Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[Mike S]

Thats not the main issue in my opinion.

It’s the original concept art selling us something completely different than what we got. But like I stated earlier with every update they gave us I saw the budget decreasing.

Landscaping can really change the feel of a destination if done well. This park is so barebones it’s actually ridiculous they even opened in such an unfinished state in my opinion.

Do that too.

 

[Disneyhead]

The first videos I saw (Shrek and Minions) I was jaw dropped at how bad it seemed. Then I saw videos of Puss and Boots land and the delightful puppet show and the whole vision of what they are trying to do here and it clicked.

The back half of the park is solid. The front half needs a lot of work.

WHY DOES UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE SO HARD WITH THE SHREK IP! OMFG! The worst attraction at USF before Supercharged was Shrek 4d. What the actual ____ is this ride?

 

[AustinT]

If that’s how much it would cost to build the simplest kind of indoor ride there is the industry is in trouble. You do know the type of ride I’m talking about doesn’t have any real animatronics right? You are right that it would be a vastly different concept. It would be a better one that actually offers escape from the heat.

You originally said you thought EACH land should have a dark ride. That's not cheap. This park was also never planning to go down that route so this should not be a surprise all of a sudden.

Like others have said, even with what they did build, it could and should be improved with a little more love and theming, even on the cheap. Paint, wraps, more landscaping, shade structures, maybe a few more static theming elements, etc. That would go a long way to make even what there is here now look much nicer.

 

[themeparktribune]

I explained my position, but you haven't really engaged with that response since. If you're going to make that accusation, I'd hope you'd at least address the clarification.

Especially since I think it's a little odd that you felt the need to tack it onto a discussion about people attacking a child's opinion, as if what I was doing belonged in the same conversation.

I didn't engage with your response after my last post because I don't think doing so is going to provide anything constructive for this thread.

 

[DeadSexeh]

If that’s how much it would cost to build the simplest kind of indoor ride there is the industry is in trouble. You do know the type of ride I’m talking about doesn’t have any real animatronics right? You are right that it would be a vastly different concept. It would be a better one that actually offers escape from the heat.

According to the map there is 7 lands, that would mean 7 dark rides. So my estimate is probably low. Full on dark rides are expensive, hence why many regional parks have 1 or none.

 

[Mike S]

According to the map there is 7 lands, that would mean 7 dark rides. So my estimate is probably low. Full on dark rides are expensive, hence why many regional parks have 1 or none.

Ok, so I was really just thinking of about 4 (Shrek, SpongeBob, Jurassic, Trolls). What are the other lands? I also did say Minions already has the water ride and I kind of lump Shrek and Puss together.

 

[DOOMBOT]

The Minions raft ride does seem to be fun! It also seems like a solid version of a ride type that wouldn't traditionally be offered in a park of this size and scope, so that is pretty cool.

The coasters also seem pretty nice. The Jurassic one seems to even be a step above your regular Barnstormer, and a hair bit closer to something like a Firechaser Express. The little moving figure is very cute as well. Limited, sure, but just enough there to make it feel like a substantial and fun little show moment.

Del Mar looks pretty much perfect too. The puppet show looks very charming, the colors pop without being too much, and the buildings look well-put together and three-dimensional. It certainly seems like the land that got the absolute closest to what they had envisioned from this project.

 

[UOR92]

I didn't engage with your response after my last post because I don't think doing so is going to provide anything constructive for this thread.

Lol.

 

[themeparktribune]

You originally said you thought EACH land should have a dark ride. That's not cheap. This park was also never planning to go down that route so this should not be a surprise all of a sudden.

Echoing the comment here, I can understand wanting each land to have a dark ride, but I think Universal was at least clear enough in their plans for this park that no one should have expected that level of investment.

 

[Brian G.]

Lol.

Let's just say there was a much longer explanation once the audience disappeared.

There was enough conviction to make the accusation publicly, just not enough to defend it publicly when challenged.

 

[Tobias]

If it had a Disneyland Fantasyland style dark ride in each land and the Minion raft ride didn’t look so bare it wouldn’t actually be bad as a kid park at all.

No indoor rides in Texas isn’t a good idea.

So here's the thing, there's a rather insane tidbit about the park. The City of Frisco imposed a rule that there would be no indoor rides.

