Just one year after Universal Destinations & Experiences opened a brand-new theme park in Orlando, Florida, the company has debuted a first-of-a-kind regional resort in Frisco, Texas. The gates are now open to an all-new theme park (and hotel!) specifically designed and developed for families with young children. Inspiring kids' unbridled creativity through imagination, discovery and play, Universal Kids Resort features seven amazing themed lands where kids and their grown-ups can chill with beloved characters, enjoy incredible rides and interactive play areas and even find serene moments of calm in sensory gardens. Getting ready to get away to a tadpole's paradise? Here's everything you need to know to plan your day at Universal Kids Resort.
Top Tips to Plan Your Day at Universal Kids Resort
Schedule Your Visit
The first thing to know about Universal Kids Resort is that — unlike Universal's flagship resorts around the world — it operates seasonally and is not open 365 days a year. Currently, in 2026, this brand-new theme park is scheduled to be closed Nov. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 26 and Dec. 25. In 2027, expect the park to be closed Jan. 5-8, 11-15 and 19-31, Feb. 1-10, 16-19, 22-26 and March 1-2 and 8-9. These dates are subject to change, and additional closure dates may be added at the sole discretion of Universal Kids Resort Theme Park.
Grab Your Tickets in Advance
The last thing you want is to spend the beginning of your day waiting in line at the ticket window. Maximize your time — and save some serious green — by booking your tickets to Universal Kids Resort in advance through Undercover Tourist. Opt for the Universal Kids Resort 1-Day General Admission Ticket (starting at $60.92, plus tax) to embark on a full day of play, or splurge for the Universal Kids Resort: 2-Day General Admission Ticket (starting at $77.71, plus tax) if one day isn't going to be enough. We always love knowing we have some extra time to take a break, enjoy some meals or even head back to the hotel in between racing from ride to ride. That being said, the park is more than doable in one day!
Of course, out in the Texas sun, you're going to want to stay hydrated. Be frugal and score a 1-Day or 2-Day ticket that includes a Coca-Cola Freestyle Souvenir Cup! Universal Kids Resort even has five delicious, exclusive, kid-friendly flavors for you to try: Minute Maid Triceratops Twist, Sprite Curious Cooler, Minute Maid Poppin' Punch, Fanta Easy Peasy Orange Squeasy and Hi-C Pineapple Passion. Refills are limited to no more than one pour from a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine per 10 minutes, valid on your selected date only at participating Coca-Cola Freestyle locations.
Book Your Stay at Universal Kids Resort Hotel
When you have a full day of adventure, thrills, laughs and discovery ahead of you, you're going to want to stay where the action is. Just steps away from the theme park, Universal Kids Resort Hotel features 300 guest rooms and family suites, three-meal dining options for even the pickiest of palates and family-friendly amenities. Plus, guests staying here have access to Universal benefits, such as Early Park Admission to select lands and attractions one hour before the park opens, a dedicated entrance into the park (separate Universal Kids Resort theme park admission is required and not included), resort-wide charging privileges with your room key and purchases delivered directly to your hotel, free of charge!
Room options include a Standard Queen, Deluxe Queen and Signature Queen — all of which have one queen bed and one twin-over-full bunk bed — and Family Suites, which have one king bed, one twin-over-twin bunk bed and one queen pull-out sofa. Book your stay with Undercover Tourist to pay only a refundable $200 deposit to secure your vacation now and pay the remaining balance 30 days prior to check-in! When booking through Undercover Tourist, you receive the exact same guest benefits, including Early Park Admission, the dedicated hotel entrance and merchandise delivery.
Chase Some Epic Thrills
You're never too young to start living for adventure. Whether it's conquering their first roller coaster, soaring to new heights or becoming a part of their favorite stories, tadpoles of all sizes will love the dynamic assortment of attractions available at Universal Kids Resort. Travel to a kingdom Far, Far Away and relive the iconic fairy tale in Shrek and Fiona's Happily Ogre After (minimum height 30 inches). Bounce and buzz along with a school of pink jellyfish in Jellyfish Fields Jamboree (no height requirement). Grab the wheel old on tight at Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby (minimum height 36 inches). Join the search party for a missing baby Ankylosaurus on Jurassic Park: Cretaceous Coaster (no height requirement). Take a twisting, turning tour through a glittery music festival on Rhonda's TrollsFest Express (minimum height requirement 36 inches). You can even spin high above the adoption day festivities on Swings Over Del Mar (minimum height requirement 42 inches).
