Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[Brian G.]

Review coming tomorrow.

 

[TheUniC6]

This honestly might be my biggest takeaway lol

Shrek seems like such an easy slam dunk for a theme park land/attraction, but they just cannot make it happen.

There is the possibility with the way Shrek is featured on the banners outside USF and on those LED display panels on the outskirts of UOR, that Universal has plans to go bigger with Shrek beyond a play set and they waiting on the reception of 5 to pull the trigger. Whether it be a simply a phase 2 dark ride for DreamWorks or a whole another section that takes over Springfield/Simpsons would be anyones guess though.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Its funny to see many complaints about themeing for the park

I'll hopefully go next year and have some fun

But yeah, I hope this works out but also just to me feels like the bare minimum. Like cool if kids like it and we use the excuse that kids don't care about theming but as someone who just got back from Texas....yeah why I liked Six Flags Over Texas was how Green it was and how much they tried to block you from the sun and this park does not at least from pictures show they are doing much to block the sun

I do hope this works out but also if we get another park, some more theming would not hurt.....I don't need E tickets but would not mind more theming on many of these flat rides or some more experiences. I'd have loved some sort of Dinosaur show inside a fake lab.

 

[themeparktribune]

But yeah, I hope this works out but also just to me feels like the bare minimum. Like cool if kids like it and we use the excuse that kids don't care about theming but as someone who just got back from Texas....yeah why I liked Six Flags Over Texas was how Green it was and how much they tried to block you from the sun and this park does not at least from pictures show they are doing much to block the sun

If lack of shade was the only major criticism the park was facing, I'd personally be a lot more forgiving. That critique has been leveled at pretty much every park dating back to Disneyland and the reasonable excuse is that the natural shade structures like trees will need time to grow in.

But Universal can't blame nature for a lack of theming!

 

[pumpkinbot343]

If lack of shade was the only major criticism the park was facing, I'd personally be a lot more forgiving. That critique has been leveled at pretty much every park dating back to Disneyland and the reasonable excuse is that the natural shade structures like trees will need time to grow in.

But Universal can't blame nature for a lack of theming!

In Epic Universe’s case, I think @Clive said on a review that the rain was more of a problem if I remember, but that can’t be easily fixed.

 

[ReelJustice]

My take: the whole park should have been indoors like Horror Unleashed or Mermaid Lagoon at DisneySea.

 

[quinnmac000]

My take: the whole park should have been indoors like Horror Unleashed or Mermaid Lagoon at DisneySea.

I understand why its outside especially because they wanted the hotel to have park views but the amount of control they would have if it was indoors would mitigated a lot of things.

Also if i remember correctly, didn't some storms in the area also have teams redoing some aspects? Indoors would made things a lot easier and with that sun...those figures will fade fast.

 

[Andysol]

I just watched a very funny video here

But I noticed an express pass sign at the trolls coaster.

So now we’ve seen signage for both express and VIP. That’s gonna be nuts if they sell express pass to this place; which clearly they are planning to.

And a couple of those playgrounds are atrocious. The trolls one is an absolute joke and the shrek one is worse than any neighborhood park.

So disappointed in the dry playgrounds as I was expecting something that stood out. Huge miss.

 

[rhino4evr]

Pretty sure Wolf Lodge has better theming, is indoors, and also has a hotel.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

Pretty sure Wolf Lodge has better theming, is indoors, and also has a hotel.

As an aside - Great Wolf Lodge was one of the dirtiest, most overhyped things I've ever experienced in my life lol

The fact that people spend several hundred dollars per night to stay there is beyond me

 

[rhino4evr]

As an aside - Great Wolf Lodge was one of the dirtiest, most overhyped things I've ever experienced in my life lol

The fact that people spend several hundred dollars per night to stay there is beyond me

Yeah I hate it too, I was just equating this to that for fun.

Plus wolf lodge is more of a water park… so really not a fair comparison.

The amount of social discourse seems to keep growing. I’m sure universal isn’t too happy right now.

Here are my tips for quick fixes…
Add some actual larger than life dinosaurs to Jurassic Park … like every “prehistoric” Mom and Pop park, or local science museum has these.

Paint that minions ride ASAP. Try yellow.

Add some tall Barancles that can provide shade throughout bikini bottom.

Add some static figures (or hell cheap AA) and install throughout the Shrek ride.

 

[RFRees]

I have to retract my earlier statement saying it (the park) was fine... I thought it was $40. So it's $80? Yea that's not fine.

 

[Brian G.]

I have to retract my earlier statement saying it (the park) was fine... I thought it was $40. So it's $80? Yea that's not fine.

It's $55-80, depending on the season.

 

[Myah1220]

Here are my tips for quick fixes…
Add some actual larger than life dinosaurs to Jurassic Park … like every “prehistoric” Mom and Pop park, or local science museum has these.

Paint that minions ride ASAP. Try yellow.

Add some tall Barancles that can provide shade throughout bikini bottom.

Add some static figures (or hell cheap AA) and install throughout the Shrek ride.

Agree. As much as I don't care for this park, I also do not think it's beyond being salvageable - especially because a large percentage of the park's problems seem to be cosmetic. To everyone who keeps up the tired argument that the poor theming is somehow forgivable because "It'S foR kIdS", I keep arguing back "Kids deserve quality theming!" because kids, more than anyone, generally love bright colors and visuals that pop!

