Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[AvoidTIMtation]

We're taking the trip up there next month and my kids are going to love it. The fact that this park is for kids like 8 and under makes me shrug at the less than great theming. The only problem 44 year old me has with this place is how hotel prices are too high for the park they built lol

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

 

[Evan]

I enjoy all the hate this place gets from childless adults. Once you have kids and take them places you will be amazed at what things actually grab their attention. I am not saying this place looks great, but it was designed this way for a reason.

For the crowd saying that six flags is where I would take my kids, you are missing the comfort of a place dedicated to families with little ones. As a parent it is so nice going somewhere and not having to worried about crazy teens and people swearing all over. You pick universal kids for a place where you can just let your little one run with no worries. Also going to a normal park with young ones nothing can kill their mood quite like looking at a ride only to tell them they are too small.

Walt Disney built Disneyland because families, including smaller children, deserved better than what was being offered.

This is fun, and will entertain many, but it’s not worthy of the Universal name.

 

[Brian G.]

Walt Disney built Disneyland because families, including smaller children, deserved better than what was being offered.

This is fun, and will entertain many, but it’s not worthy of the Universal name.

We’ve got to stop with the Disneyland comparisons. Even if some of the criticisms are fair, this resort was built for kids so young that the bathrooms have smaller/potty-training seats attached to the toilets. That’s a completely different audience and set of priorities.

 

[Thatguyoverwhere]

I know I'm not the target audience for this park as a childless millennial but:

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Also, why does it feel like so many theme parks are allergic to having shade?

Missed opportunity not building this for the SpongeBob area tbh

 

[theblueblurr]

I guess I just have a hard time even quantifying this as a resort in my mind. In what reality would what's inside this park justify the need to stay at an on-site hotel for longer than a day? I guess you could argue for folks who made a long drive and don't want to drive back the same day but nothing I've seen so far would justify such a drive, even if I had kids. It just feels like a barren, concrete wasteland with virtually no effort put into it.

I don't know anything about Texas but I feel like there has to be better options for families than this out there? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there will be a market for this. I didn't exactly graduate from business school. I get that it's built for the smallest of the small kids but those kids still need to be brought there by their parents. I guess we'll just have to see how many of them are willing to put up with Universal is serving up here.

 

[sonoma15]

I don't know anything about Texas but I feel like there has to be better options for families than this out there? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there will be a market for this. I didn't exactly graduate from business school. I get that it's built for the smallest of the small kids but those kids still need to be brought there by their parents. I guess we'll just have to see how many of them are willing to put up with Universal is serving up here.

The closest thing nearby that serves the market this park is catering too would probably either be the Peppa Pig park that's about 40 minutes away or possibly family entertainment centers. The Peppa Pig park is a lot smaller than this park is though.

 

[Brian G.]

I guess I just have a hard time even quantifying this as a resort in my mind. In what reality would what's inside this park justify the need to stay at an on-site hotel for longer than a day? I guess you could argue for folks who made a long drive and don't want to drive back the same day but nothing I've seen so far would justify such a drive, even if I had kids. It just feels like a barren, concrete wasteland with virtually no effort put into it.

I don't know anything about Texas but I feel like there has to be better options for families than this out there? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe there will be a market for this. I didn't exactly graduate from business school. I get that it's built for the smallest of the small kids but those kids still need to be brought there by their parents. I guess we'll just have to see how many of them are willing to put up with Universal is serving up here.

I think they’re aiming for weekend getaways, not weeklong vacations (judging by the 2 day ticket).

Whether that model works long-term remains to be seen, but there clearly is a market for it since APs are already sold out, and fast.

We’ll see how softs go, but I know ignoring all the noise about the visuals, families there seemed to be having a great time (and no, not all were media).

Basically, I don’t think “week long getaways” is the metric Universal is using for this place.

 

[Andysol]

I think they’re aiming for weekend getaways, not weeklong vacations (judging by the 2 day ticket).

Forget the 2 day ticket- they offer a 1.5 day for those staying at the hotel. That alone tells you they know exactly what they’re aiming for.

People shouldn’t underestimate the desire for parents to get that “extra hour before park opens” mentality that many park-goers have become conditioned to expect and desire. Add that with the “mid day break” and that hotel will do just fine.

And I cannot express to you enough the disposable income available in our area. They’re going to have a flippin’ VIP paid tour eventually (based on the signage).

And if it somehow doesn’t do well, then they cut back on staffing and rotate the rooms.

The hotel was a smart move, period.

 

[themeparktribune]

Kudos to the few bloggers who got invited out to the opening and are not shying away from criticism. There's just no reasonable way I can see to spin the park's overall appearance as if it's not embarrassing.

 

[Mr_Pendington]

Honestly my main issue with this park is the lack of passion put into it. The food looks amazing, ironically, but the theming (...or lack thereof) makes this park look terrible. Magic Mountain, a company not very famous for making alot of money recently, refurbed their kiddie land into something truly special. That land is themed and colorful top to bottom (even the concrete!). Why couldn't Universal just paint the brutalist Minions ride purple and yellow like it was supposed to be?

I didn't expect Epic Kiddie-Verse but like... jeez. The park looks so cheap, it's kind of embarrassing for the brand imo