Universal Kids Resort to open July 1 in Frisco

Universal Kids Resort will open July 1 in Frisco, giving Collin County families a new summer destination built specifically for younger children. The park is being positioned as a regional draw, so nearby residents should expect heavier traffic, fuller weekends and a different kind of family outing than the city’s familiar sports-driven trips.

Universal Destinations & Experiences says the project is its first-ever theme park concept created for families with young children. The park will feature seven themed lands: Shrek’s Swamp, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, TrollsFest, Puss in Boots Del Mar and the Isle of Curiosity. Universal Creative president Molly Murphy said the park was designed through “a child’s eyes,” with signs at children’s height and colors meant to draw kids in.

The resort’s early lineup leans hard into that age group. Announced attractions include Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin and Pteranodrop in Jurassic World Adventure Camp, along with Jellyfish Fields Jamboree, Barnacle Bus, Bobbing Barrels and Mrs. Puff’s Boating School in the SpongeBob area. Universal also says themed food, merchandise and character encounters will be spread throughout the park, giving families more than rides to fill a day.

The hotel will be part of the draw too. Universal says the on-site hotel will have 300 rooms, with some room types sleeping up to five or six guests. The hotel site will also serve as the entrance to the park, putting lodging and access in the same footprint and making the resort feel like a single family destination rather than a stand-alone attraction.

Frisco is also preparing for the strain that comes with a major new park. City materials say more than $201,987,000 is being invested in 10 major roadway construction and improvement projects in the northern corridor, including the area around Dallas Parkway and Panther Creek Parkway. Frisco police also reviewed crime-risk research involving 10 theme parks as part of public-safety discussions before the project moved ahead.

The resort has been on the city’s radar since public discussion began in January 2023, followed by a public meet-and-greet on Feb. 4, 2023 and Universal’s formal introduction in Frisco on Dec. 1, 2023. Frisco City Council approved the hotel façade plan on Dec. 3, 2024. With the July 1 opening now set, Universal Kids Resort is poised to widen Frisco’s identity from a sports-trip city into a broader North Texas family tourism hub.