Picture a theme park designed with young kids in mind. Not a handful of rides tucked into the corner of a much larger park, but an entire resort built around what preschoolers and younger kids love most.

From favorite characters and interactive play areas to attractions sized just for them, Universal Kids Resort was created so little ones are the stars of the adventure.

Universal Kids Resort, now open in Frisco, Texas, is the first Universal Resort designed from the ground up for the preschool-and-kid crowd. And it's already reshaping what a "first theme park trip" can look like for young families.

If you have a toddler or child under 6, this guide walks you through exactly who Universal Kids Resort is for, what to ride first, where to eat, and how to plan your day so your little one can experience everything this one-of-a-kind park has to offer.

This Resort is built for children roughly ages 2 to 6. If your child is walking (or close to it), through early elementary school, this is their place!

Universal Kids Resort really shines as a first theme park visit. The rides are gentle, the lines are shorter, the characters get one-on-one time with your kid. The whole park is scaled to a toddler's world instead of an adult's. Pathways perfect for strollers, relaxing areas away from the hustle, and there's no sense of being swept along by a crowd built for teens or adults.

If you have kids spanning a wide age range, this resort works well as one stop on a longer Central Texas or Dallas / Fort Worth trip, paired with something for the older kids on a different day.

We have the ride lineup you need, organized to answer the question you’re probably asking, “What can my kid ride at Universal Kids Resort?”

Any Age Can Ride

Jellyfish Fields Jamboree, in Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, has no height requirement at all, which makes it a genuine first-ride for babies and young toddlers. Riders climb aboard a "Jelly Angler" and drift gently above the coral, netting bouncing jellyfish alongside SpongeBob. Kids under 48 inches need a Supervising Companion riding along.

Around 30 inches tall (roughly 12–18 months and up)

This is where things start to feel like real "rides" with gentle motion, a story, and on-brand theming.

• Barnacle Bus, riding through Bikini Bottom past Goofy Goober's and other familiar sights (minimum 30").
• Shrek and Fiona's Happily Ogre After, a sweet, storybook-style journey through Shrek's rescue of Fiona, in DreamWorks' Shrek's Swamp (minimum 30").

Around 36 inches tall (roughly 2–3 years old)

The 36-inch mark unlocks the biggest jump in ride variety, spread across nearly every land in the park. Most rides require a Supervising Companion riding along:

• Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby — a wonderfully chaotic Minions-themed spin (Illumination's Bello Bay Club)
• Bobbing Barrels — a spinning, splashing water ride with Patrick and Sandy (Bikini Bottom)
• Hair in the Clouds — a balloon ride with sweeping festival views (DreamWorks' TrollsFest)
• Mrs. Puff's Boating School — a swerving little "boat license" course, with a maximum height of 77" so grown-ups can ride alongside (Bikini Bottom)
• Pteranodrop — gentle drops and bounces from a Pteranodon's-eye view (Jurassic World Adventure Camp)
• Rhonda's TrollsFest Express — a bus ride full of music and color (DreamWorks' TrollsFest)

Around 39 inches tall (roughly 3–4 years old)

• Mr. DNA's Double Helix Spin, a silly, spinning ride through Jurassic World Adventure Camp (minimum 39")
• Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, the park's roller coaster — a real coaster, but a gentle one, built around a search for a missing baby Ankylosaurus (minimum 39"). This is the ride many families treat as their child's "first coaster," and it's worth planning your day so you hit it while the line is still short.

Around 40–42 inches tall (roughly 4–5 years old)

• Bello Bay Cruise (minimum 40"), a rapids-type ride caught in the middle of a Minions water battle — expect a splash zone.
• Swings Over Del Mar (minimum 42"), a swing ride soaring above Puss in Boots' kitty adoption day festivities in DreamWorks' Puss in Boots Del Mar.

Get Away Today Tip: Because height (not age) determines what a child can ride, it's worth measuring your kid at home before you go. A child who's tall for their age might unlock two or three extra rides. Where a child who's smaller might be perfectly happy sticking to the 30-inch tier all day, and that's a full, wonderful day at this park.

Rides are only part of the day and as parents ourselves, we know how kids thrive on variety. The entertainment and character moments at Universal Kids Resort are simply adorable.

Isle of Curiosity is the park's welcoming front porch: shaded, bench-lined, and built for wandering rather than rushing. It's a good reset spot if a nap is overdue, and it's home to a dance party with Gabby that's worth catching early before your little one’s energy runs low.

Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom is likely to be a first-stop favorite if your kids know the show. Mussel Beach, the Jellyfish Fields, and a meet-and-greet with SpongeBob and friends all live here alongside the rides.