Play With Your Favorite Pals
From dance parties to splash zones to awe-inspiring meet-and-greets, the fun doesn't stop when you disembark your ride vehicle. Character interactions, play areas and laugh-out-loud entertainment are everywhere you look at Universal Kids Resort. Bust out your best moves at dance parties hosted by Gabby and King Trollex, respectively. Let off some steam at Jurassic World Lookout Towers and Del Mar's midway games. Enjoy and even take part in sensational shows, such as Mama Luna's Adopt A Kitty Day! and Trollstatic: Concert Countdown. Snap some pics with your favorite Minions and residents of Bikini Bottom. Lastly, don't froget to get up and close with baby Raptor for a prehistoric meet-and-greet 65 million years in the making at Jurassic World Adventure Camp.
Pack for a Day of Wet and Wild Play
From the action-packed, water-soaked antics of Bello Bay Cruise and the all-out aquatic battle at Bobbing Barrels to the soaking splash pads you'll find in Shrek's Swamp, Bikini Bottom and Bello Bay Club, Universal Kids Resort is full of places to cool off. Be sure to pack swim suits and sunscreen for the whole gang. (Oh, and we can't froget to mention the resort hotel pool available to hotel guests — complete with underwater speakers!)
Let Your Cares Melt Away
One thing that truly sets Universal Kids Resort apart from its sister theme parks is the multiple sensory gardens spaced around the park. Whether you're a parent chasing your energetic young adventurers around all day or a tadpole getting overstimulated and in need of some downtime, these dedicated calming areas are designed to help you and your family relax and recharge during your vacation. Pause, reset and connect in these carefully crafted spaces that invite you and your little ones to explore through touch, sound and color. From the tropical forests of Jurassic World to the seaside village of Del Mar, these calming, nature-inspired settings help create moments of balance in your exhilarating day of play.
Fuel Up for Your Day of Fun in the Sun
Delicious dining locations abound at Universal Kids Resort! When you enter the park into the Isle of Curiosity, you'll find Universal Kids Resort Café, where you can fuel up for your day, and Cakey's Cupcakes, where you can satisfy your sweet tooth. The Jurassic World Canteen in Jurassic World Adventure Camp is perfect for carnivores and herbivores alike. Chow down on chicken sandwiches, salads, hot dogs and the iconic Triple Gooberberry Sunrise sundae at Goofy Goober's in Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom. Grab the famous Shrekzel at Swamp Snack in DreamWorks' Shrek's Swamp. Head to Bello Bay Bites in Illumination's Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club for some tasty Minion-themed snacks, including a Bello Bay Mac & Cheese Cone. Indulge in a symphony of flavors and chill out with BroZone Cones at DreamWorks' TrollsFest. Lastly, satiate your hero-sized appetite at Comidas y Leche (which serves up absolutely mouthwatering Catnip Tres Leches), and treat yourself to some delicioso sweets at Tienda de Dulces in DreamWorks' Puss in Boots Del Mar.
Heads up: Starbucks is proudly served at both Curiosity Cafe in the Universal Kids Resort Hotel and at the Universal Kids Resort Cafe in Isle of Curiosity. At the former, you'll find breakfast entrées for you and the kiddos and, at the latter, you'll find delicious pastries. We recommend hitting up Curiosity Cafe before entering the park for a satisfying meal to start your day!
Take the Magic Home With You
Is it even a vacation if you didn't bring home a souvenir? There's no shortage of best-in-class shopping at Universal Kids Resort, whether you're putting together your colorful TrollsFest 'fit (more on that in a bit), searching for apparel to rep your Minion team, on the hunt for gear to aid you on your dinosaur-sized adventures or truly just wishing for some nautical nonsense.
Let Your Hair ... Up!
Half the fun of any music festival is putting together the perfect 'fit. If you're planning on attending TrollsFest, you want to rock a look that's going to make Satin & Chenille proud. That's where the Troll-ify Me! Experience comes in. Hop inside Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow for the ultimate Trolls makeover where kids and grown-ups can amplify their attire with headbands, apparel, makeup and more (recommended for guests five years or older). Get ready for your hair to be in the clouds and your sparkles to be loud! (You can even purchase a Troll-ify Me! Experience Ticket in advance on the Universal Kids Resort website so you have your chair waiting for you when you arrive. Character outfits and accessories can be added at the venue by upgrading your ticket for an additional fee.)
Are you ready to plan your day at Universal Kids Resort? Do you have any questions we haven't answered? Let us know in the comments "bello"!
Related: Introducing Universal Kids Resort: New Theme Park& Hotel in Frisco, Texas
Hoppy planning!
