Swamp Splash and Smash (water play). You can meet Shrek and Fiona and even take photos in the onion carriage. Swamp Snacks serves the Shrekzel (an ogre-themed pretzel), and Triplets Treasures has matching family outfits and Shrek plushies.
What Is There to Do in Minions Bello Bay Club?
The Minions land is all about silly, soaking-wet fun. It features 2 rides, water play zones, character encounters, food, and a shop. The whole land is themed around a battle between the Yellow Minions and Purple Minions, and your family picks a side.
Bello Bay Cruise is a water ride where you watch (and get splashed by) the Minion battle. Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby puts your family behind the wheel as the competition spins out of control. Throughout the land, water blasters, splash pads, and surprise water features keep the mayhem going. Kids can meet the Minions for photos, refuel at Bello Bay Bites with Minion-themed snacks, and choose Team Yellow or Team Purple merchandise at Bello Bay Boutique.
This land is ideal for kids who love high-energy, anything-goes fun. The “pick your team” element gives the whole family a silly rivalry to play up all day long.
What Is in Puss in Boots Del Mar?
Del Mar has a warm, festive village feel that is perfect for younger kids who want gentler attractions and colorful surroundings. It features 1 swing ride, 1 live puppet show, character encounters, food, and 2 shops.
Swings Over Del Mar lifts guests into the air for a sweeping view of the park. Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day is a silly puppet performance. Families can meet Puss in Boots, Mama Luna, and Perrito. The village also has a relaxing town square fountain. Comidas y Leche serves the food, Mercado de Perrito has apparel, and Tienda de Dulces has candies and treats.
What Is at the Park Entrance in Isle of Curiosity?
Isle of Curiosity is the first land you walk into and connects to all 7 themed areas. The main experience is Gabby’s Cat-Tastic Dance Party from DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse. Your kids can boogie with Gabby and her crew right at the start of the day.
This hub also has the flagship Universal Kids Resort Store (every land’s merch in one spot), Cakey’s Cupcakes (chocolate, vanilla, and rainbow), and the Universal Kids Resort Cafe for sit-down or grab-and-go meals. Isle of Curiosity connects to the park’s sensory gardens, which are quiet, nature-inspired spaces where families can pause and recharge through touch, sound, and color. As Parade reported, Universal is building in multiple sensory garden zones specifically because parents of young children need spaces to reset. As a grandparent who has seen plenty of theme park meltdowns, I love that Universal built calm-down spaces right into the design.
Does Universal Kids Resort Have a Hotel?
Yes, and it is designed beautifully for families with young kids. The Universal Kids Resort Hotel is a 300-room on-site hotel that sits right at the park entrance. You literally walk through the hotel to enter the park. No shuttle buses. No long walks with tired toddlers.
Standard Queen, Deluxe Queen, and Signature Queen rooms each have a queen bed plus a twin-over-full bunk bed, sleeping up to 5. Family Suites add a king bed in a separate bedroom, a queen pullout sofa, and a twin-over-twin bunk bed with its own eating area, sleeping up to 6. Hotel amenities include Curiosity Cafe, a full-service bar, outdoor pool, fitness room, and game room. According to Wikipedia’s page on the resort, the entire project spans 97 acres with the park itself covering 32 acres, and the estimated construction cost is around $550 million.
How Much Will Universal Kids Resort Tickets Cost?
Universal has not yet announced official ticket prices or an exact opening date as of March 2026. Industry experts estimate single-day tickets between $60 and $90 based on comparable family parks like LEGOLAND and Sesame Place.
Families should sign up for email updates at UniversalKidsResort.com to be among the first to know when tickets go on sale. The park sits just 25 minutes north of Dallas and 25 minutes from both DFW International Airport and Dallas Love Field, making it easy for a weekend trip. If you are flying in, you are looking at under 4 hours from both New York and Los Angeles.
What Makes This Park Different from Every Other Theme Park?
I have taken my grandkids to a lot of theme parks, and I will tell you the number one frustration for families with little ones: most parks are not really designed for them. Rides have height requirements that leave your 4-year-old watching from the sidelines. Wait times stretch past an hour. The parks are so big that kids burn out before lunch.
Universal Kids Resort fixes all of that. At 32 acres, you can actually do this park in a day without anyone melting down. The sensory gardens give families quiet reset spots. Team members throughout the park help kids dream up imaginary worlds with sidewalk chalk, water blasters, and bubbles. Every sign is at kid height. Every menu is kid-friendly. Compare that to the 750 acres of Epic Universe in Orlando. Both parks are incredible, but they serve very different families. If your kids are 3 to 10 and you want their first theme park experience to be magical instead of overwhelming, this is the park.
Want to see what else Universal has been building? Check out our complete guide to Universal Kids Resort for an overview of the entire resort.
Frequently Asked Questions About Universal Kids Resort
I get asked these questions constantly, so let me answer the big ones right here.
When does Universal Kids Resort open?