DreamWorks' Shrek's Swamp offers a storybook-style meet and greet with Shrek and Fiona plus a free-play area, built for the kind of unstructured running-around toddlers need built into any long park day. There’s also a splash zone for water play during hot summer days!

DreamWorks' TrollsFest is the park's highest-energy land — the King Trollex Techno Dance Party and the Trollstastic concert are totally fun for parents too, and Poppy's Playland gives younger toddlers a gentler space to bounce and swing. The Troll-ify Me! face-paint experience (about 15 minutes, reservations recommended) is a nice built-in souvenir moment, and yes, grown-ups can get Troll-fied too.

Illumination's Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club is built around water play, so plan for a change of clothes. You can also meet the Minions greeting and the splash-heavy rides here are a highlight on a hot Texas day.

Jurassic World Adventure Camp lets kids get nose-to-nose with a newly hatched Velociraptor at the Baby Raptor Meet & Greet. This is such a cute and memorable photo moment for parents who love the Jurassic World movies.

DreamWorks' Puss in Boots Del Mar rounds out the park with a puppet show, carnival games, and a sensory garden, plus a quieter pace that makes it a good land to end the day on if everyone's winding down.

You won't need to look far to find good food. This was one area, as parents, we really think Universal Kids Resort shines. Nearly every themed area has its own counter-service spot:

• Bikini Bottom: Goofy Goober's for burgers, chicken sandwiches, and towering sundaes (plus a Grab & Go window), and a quick Snack Bar for fast bites.
• Shrek's Swamp: Swamp Snacks for easy, kid-approved classics.
• TrollsFest: BroZone Cones for ice cream and popcorn, plus Trolls Eatz! for pizza, pasta, and salads.
• Bello Bay Club: Bello Bay Boutique and Bites for Minion-themed snacks like banana-and-grape popcorn and Purple Minion shaved ice.
• Jurassic World Adventure Camp: Jurassic World Canteen for dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and other camp classics.
• Puss in Boots Del Mar: Comidas y Leche for burrito bowls, tacos, and a cold glass of leche fría.
• Isle of Curiosity: Cakey's Cupcakes for a sweet stop in chocolate, vanilla, or rainbow.

We’ve told you about the play spaces, the rides, the fun and the food. But here’s where our planning expertise really pays off. At Get Away Today, we don’t just offer the best deals, we want you to make the best use of those deals.

Here are some FAQs and tips for Universal Kids Resort.

Question: How much time do you need at Universal Kids Resort?

Answer: With seven lands, most of them ride-able top to bottom in a few hours with young kids (factoring in stroller breaks and snack stops), one full day covers the park well for most families. If your child is on the younger end (under 3) and needs longer breaks, spreading the visit across two half-days can mean a much happier trip than one exhausting full day.

Question: Where are the best places for my child to nap at Universal Kids Resort?

Answer: We love staying at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel for so many reasons, but napping and proximity are just a couple!

Remember to pace yourself with your child’s schedule, not park hours. At Universal Kids Resort, this is entirely possible. You’ll also notice things slow down during typical nap windows and come alive again back in for late-afternoon entertainment like the TrollsFest dance party.

This means, heading back to the hotel for a midday nap, then returning for dinner and evening entertainment is a rhythm a lot of families with toddlers enjoy.

Question: Where is Universal Kids Resort located?

Answer: Universal Kids Resort is located in Frisco, Texas, about 25 to 30 miles north of downtown Dallas. It’s close enough to combine with a Dallas / Fort Worth area trip, but far enough that staying on-site or nearby is worth it even if you live nearby.

Question: Is Universal Kids Resort open every day?

Answer: No, Universal Kids Resort Theme Park is not open 365 days per year. It is currently scheduled to be closed on the following dates:

• November 3–4, 2026
• November 10–11, 2026
• November 17–18, 2026
• November 26, 2026
• December 25, 2026
• January 5–8, 2027
• January 11–15, 2027
• January 19–31, 2027

These closure dates are subject to change and additional closure dates may be added at any time.

Question: Is Universal Kids Resort a water park?

Answer: No, but pack for water play zones. Between Bobbing Barrels, the Bello Bay Cruise splash zone, and general Texas heat, a full change of clothes for younger kids is worth having in the stroller.

Universal Kids Resort is a different kind of theme park trip. It’s smaller in scale, but big on the memories and fun. If your family is somewhere in that toddler-to-early-elementary window, it's hard to beat as a first park.

We recommend a 2-day visit with at least one night at the Universal Kids Resort Hotel for a dedicated entry to the parks, incredible family-style rooms and early entry to select areas of the park before the general public.

Ready to see dates and packages? Start planning your Universal Kids Resort trip with Get Away Today.