A brand-new member of the Universal Destinations and Experiences family has officially arrived: Universal Kids Resort! Located in Frisco, Texas (that’s just outside Dallas), this theme park was specifically designed for kids of all abilities, ages 3-8. But not just for the children — it’s fun designed for little ones and their grown-ups to experience together.
Already asking, “Are we there yet?” Here’s the quick need-to-know about planning your visit:
- Guests have several ticketing options for Universal Kids Resort, including 1-Day and 2-Day General Admission Tickets, and the Silver Annual Pass.
- Universal Kids Resort is composed of seven lands based on beloved kids and family-friendly stories and characters, including DreamWorks’ Shrek, Puss in Boots and Trolls, as well as Gabby’s Dollhouse, Illumination’s Minions, Jurassic Park, and Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants.
- Universal Kids Resort Hotel is an on-site property with 300 colorful rooms designed especially for kids and families. Guests at this hotel have access to direct entry to the theme park, among other benefits.
Universal Kids Resort is a place where joy, laughter, and curiosity flourish. But as every parent knows, behind a day full of to-be core childhood memories goes a whole lot of logistics. So, moms and dads, here’s everything you need to know before your visit to Universal Kids Resort.
TICKETS | PARKING | WHERE TO STAY | THINGS TO DO | WHERE TO EAT WHERE TO REST | FAQ
Buy Your Tickets
Universal Kids Resort offers several ticketing options, so it’s all about figuring out what makes sense for you and your family. Here’s the breakdown of current offerings:
1-Day General Admission
This standard ticket gives you a classic theme park day. That’s a full day of kid-friendly attractions, character meet and greets, and more joyful moments than you can count on your fingers and toes. Also available with a refillable, collectible Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenir Cup exclusive to Universal Kids Resort for an additional charge.
2-Day General Admission
Want to really soak up the fun and take your time exploring Universal Kids Resort? Then this ticket’s for you. You might want to pair the 2-day General Admission pass with an overnight at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel — more on that below. Also available with a refillable, collectible Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenir Cup exclusive to Universal Kids Resort for an additional charge.
Silver Annual Pass
Get the most out of Universal Kids Resort with this year-round pass! With the Silver Annual Pass — the first annual pass released for this theme park — the family fun lasts 12 months a year. There’s also a version of this pass available that includes parking. Blockout dates apply. Please note that at the time of publication, this pass is currently sold out. But fear not, more will become available in the future!
Universal Kids Resort Vacation Package
Want all the fun bundled into one awesome stay? This might be the option for you! The Universal Kids Resort Vacation Package includes two nights at Universal Kids Resort Hotel, a one-and-a-half-day General Admission Ticket to the theme park (only available with this package), and early park admission one hour before the park opens for select lands and attractions.
Universal Kids Resort VIP Experience
Looking for an extra cushy way to do Universal Kids Resort? The VIP Experience is for you. Tour the theme park with a dedicated guide, enjoy priority access to select experiences, and indulge in VIP Lounge access and a complimentary snack. This four-hour, family-friendly walking tour is the best way to cover all of Universal Kids Resort in a short time.
Park Your Vehicle
Parking at Universal Kids Resort is a piece of cake. If you’re visiting the theme park for the day, there are two main sections to park in with various ways to pay. Here’s the breakdown:
Regular Parking
Guests can purchase Regular Parking upon arrival at the theme park, with either a debit card, a credit card, or a North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) TollTag. If using the latter, you’ll enjoy expedited entry — just follow the signage to the designated toll lane when driving into the parking facility. Regular parking costs $20 plus tax for cars, and $30 plus tax for RVs and busses.
Premium Parking
To secure a space closer to the theme park entrance, consider the Premium Parking option. Guests can purchase Premium Parking in advance on the Universal Kids Resort website, or upon arrival at the park. (Please note that the NTTA TollTag is not accepted as a form of payment for Premium Parking.) Premium Parking costs $30 plus tax.
Passholder Parking
The Silver Annual Pass doesn’t include parking on its own, but the Silver Annual Pass with Parking sure does! This add-on includes access to Regular Parking via designated Annual Pass parking toll plaza lanes.
Hotel Parking
Spending the night at Universal Kids Resort Hotel? Lucky you! Overnight self-parking costs $20 plus tax per night, per vehicle. Guests can tap in and out of the garage using their hotel key card. Day guests to the hotel can also park in Hotel Parking for a tiered amount based on time spent, with anything over three hours costing $50 plus tax.
Please note that Universal Kids Resort is totally cash-less, including for parking, so you must use a debit or credit card, or an NTTA TollTag where applicable. There is no valet parking for the hotel or the theme park. For all the information about parking your heart might desire, visit the Universal Kids Resort website.
Where to Stay
Right on the grounds of the theme park, of course! The Universal Kids Resort Hotel isn’t just convenient, but it’s the best way to fully immerse yourself in this kid-centric experience. The hotel boasts over 300 rooms, with an on-site dining venue called the Curiosity Café, open for every meal. The rooms were conceived with families in mind: They’re playful, colorful, and even include bunk beds in every room type for the little ones. Guests can opt into one of the Standard Rooms (queen bed + twin-over-full bunk bed), or the spacious Family Suite, which sleeps up to six people (king bed + bunk bed + queen pull-out sofa). It’s the perfect place for a full-family slumber party.
