Universal wants you to reshape how you think about its theme parks as it dramatically expands its Destinations & Experiences sector. Following a recent wave of major projects with more to come, a new Universal theme park will open this summer.
Universal revealed the opening date as well as ticket and annual pass options for its newest theme park, which includes lands themed to Shrek and SpongeBob SquarePants, among other favorite characters. We have the details to help plan your trip. Mickey Visit brings you the latest theme park news and planning resources, including an unexpected change coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and dozens of new food items at Disney World.
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Universal Kids Resort Grand Opening
Universal Destinations & Experiences is not resting on its laurels. In 2025, it opened Universal Epic Universe, Orlando’s first new theme park in over 25 years, with lands based on Nintendo, Universal Classic Monsters, Harry Potter, and How to Train Your Dragon.
Also in 2025, the first Universal Horror Unleashed opened in Las Vegas. This new concept brings the haunted mazes of Halloween Horror Nights into year-round venues, with another coming to Chicago in the future.
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A new roller coaster themed to Fast & Furious will open in Hollywood this summer, with a counterpart under construction in Orlando. Universal is also developing a new theme park in the United Kingdom.
For now, though, all eyes are on Universal Kids Resort, a new property opening in Frisco, Texas, near Dallas. It’s another first for Universal: a theme park designed entirely for young kids. There are no big thrill rides, unless you count a preschooler conquering their fear of riding their first kiddie coaster. That’s the new style of custom demographic experience this park is aiming for.
Universal Kids Resort will open on July 1, 2026. A hotel adjacent to the park will open on June 30.
Universal revealed ticket prices for the park and hotel room costs, which we share below, along with what to expect from all the lands at this new kind of Universal experience.
Universal Kids Theme Park Tickets and Annual Passes
Guests can choose from several ticket options for Universal Kids theme park admission.
A 1-day ticket to Universal Kids starts at $54.99, with the price increasing depending on the date. The highest price listed on the park’s calendar is currently $79.99 for July 3–5, 2026.
A 2-day ticket is available starting at $73.99, reaching $106.99 on the most expensive dates. This ticket type must be used on consecutive days.
The Silver Annual Pass costs $129.99 and grants 12-month admission to Universal Kids theme park. Lots of blockout dates apply, especially in the summer months when the Silver Annual Pass is only valid on weekdays. The Silver Annual Pass is also blocked out on the theme park’s opening days, July 1–5. A pass option without blockout dates is not currently offered.
Passholders can add year-long parking to their Silver Annual Pass for $35, making a total of $164.99.
Abnormal for a Universal theme park, the new Universal Kids will operate on a semi-seasonal calendar. Glancing at the operating calendar, the park will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and for most of January and February.
First Look Inside Universal Kids Hotel Rooms
Standard rooms and family suites are available at Universal Kids Hotel. Reservations are live now, but they’re going fast, with many dates already sold out.
Prices may fluctuate based on date and availability, but during a mock checkout, I can see that standard rooms start around $330 per night, and family suites start around $420.
The hotel is located at the park entrance, so many rooms have views of the park itself.
All the Lands of Universal Kids Theme Park
Universal Kids will showcase seven themed lands with familiar characters from in-house Universal entertainment properties and licensed franchises.
Though Universal has created attractions with most of these characters before, the artists had to reconsider their approach for a kids-focused theme park. For example, there’s a Jurassic Park-themed land here, but you’ll find a cute meet-and-greet with a baby dinosaur instead of a log flume with a Tyrannosaurus rex lunging in your face.
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The seven lands of Universal Kids theme park are:
- Isle of Curiosity, the entrance plaza featuring Gabby’s Dollhouse
- DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp
- Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
- Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club
- Jurassic World Adventure Camp
- DreamWorks’ TrollsFest
- DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar
Most of the attractions are outdoors and smaller in scale than the big-budget adventures found at Universal’s Orlando and Hollywood parks. For instance, Shrek’s Swamp includes a ride called Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After, which features 2D cutouts of the characters rather than advanced animated figures.
It’s all new territory for Universal, and for the theme park industry at large. The closest equivalents to a kids-focused park from a major company in the U.S. are Sesame Place Philadelphia and Sesame Place San Diego, both owned by United Parks & Resorts, the same company behind SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. While Disney has, of course, always been family-friendly, it’s never had a park focused 100% on a kids demographic.
New This Summer for Kids at Disney World
Walt Disney World in Florida is celebrating Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, a season of new attractions and perks for families with young children.
This includes new amenities in hotel rooms, like bed bumpers and night lights, as well as the debut of popular preschool characters Bluey and Bingo at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney is also rolling out unique ways for kids to meet characters in the parks for the summer.
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