Universal has not announced an exact opening date as of March 2026. However, construction permits filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation listed May 15, 2026 as the expected completion date, and Universal began hiring park team members in March 2026. Most industry analysts expect the park to open between late May and summer 2026. Sign up at UniversalKidsResort.com for email updates so you are among the first to know.
What ages is Universal Kids Resort designed for?
Universal Kids Resort is specifically designed for families with young children, with the target age range roughly 3 to 10 years old. Every ride, play area, and show was built for this age group. That said, Universal has confirmed there is no age restriction to enter the park. Adults without children are welcome, and parents will find plenty to enjoy alongside their kids. If you have a mix of ages in your family, a travel advisor can help you figure out whether to pair this trip with a day at nearby Six Flags Over Texas or the Frisco area’s other family attractions.
How much will Universal Kids Resort tickets cost?
Official ticket prices have not been announced yet. Based on comparable family-focused parks like LEGOLAND and Sesame Place, industry experts estimate single-day tickets will fall between $60 and $90 per person. Universal is also expected to offer multi-day tickets and possibly annual passes, though none have been confirmed. We will update this post as soon as pricing is released.
How many days do you need at Universal Kids Resort?
Most families will be able to experience the entire park in one full day. At 32 acres with 7 themed lands, Universal Kids Resort is significantly smaller than Universal Orlando (which spans over 700 acres across multiple parks). That said, if your kids fall in love with a particular land — and they will — a second day lets them revisit favorites without rushing. The on-site hotel makes a one-night or two-night stay easy, and the hotel itself is designed as part of the fun.
Is Universal Kids Resort good for toddlers and kids under 3?
Yes. While the target demographic is ages 3 to 10, many of the park’s experiences are designed for even the youngest visitors. The interactive play areas, water splash zones, sensory gardens, and character meet-and-greets do not have height requirements or age restrictions. Multiple families with toddlers have already expressed excitement in the comments on Universal’s official blog, specifically calling out the sensory gardens as a feature that makes this park feel welcoming for families with very young children. For rides, some may have minimum height requirements that have not yet been published.
How Can a Travel Advisor Help You Plan This Trip?
Here is the thing about brand-new parks: Nobody has crowd data yet. Nobody knows the best day to visit, the fastest order to do the lands, or which hotel room category to book for your family size. Families who try to wing it on their own will be guessing.
That is exactly why working with a travel advisor makes so much sense for a new destination. The concierge travel advisors at Favorite Grampy Travels include agents who specialize in Universal destinations and can monitor ticket announcements, secure hotel availability, and build a day-by-day plan matched to your children’s ages and energy levels.
Our planning fees are personalized based on the complexity of your vacation, and they can range from $100 to $1,000 or more depending on the trip. But a good advisor saves you far more than that in time, stress, and mistakes. Unlike booking through an online travel site where you might be stuck on hold for hours if something goes wrong, your advisor picks up the phone and fixes problems before you even know they exist.
Ready to start planning? Schedule a free 15-minute consultation and let us help your family be among the first through the gates.
Fun Fact About Universal Kids Resort
- $550 million construction cost: Universal Kids Resort is being built on a 97-acre site in Frisco, Texas with an estimated construction cost of around $550 million. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Kids_Resort)
- 32 acres spanning 7 themed lands: The park covers 32 acres and features 7 fully immersive themed lands based on DreamWorks, Illumination, Nickelodeon, and Jurassic World properties. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Kids_Resort)
- First Universal park designed entirely for young kids: Universal Kids Resort is the first Universal theme park designed specifically for families with children ages 3 to 10. (https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/full-details-of-universal-kids-resort-revealed/)
- 13 named rides across all 7 lands: The park features at least 13 distinct rides, including 2 roller coasters, multiple spin rides, water rides, swing rides, and an aerial carousel.
- 300-room hotel with bunk beds in every room: The Universal Kids Resort Hotel features rooms sleeping 5 to 6 guests with standard rooms offering twin-over-full bunk beds.
- Multiple sensory gardens for overwhelmed kids: The park includes dedicated sensory gardens designed to give children and families quiet spaces to pause and connect. (https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/universal-kids-resort-unveils-details-of-themed-lands-featuring-interactive-play-areas-and-more/)
- Casting underway confirms 2026 opening: Universal began hiring team members in March 2026 with audition callbacks held March 9 and 11.
- May 15, 2026 construction completion on file: Texas licensing filings listed May 15, 2026 as the expected construction completion date. (https://diservations.com/universal-kids-resort-targeting-late-may-or-early-june-2026-opening/)
- 25 minutes from two Dallas airports: Universal Kids Resort sits 25 minutes from DFW International and Dallas Love Field. (https://www.visitfrisco.com/universal-kids-resort)
- Estimated tickets between $60 and $90: Industry analysts estimate single-day tickets in this range based on comparable parks.
- Bikini Bottom has the most rides at 4: SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom features 4 distinct rides, the most of any land.
- Troll-ify Me makeover for kids and adults: Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow offers the Troll-ify Me makeover for the whole family.
