Universal Kids Resort reveals seven themed lands

Key points
- Seven kid-focused lands confirmed for Frisco resort in 2026.
- Brands include Shrek, Minions, Trolls, SpongeBob, and Jurassic World.
- Calming sensory gardens and meet-and-greets anchor low-stress play.
- 300-room on-site hotel will serve as the resort entrance.
- Isle of Curiosity with Gabby's Dollhouse forms the gateway.
Impact
- Who
- Families planning kid-focused theme park trips to North Texas
- When
- Resort opening in 2026, trip planning begins now
- Level
- Moderate
- Action
- Track opening timeline, budget for on-site hotel, plan meet-and-greets
Universal Destinations & Experiences has confirmed the lineup of seven play-forward lands coming to Universal Kids Resort, a compact theme park designed for families with young children. Opening in 2026 in Frisco, Texas, the resort will welcome travelers through the Isle of Curiosity, then branch into zones built around Shrek, Puss in Boots, Minions, Jurassic World, Trolls, and SpongeBob SquarePants. The experience layers interactive play, character meet-and-greets, and multiple sensory gardens, with an adjacent 300-room hotel serving as the resort entrance. For fly-in families, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the nearest major gateway.
Universal Kids Resort, themed lands overview
Guests enter through the Isle of Curiosity, a whimsical gateway that hosts Gabby from Gabby's Dollhouse for meet-and-greets and dance parties. From there, families can explore Shrek's Swamp for photos with Shrek and Fiona, including the onion carriage, plus two interactive play areas for stomp or splash moments. Puss in Boots Del Mar adds seaside carnival energy with games like Barriles de Leche and El Gato's Meow, alongside appearances by Puss, Mama Luna, and Perrito.
Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club pits Yellow Minions against their Purple counterparts in a water-soaked, spectator-friendly competition. At Jurassic World Adventure Camp, kids can meet a newly hatched baby dinosaur or climb the Lookout Towers play area for a Pteranodon's-eye view. TrollsFest brings glittery meet-and-greets with Poppy and Branch plus play zones like Poppy's Playland and the Trolls Critter Crawl. Finally, SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom offers time with SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy in an undersea-style streetscape scaled for young adventurers.
Throughout the park, Universal plans multiple sensory gardens that invite kids to reset with touch, sound, and color in nature-forward spaces. The on-site, 300-room hotel will welcome families just steps from the park and will serve as the arrival portal to the resort. For Universal fans tracking the brand's broader moves, see recent coverage of year-round experiences in Las Vegas and seasonal programs in Hollywood, which illustrate the company's expanding family and fandom footprint: Universal Horror Unleashed Opens at AREA15 Las Vegas, Universal Mega Movie Summer Roars into Universal Studios Hollywood.
Analysis
For families with toddlers and grade-schoolers, the smaller scale reduces overstimulation and walking distance, which makes half-days realistic. Water-centric play in Bello Bay Club and Shrek's Swamp suggests packing quick-dry layers and footwear, plus a midday hotel break using the resort entrance. Sensory gardens are a meaningful inclusion for neurodiverse travelers, giving dependable reset zones near high-energy areas.
Air planners should compare fares into DFW and Dallas Love Field for schedule flexibility, then time arrival windows to avoid late-night overstimulation on day one. Budget planners can expect on-site hotel pricing to carry a convenience premium, but it should save time and meltdowns versus off-site transfers for nap breaks. Expect timed meet-and-greets and capacity-managed play areas at launch; building an A.M. plan around Gabby, Shrek, and your child's priority IP will pay off. Keep an eye on soft-opening previews and early-booking windows for the hotel and opening week.
Final thoughts
With seven IP-rich lands, sensory-aware design, and a hotel that doubles as the entry, Universal Kids Resort aims squarely at young families seeking a manageable first theme park. Travelers should track dates, hotel pricing, and pre-opening previews to lock plans around the Universal Kids Resort themed lands.
Sources
- Universal Kids Resort unveils details of themed lands featuring interactive play areas and more, Universal Destinations & Experiences
- Universal Kids Resort, official site
- Isle of Curiosity, official land page
- Universal Kids Resort themed lands, City of Frisco press release
- Universal Kids Resort, City of Frisco theme park hub