Plus, staying at Universal Kids Resort Hotel makes your theme park day even more convenient and fun. The property is located adjacent to Universal Kids Resort and even includes its own dedicated entrance to it — that’s especially clutch when using your Early Park Admission, which comes with booking a room at Universal Kids Resort Hotel. Hotel guests can also have merchandise purchases made in-park delivered to their room free of charge.
Please note that hotel reservations and theme park tickets are sold separately, with the exception of the Universal Kids Resort Vacation Package.
Things to Do
All right, you’ve booked the hotel, you’ve parked the car, you’ve snagged the ticket — you’re ready to play. It’s time to let your inner child go wild and your creativity flourish. But where to even begin? That’s probably a decision for the under-10 crowd to make.
Universal Kids Resort is composed of seven lands, each inspired by beloved stories and characters kids know and love, with attractions and play areas within. They include:
Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
- Ride: Jellyfish Fields Jamboree
- Ride: Barnacle Bus
- Ride: Bobbing Barrels
- Ride: Mrs. Puff’s Boating School
- Wet Play Area: Pineapple Paradise
- Character Meet & Greet: SpongeBob & Friends
DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp
- Ride: Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After
- Dry Play Area: Shrek’s Swamp Rompin’ Stomp
- Wet Play Area: Shrek’s Swamp Splash & Smash
- Character Meet & Greet: Shrek & Fiona
Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club
- Ride: Bello Bay Cruise
- Ride: Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby
- Wet Play Area: Minions Water Play
- Character Meet & Greet: Minion(s)
Jurassic World Adventure Camp
- Ride: Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster
- Ride: Pteranodrop
- Ride: Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin
- Dry Play Area: Jurassic World Lookout Towers
- Dry Play Area: Paddock Play
- Character Meet & Greet: Baby Raptor
DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar
- Ride: Swings Over Del Mar
- Show: Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day
DreamWorks’ TrollFest
- Ride: Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express
- Ride: Hair in the Clouds
- Dry Play Area: Poppy’s Playland
- Dry Play Area: Trolls Critter Crawl
- Character Meet & Greet: Poppy & Friends
- Show: King Trollex Techno Dance Party
- Show: Trollstastic: Concert Countdown
- Experience: Troll-ify Me! Makeover Experience
Isle of Curiosity
- Character Meet & Greet: Gabby
Where to Eat
If you’re anything like me, the best part of any theme park day is eating your way through it. Universal Kids Resort has no shortage of delicious, themed food and beverage options, so you’d better come hungry! The menu here was made with kids and families in mind, so it’s chock-full of dishes and treats that kids (and kids at heart) will love.
And lunchtime isn’t just about eating, but catching a breather, too. It’s worth noting that it can get hot in Texas, especially in the summer months. Luckily, Universal Kids Resort has several air-conditioned food and beverage venues. If you’re going on a hot day, we suggest planning to cool off in one (or more) of these eateries with A/C:
- Universal Kids Resort Hotel
- Curiosity Café
- DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar
- Comidas y Leche
- Jurassic World Adventure Camp
- Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
Wanna spend time in the fresh air? These outdoor venues are calling your name.
- Isle of Curiosity
- Cakey’s Cupcakes
- Universal Kids Resort Café
- DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp
- Swamp Snacks
- Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
- Snack Bar
- Illumination’s Minions vs Minions: Bello Bay Club
Where to Rest
We all know that a day at the theme park with little ones requires a rest stop – or two. And some diaper changes. And a snack break. Then another snack break and — well, you get it. And since Universal Kids Resort is tailor-made for families with little ones, there are plenty of places to take a load off throughout the day.
Keep these spots in your back pocket next time someone in your party gets a case of the crankies:
- Family Services: These indoor rest areas offer first aid, quiet rooms, nursing rooms, and more helpful things for parents and caregivers. It’s a place to grab some peace and quiet and recuperate. There are two Family Services locations at Universal Kids Resort: one in Isle of Curiosity (to the left after you enter the theme park), and one in DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar.
- Rental Lockers: We know you’ve packed a huge bag for the day, and then a whole backup pack in case of emergency. Don’t worry about lugging everything around all day — guests can purchase one of the many rental lockers, located near the front of the theme park, in Isle of Curiosity.
- Drying Stations: Playing in a wet area is a ton of fun; spending all day in soggy clothes, less so. Luckily, there are two drying stations at Universal Kids Resort: one in DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, next to the splash pads; and one in Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom. (If you’ve been playing in Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions Bello Bay Club wet area, your closest changing rooms are in SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom.)
More Frequently Asked Questions
Got more burning questions about Universal Kids Resort? Look no further than this FAQ, which’ll give you all the nitty-gritty answers to everything on your mind, from height requirements to accessibility info to hotel check-in specifics.
What are you most excited to experience at Universal Kids Resort? Let us know in the comments below.