A Unique, New, Family-Friendly Theme Park Resort Is Coming To Texas In 2026

There's a new theme park opening in northern Texas with one key demographic firmly in its focus: kids. The minds behind successful parks Universal Studios in Hollywood and Universal Studios Florida, which includes the brand-new Epic Universe in Orlando, are set to open the gates to their newest interactive park in Frisco, Texas, sometime in 2026. Located just under 30 miles north of Dallas, Universal Kids Resort will cater to families with young children. It will focus on seven themed lands that feature some of the most popular and kid-friendly characters today.

As of this writing, there's no firm opening date set for Universal Kids Resort. However, the park says on its website that announcements about ticket prices and opening dates will be "revealed in the months ahead." What is clear is that the park has been designed with children front-of-mind. Familiar theme park attractions like character meet-and-greet opportunities will abound, and child-focused entertainment and play areas will give the park's youngest visitors additional opportunities to explore in fantastical environments.

These play zones not only give kids a chance to flex their imaginations but also allow parents a chance to relax in shaded areas. Food options will abound as well. Each themed area will have restaurants and retail stores focused on specific characters that most children will immediately recognize, providing food and souvenir options for the whole family.. And, according to Universal, there will be no shortage of characters to meet, hug, and pose with to capture memorable moments.

Visitors to Universal's newest park will see plenty of familiar faces, or at least familiar characters. The park has dedicated seven specific themed spaces to its successful and popular children's favorites. The franchises of Shrek, Puss in Boots, the Minions, SpongeBob SquarePants, Jurassic World, Trolls, and Gabby's Townhouse all get interactive spaces where those specific characters reign supreme. 

According to President of Universal Creative, Molly Murphy, the goal of the park as a whole is to offer an experience specific to children that older family members can enjoy as well. "Universal Kids Resort embodies the spirit of igniting thrill that drives everything we create — designed to bring our youngest guests and families together through play, creativity, and beloved characters and stories," Murphy said in a statement. "It's a destination made for kids and, as a regional theme park, brings Universal's signature storytelling to families close to home."

Universal Kids Resort will be the sixth resort operated by Universal Creative and is one of three currently in development. In time, the newest addition is sure to be among the top-tier USA tourist attractions first-time visitors should never skip. While the meet-and-greet opportunities with the headlining characters will no doubt be popular with the youngest family members, plenty of rides and games will also keep them occupied at this kid-friendly destination.

While themed lands within a theme park are not a new concept, Universal Kids Resort plans to incorporate a new level of interaction for its youngest visitors. Multiple play areas within the themed worlds will allow children to physically interact with the worlds dreamed up by Universal. A splash area in SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom gives young visitors a chance to play and cool off awhile Paddock Play, a planned rope area high above Jurassic World, gives them access to views of the dinosaur-themed space.

Shrek's Swamp, themed to the multiple movies featuring the titular ogre, plans a ride that retells the story of Princess Fiona's rescue. The ride is "designed" by the ogre couple's triplets and is geared toward families. Nearby, the Minions of "Despicable Me" fame get their own featured splash zone and an attraction featuring a golf cart. There's even a dance party space with the Dreamworks Trolls, which gives kids a chance to shake off some extra energy before continuing their exploration of the park.

A similar dance party space with the "Gabby's Dreamhouse" characters has a cat theme within the Isle of Curiosity land, complete with a cupcake-themed eatery. And, to reconnect with the world of Shrek, Puss in Boots is featured in Del Mar, an area with a puppet performance featuring the ogre's feline sidekick. 

It's not unheard of for theme parks to attach hotels to their properties. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida became one of the USA's most iconic destinations based on that model. Following suit, Universal Kids Resort will offer a 300-room hotel just steps away from the themed lands of its park. It was built with a child's point of view in mind, making it easy to fully immerse the family into the experience, even during their downtime.

The Universal Kids Resort Hotel will offer rooms that can sleep up to six guests. Options similar to traditional hotels will be available, such as standard queen, deluxe queen, and signature queen rooms. Also included are colorful bunk bed options, making the overnight experience part of the immersive environment dedicated to the entire resort. Swimming pools, game rooms, a fitness center, and an on-site restaurant called the Curiosity Cafe are all planned to be available to hotel guests.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the closest major airport to Frisco, Texas — it also offers one of the best high-end lounges that can provide you with some added comforts on your journey back home! There, travelers can access rental car services, public transit options, and hotel shuttles to reach their final destination. Regular updates on Universal Kids Resort, including ticket prices and opening dates, will be announced on the resort's official website.