The first of two articles from FGT advisor Sadie McCracken’s opening-week stay with her son Liam: the drive in, first impressions of the rooms, and everything they found to do before park day.
By Sadie McCracken | Last Updated: July 2026 | Firsthand stay during opening week, July 2026
Universal Kids Resort Hotel is the new 300-room hotel at the entrance of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas. The park entrance sits right beneath the center of the hotel, so your family is steps from the gates. Liam and I checked in during opening week in July 2026, about a week after the hotel welcomed its first guests. Here is how our arrival day actually went.
“This is kind of the perfect music for Texas.”
I smiled when Liam said it.
For the last hour or so, he’d been quietly playing games on his phone while I listened to one of my favorite bluegrass bands. I didn’t even realize he had been paying attention.
He was right, though. Somehow the music fit the winding Texas back roads perfectly as we made our way toward Frisco.
What we expected to be about a five-hour drive quickly turned into something much longer thanks to road closures, accidents, and plenty of traffic. Somewhere in the middle, we made our first-ever stop at Buc-ee’s, browsed the famous beef jerky counter, picked out a few souvenirs, and snapped the obligatory photo with Buc-ee before getting back on the road.
By the last hour of the drive, we were pushing through scattered thunderstorms, and I had already accepted that we’d probably be unloading our luggage in the rain.
Instead, the clouds parted just as we pulled into Universal Kids Resort Hotel.
A bright rainbow stretched across the parking lot, perfectly complementing the colorful hotel we just arrived at. Before I even thought about grabbing our luggage, I jumped out of the car to capture a few photos before it disappeared. It honestly felt like Mother Nature had planned the perfect welcome.
After months of following construction updates and counting down to opening week, seeing the hotel in person was even more exciting than I expected. I’d only seen photos of the main entrance, so discovering the giant character mural wrapping around one side of the building, the bright colors, and the park entrance tucked beneath the center of the hotel made everything feel much bigger than I had imagined.
As we walked through the lobby doors, I asked Liam what he thought.
He looked around at the colorful furniture, bubble lights hanging from the ceiling, and all the playful details before giving me his official first impression.
“It’s flashy.”
Honestly… I don’t think I could have described it any better.
What surprised me most wasn’t the colorful lobby. It was how comfortable everything felt.
For a hotel that had only been open for a week, every Team Member we met was welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely excited to be there. Within just a few minutes, it reminded us of the feeling we get when we walk into Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort in Orlando.
That’s when I knew.
We were going to love this trip.
What Are the Rooms Really Like at Universal Kids Resort Hotel?
Our fourth-floor Theme Park View room had a queen bed, bunk beds, and clever storage tucked everywhere. The window looked out over nearly the entire park. If you’re still weighing whether to stay on-site, Favorite Grampy’s full Universal Kids Resort Hotel breakdown covers room types, perks, and costs.
Even though I’d seen dozens of photos before our trip, nothing compared to opening that hotel room door for the first time.
The room somehow felt even brighter, bigger, and more colorful in person. Before I had a chance to take it all in, Liam had already spotted the bunk beds and claimed the top bunk as his own.
Then he noticed what quickly became his favorite feature of the room.
A colorful geometric light beside the bunk bed that reflected rainbow colors across the wall.
“This is going to be my night light!” he announced.
Meanwhile, I was admiring the crisp white bedding that practically invited me to flop down and relax after such a long day in the car.
Liam had other plans.
Within minutes, he’d turned the room into his own game of hide-and-seek.
Every time I stepped into the hallway or turned my back, he’d found another hiding place. First under the bunk bed. Then inside the closet. Then behind the closet door. The one that completely caught me off guard, though, was under the bench in the seating area. I genuinely had no idea there was storage under there until Liam suddenly popped out with a huge grin on his face.
I quickly realized the room was full of clever little storage spaces. Instead of having suitcases sitting out all week, there were plenty of places to tuck them away and keep the room feeling open and uncluttered.
The Theme Park View From Our Fourth-Floor Room
Ironically, we were so busy exploring the room that I completely forgot to look out the window.
When I finally pulled back the curtains, I just stood there.
From our fourth-floor Theme Park View room, we could see nearly the entire park below us. The rides were still running, guests were making their way toward the exits, and Team Members were already beginning to prepare for the next day. We could even hear the park music drifting up while watching attractions like Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster and Swings Over Del Mar continue to soar across the skyline.
Standing there made me want to head straight into the park.
Unfortunately, we’d have to wait until morning.
After taking far too many pictures and videos, Liam and I settled onto the queen bed to relax. I suggested we watch a movie featuring one of the characters we’d be meeting the next day, and without hesitation he picked Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie.
A few minutes later he looked over and said,
“Mom… you realize we’re watching a movie about Texas… in Texas, right?”