I second all of your suggestions and also add/expand:

- The first and the MOST NOTICEABLE issue with the easiest fix: the unpainted concrete. It's dull and lifeless and looks cheap. The fix is easy: paint all the concrete in each land...or at least 75% of it. Give each land it's own specific color concrete: SpongeBob should have blue to further sell the idea you're under the water (edit: I see they have some blue on their splash pad area but should be more consistent around the rides/rest of land), Shrek = green for the swamp (especially in that playground, no reason for the swamp splash pad not to have green concrete (edit: I see the playground does at least have green flooring so that's good), Minions =yellow their SIGNATURE color etc.

-Next, add some life with audio enhancements. At the Splash Pads/Playground areas, add some creatively hidden/decorative (and waterproof) speakers that have the characters' voices talking throughout, maybe saying some signature lines...dinosaurs roaring. etc. This would help go further with immersion. You really want to get all senses going...this includes auditory.

-Add some temporary cool off areas: If you're going to wait 5 years for the trees to grow in, build some temporary shady "cool down" spots. We've seen this at other parks before where they retrofit underutilized areas in the park to offer shade... the only issue is this resort doesn't have any areas because they didn't build any. So, put up some canopies, add some temporary seating. There is no reason families should be suffering under the Texas heat like this if you aren't going to build any indoor attractions and show buildings so at the very least, add some stretches of canopies and seating with fans to offer some reprieve.

Those are the more immediate fixes I don't see how they can't fix quickly.

Now more long term..

-Indoor attractions: Obviously they need to do something about indoor attractions. If there's thunder/rainstorm or if there's sweltering heat, there are no indoor options. Build it. If they can't build indoor dark rides (as rumored but seems to be largely debunked) there is no reason I can't see why you couldn't add an indoor theater. This could be a mix of live shows or 3-D/video shows...but it would go a long way in terms of offering more variety than the outdoor carnival rides.

-Add more Street experiences/immersion/outdoor shows: More character interactions. Why not try to do with the characters here what Disney is doing at Hollywood Studios in Animation Courtyard with the roaming characters who play games with the kids? Have some more interactivity and creativity here. Also, a parade? A projection or fountain show? Give us something to make it feel more alive.

Now none of these suggestions seem over the top...these are fixes that should be extremely do-able (the top ones, easy refurb shouldn't take more than a few months, and the ladder long-term no more than a couple years) and easy and would really go a long way that would allow it to still cater/center on "The KidS" while giving the park goers who have come to expect a certain quality from Universal, the quality experience they deserve.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I don't think the whole park had to be inside but more rides inside would have helped mainly because of themeing

If the Trolls Coaster was inside then you can have fun music and lightening and use the walls for cheap themeing as well

For Jurassic have a indoor Show using dinosaurs's we've seen and a new one or two

Spongebob and Shrek rides can stay the same but even the flat rides being indoors once again would allow for more control on themeing

I think some of the hard is a bit much but surprised people are finally going after Universal for going what looks like the cheap route. I brought it up here before but the HHN in Vegas does not feel cheap, like the theming is well enough in most areas and the houses all felt top tier.

Even with no dark rides, none of these areas feel like your entering your favorite kids movie or TV show and really that for me was the bare minimum

 

[Jake S]

I don’t think outside is a problem if you heavily invest in shade structures and misters. To their credit, there are a decent number of misters as you walk around the park. But that doesn’t help a ton if you’re still baking under the sun.

 

[Brian G.]

I don’t think outside is a problem if you heavily invest in shade structures and misters. To their credit, there are a decent number of misters as you walk around the park. But that doesn’t help a ton if you’re still baking under the sun.

Funnily enough, Bello Bay does a good job of providing themed shade with banana-shaped canopies.

 

[rhino4evr]

Maybe add a make shift roof to those Shrek jeeps to help with the direct sun ?

 

[Evan]

Even if there was an indoor "dark ride" ban, which seems misconstrued, Spongebob was ripe for being an indoor, underwater land, just like Mermaid Lagoon at Disney Sea.

 

[Jerroddragon]

For More Context as well, this is a good discussion on the prices and yes I know there are some cheaper days but especially on the higher end days there might just be cheaper options with as much value out there already

I was just in Texas and Six Flags Over Texas is fun, not mind blowing but they on weekend seem to offer fun shows and the park is clean and the kids area is as themed if not more then what is at this park and you get just more rides plus they have some really nice area's of the park that are just nice nature.
I also went to the Dallas Aquarium and it was 95% indoors and really nice to get out of the heat, plus had nice themeing and lots to do and see and under 40 bucks, if you need splash pads this area has plenty of nice ones




I think we will get a clearly picture soon and think characters and shows could be the first area we see help improve the park, along with finding ways to plus the attractions they already have by adding more colors and nature. I do hope this park can work out because I think the idea of smaller parks are a good idea but its hard to unbrand Universal from this. When I think Universal now because of Epic, SNW, Harry Potter, Fan Fest and HHN, I think very good themeing and just quality. This park feels like it needs seasons to gain some character