EDIT - Clarified by Brian below.

 

[Brian G.]

So here's the thing, there's a rather insane tidbit about the park. The City of Frisco imposed a rule that there would be no indoor rides.

It’s been clarified that wasn’t true but some misunderstanding.

 

[Tobias]

It’s been clarified that wasn’t true but some misunderstanding.

I stand corrected then!

 

[TheGentTrent]

It does seem at the very least that the SpongeBob Carnival ride would be a quick and easy addition ($6 million for the Vegas version) that could really fix that corner of the park.

 

[brianlo]

If I lived 30mins from this park I wouldn’t take my kids there.

LOL oh come on now

It’s an interesting thought experiment. I live in clearly the non theme park Mecca of Calgary. We have a regional park that is 15 minutes from us called Calaway. It has never once occurred to us to go there and it actually looks quite a bit nicer than this product and offers a few things that would be a bit more appealing to the 8-11 demo as well. It is also 55% of the price.



We do have annual passes to the very nice Zoo. There is a science centre here that is newer. We have a heritage park we could also walk to (with a very nice full sized stream train and river boat). There is also an outdoor park that has zip lines and mini-put and downhill bobsledding, or skiing in the winter. More Regionally there of course is an amazing dinosaur museum or national parks in the other direction.

All of these things are cheaper and nicer and half of them we’ve ignored with kids.

So I do think it’s fair to say that the only reason this is receiving a cursory glance seems to be Frisco is underserved and Universal is burning their IP to get people through the door. Because neither being a strong offering nor affordability seem to be things in its favour.

 

[brianlo]

PS our Universal Kids hotel is free to stay at. Hit me up and I can get you guys a bed.

 

[UNIrd]

First time in this thread since the weekend. I...just hope the kids are having fun.

Actually, I was in Disney over the weekend so I wasn't really on my phone much so missed all the coverage of the park's opening and the reactions.

But my best friend did whisper to me that footage of the rides was out and the Shrek ride looks like the equivalent of Treasure Hunters at USS. Which... if you've never seen footage of.. is pretty bad. I looked like Bush being told the second plane hit.

 

[brianlo]

But my best friend did whisper to me that footage of the rides was out and the Shrek ride looks like the equivalent of Treasure Hunters at USS. Which... if you've never seen footage of.. is pretty bad.

I was on treasure hunters earlier this year, again. It’s a masterpiece compared to Shrek.

 

[SeventyOne]

I realize I’m spoiled living in Florida the “home” of theme parks…. But that still doesn’t excuse terrible design. Did you see the water treatment river ride ?

There are plenty of “regional” and “local” theme parks that could compete on theme for this concrete IP carnival.

Thats not the main issue in my opinion.

It’s the original concept art selling us something completely different than what we got. But like I stated earlier with every update they gave us I saw the budget decreasing.

Landscaping can really change the feel of a destination if done well. This park is so barebones it’s actually ridiculous they even opened in such an unfinished state in my opinion.

The first videos I saw (Shrek and Minions) I was jaw dropped at how bad it seemed. Then I saw videos of Puss and Boots land and the delightful puppet show and the whole vision of what they are trying to do here and it clicked.

The back half of the park is solid. The front half needs a lot of work.

WHY DOES UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE SO HARD WITH THE SHREK IP! OMFG! The worst attraction at USF before Supercharged was Shrek 4d. What the actual ____ is this ride?

I'm of the opinion if UKR had spent the $$ designated for flying and fêting the Trackers, DFB, Attractions 360 et al on more landscaping for Minions (some paint, please! a few ornamental trees!) and maybe two more "vignettes" on Shrek, the park would be in a much better position. Let it remain somewhat of a mystery to the Internet Theme Park Community, a legend based on the occasional tweet from the Fort Worth Pennysaver or a YouTube clip with the weatherman from "Wake Up Dallas".

This feels very much like Zuckerberg adding Stanford to early Facebook--"we need to let Palo Alto see what we're doing." A decision driven more by a desire to show off than a thought-out business plan.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

WHY DOES UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE SO HARD WITH THE SHREK IP! OMFG! The worst attraction at USF before Supercharged was Shrek 4d. What the actual ____ is this ride?

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.