We both laughed.
It’s one of those little vacation moments that probably doesn’t mean much to anyone else, but I know I’ll remember it years from now.
The Small Details That Make the Room Work
As we settled in, I started noticing thoughtful little details throughout the room.
The textured shower tiles reflected the bathroom lights in a way that made the bathtub shimmer like diamonds.
Later that evening, I discovered what ended up being my favorite hidden feature: the alarm clock.
At first glance it looked perfectly ordinary. Then I realized it was also a white noise machine, Bluetooth speaker, and a wireless phone charger. I was so excited that I immediately recorded a quick video and sent it to my husband, Scott.
He probably thought I was a little crazy for getting that excited over an alarm clock.
I still think it was pretty cool.
There were a couple of surprises, too. Unlike every review I’d read before our trip, our room didn’t have the built-in toddler toilet seat I’d heard so much about. We also discovered that all of the lights (including Liam’s beloved rainbow light) turn off automatically after a period of time.
As someone who studied sustainability, I completely understood why.
Liam, on the other hand, was pretty disappointed that he wouldn’t get to fall asleep under a rainbow all night long.
After about half an hour of relaxing, he looked over at me with that familiar vacation excitement.
“Can we go to the pool now?”
How could I say no?
What Is There to Do at Universal Kids Resort Hotel After You Check In?
The hotel kept us busy all evening without ever leaving the building. We swam in the outdoor pool, had dinner at Curiosity Café, and closed out the night in the Universal-themed arcade.
The Pool at Universal Kids Resort Hotel
The theme park had just closed for the evening, so we changed into our swimsuits and headed downstairs.
It turned out we weren’t the only ones with that idea.
The pool was full of families winding down after a day in the park. Kids were splashing each other, siblings were inventing games, parents were finally relaxing in lounge chairs, and the lifeguards kept a watchful eye over everything. It was busy, but it still felt organized and fun.
One thing I really liked was the layout of the pool itself.
Each end offered a different way to get into the water. There was a traditional staircase, a zero-entry section (which was a little slippery, so just watch your step), and Liam’s favorite: a wide, shallow platform before the steps that was perfect for sitting in the water or for little ones who are just getting comfortable swimming.
We didn’t stay very long.
Just long enough to cool off before Liam made another announcement.
“I’m hungry.”
Back upstairs we went.
Watching him happily skip down the rainbow-colored hallways, searching for our room number and proudly opening the door with his very own room key, is one of those little memories I’ll probably remember long after the details of the trip start to fade.
Dinner at Curiosity Café (and How They Handled Food Allergies)
After changing into dry clothes, we headed downstairs to Curiosity Café for dinner.
Even though it was right around dinnertime, the restaurant didn’t feel crowded at all. We walked straight up to the counter without waiting in line, which gave me a chance to ask about the Coca-Cola Freestyle refillable cups. I was excited to learn they work in both the hotel and the theme park, a nice bonus if you’re staying overnight.
As the mom of a child with peanut and sesame allergies, trying a brand-new restaurant always comes with a few extra questions.
Before we even finished ordering, the chef came out to meet us personally.
He walked us through Liam’s allergies, explained that the kitchen is completely peanut- and sesame-free, and answered every question we had. That conversation immediately put me at ease and let us simply enjoy dinner instead of worrying about it.
Just a few minutes after finding a table, our food arrived fresh and piping hot.
Liam ordered the kids’ chicken tenders and fries.
After his first few bites he looked up and declared them “some of the best chicken tenders I’ve ever had.”
A minute later he added,
“…they’re still not as good as Mel’s.”
If you’ve ever eaten with a ten-year-old, you know that’s actually pretty high praise.
I ordered the Penne Rosa but asked if they could substitute Alfredo sauce instead. As a fellow picky eater, I was thrilled when they smiled and said, “No problem.”
The result tasted remarkably close to my homemade chicken Alfredo (which, if I’m being honest, is one of my favorite meals to make).
I’ll take that as a compliment to the chef.
The Universal-Themed Arcade
Dinner may have been over, but our evening wasn’t.
As we started walking back toward the elevators, Liam suddenly stopped.
“The arcade!”
Somehow we’d walked right past it on the way to dinner.
Walking inside was another pleasant surprise.
Instead of a random collection of games, almost everything was themed to Universal favorites. Mario Kart, SpongeBob SquarePants, Jurassic Park, Trolls, and several claw machines filled with character prizes made it feel like an extension of the parks themselves.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the price.
For $20, we received 90 game credits, more than enough for the two of us to play every game that caught our eye and even try our luck at the claw machines a few times.
About thirty minutes later, our credits (and our energy) had both run out.
Back in our room, I found myself standing at the window one last time.
The park looked completely different after dark. Lights reflected across the attractions, music drifted up from below, and for a few quiet minutes I simply stood there taking it all in.
Tomorrow we’d finally get to experience the park we’d been looking forward to for months.
But somehow…
I wasn’t in any hurry.
Our first evening at Universal Kids Resort Hotel had already exceeded every expectation I walked in with.
Looking back, though, my favorite five minutes of the entire evening weren’t at the pool, over dinner, or even in the arcade.
They were those first few minutes after opening the hotel room door.
While I was busy taking in the room, making mental notes of what to include in my hotel review, and sneaking a quick trip to the bathroom after a long day in the car, Liam had already turned the room into his own adventure. Before I knew it, he had discovered his first secret hiding place and was waiting for the perfect moment to jump out and scare me.
That set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Every colorful hallway, every new hiding spot, every game in the arcade, every view from our window, it all reminded me that sometimes the best vacation memories aren’t the ones you carefully plan.
They’re the little moments you never see coming.
As I finally closed the curtains, Liam was already fast asleep after a very full day of traveling, swimming, arcade games, and one very memorable dinner.
Between the white noise machine and a day full of excitement, neither of us had any trouble falling asleep.
The park would have to wait until morning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Universal Kids Resort Hotel
Does Universal Kids Resort Hotel Have a Pool?
Yes. Universal Kids Resort Hotel has an outdoor pool with lifeguards on duty, a traditional staircase entry, a zero-entry section, and a wide, shallow platform that is perfect for younger swimmers. We went the evening we checked in, right after the park closed, and it was full of families winding down from their park day. Even busy, it felt organized and fun. One honest note: the zero-entry section was a little slippery, so hold little hands on the way in. And pack the swimsuits somewhere you can reach them, because “Can we go to the pool now?” comes up fast.
Can Curiosity Café Handle Food Allergies?
Curiosity Café, the hotel’s quick-service restaurant, took my son’s peanut and sesame allergies seriously from the moment we ordered. The chef came out to meet us personally, walked through Liam’s allergies, and told us the kitchen is completely peanut- and sesame-free. That conversation let us enjoy dinner instead of worrying about it. As an allergy mom, I still recommend speaking with the chef directly on every visit, since kitchens and menus can change. It was one of the best allergy experiences we have had at any theme park hotel.
How Much Does the Arcade Cost at Universal Kids Resort Hotel?
When we visited in July 2026, $20 bought 90 game credits at the hotel arcade, enough for my son and me to play every game that caught our eye and try the claw machines a few times. Nearly everything is themed to Universal favorites like Mario Kart, SpongeBob SquarePants, Jurassic Park, and Trolls, so it feels like an extension of the park. About 30 minutes wiped out our credits and our energy, which made it the perfect end to arrival day.
Is a Theme Park View Room Worth It at Universal Kids Resort Hotel?
From our fourth-floor Theme Park View room, we could see nearly the entire park, watch Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster and Swings Over Del Mar running, and hear the park music drifting up. After dark, the lights across the attractions made the view even better. For us it was worth it, and it is the room I would book again. That said, if your family will only be in the room to sleep, a standard view will save you money, and I would put that savings toward park snacks instead.
Do the Coca-Cola Freestyle Refillable Cups Work at Both the Hotel and the Park?
Yes. I asked at Curiosity Café, and the Coca-Cola Freestyle refillable cups work in both the hotel and the theme park. That makes them a much better value if you are staying overnight, since one cup covers dinner at the hotel and your park day the next morning. It is a small thing, but it is exactly the kind of detail that saves a family real money over a two-day stay.
How Can I Help You Plan Your Universal Kids Resort Vacation?
If there’s one thing this trip reminded me of, it’s that the little details matter.
The memories I’ll treasure most weren’t the ones I carefully planned. They were the unexpected moments: Liam calling the hotel “flashy,” laughing over a SpongeBob movie set in Texas, discovering hidden hiding spots in our room, and watching the park lights twinkle from our window.
That’s exactly why I love helping families plan vacations.
I help match your family with the right hotel room, tickets, and vacation plan, while sharing the firsthand tips and little details you won’t find in a brochure. From food allergies and room recommendations to touring strategies and planning advice, my goal is simple: help your family spend less time worrying about the details and more time making memories together.
If you’re thinking about visiting Universal Kids Resort, I’d love to help you plan a vacation that’s just right for your family. You can reach out to Favorite Grampy Travels to get started, and while you’re planning, the Universal Kids Resort planning guide covers tickets, rides, and everything in between.
And if you enjoyed following along with our arrival day, stay tuned! In my next article, Liam and I finally head into the park to share our favorite rides, what surprised us most, and everything we learned during our one and only park day.
I’ll see you in the park!
