Universal Kids Resort - Frisco, Texas

[rhino4evr]

Sure looks like a “massive success” to me!

 

[Brian G.]

Sure looks like a “massive success” to me!

We gotta stop with the post sniping. Dis shared photos. We get it. You don't like the park.

 

[rhino4evr]

We gotta stop with the post sniping. Dis shared photos. We get it. You don't like the park.

Sorry , you won’t hear from me again on this thread. I just think the folks that are endlessly defending this park are a bit blind to reality. My opinion still stands that this park was a financial mistake. I guess we will see.

 

[Brian G.]

Sorry , you won’t hear from me again on this thread. I just think the folks that are endlessly defending this park are a bit blind to reality. My opinion still stands that this park was a financial mistake. I guess we will see.

I get it, but there’s only so many times you can say the same thing without adding anything new or constructive to the convo. That’s the reason for the post.

 

[Diservations]

Sorry , you won’t hear from me again on this thread. I just think the folks that are endlessly defending this park are a bit blind to reality. My opinion still stands that this park was a financial mistake. I guess we will see.

Wait, are the "folks" me? I posted some photos I enjoyed shooting. And with zero commentary other than to set the scene. The only thing I've endlessly done is post photos of this park during construction and after.

Also, who are the quotes for? I never said "massive success."

If you're not referring to me, cool.

 

[Andysol]

Sure looks like a “massive success” to me!

That was 8pm at park close for a regional kids park after a rain storm (which shuts down all rides). Of course it’s going to be pretty empty.

I just think the folks that are endlessly defending this park are a bit blind to reality.

Quite the contrary. I think folks who are on the ground and in the park have a much better grasp at what is going on at the park.

On that note, I have some feedback from my visit tonight. We all know that the last couple hours are the least busy at the park for the day. Normally I roll in at 4:30-5pm for a 7pm close and a few of the attractions are 15-25 mins and then it becomes walk on by end of day (as folks with littles head home for dinner, bed time, etc) . But today everything was a walk on as soon as I walked in. By far the least busy I’ve seen the park since opening.

School started for some of the surrounding districts today. And frisco and most of the rest start tomorrow with a handful starting Thursday. So I knew tonight would be dead (hence why we popped in). I can’t imagine theyll repeat these hours next year and I fully expect a 5pm close instead of 7pm. Next week will be a real challenge and tell tale sign of success as all school will be in session and it’s just going to be 10-5pm M-Thurs.

I could easily see them reducing the schedule this time next year for days of week also if it continues to be what it was tonight. Hopefully it was just an anomaly with school starting.

—-

I know Brian already said something, but just wanted to add a little to it. I truly do appreciate your posts and contributions in the other threads. But please consider a guy like @Diservations and his feelings. He goes to the park often and takes pics as a hobby (I doubt he’s making serious money off it) and shares it with us. It’s simply not cool to use his pics to piggy back onto to dogpile the park. Just a dude giving us updates; and pretty much the only one who covers universal kids. Updates we will appreciate when Halloween and Christmas decorations come around.

Anyways- Just think about how that makes him feel, ya know?

 

[Diservations]

Thanks, Andy. I appreciate the kind words. Luckily, my feelings are good. Now, if I had designed the park...

Tonight's pic is a close-up of the bell hanging above Comidas y Leche.

 

[TexasMidway]

I drove by the park today around 1pm, and the parking lot was by far the emptiest I had ever seen it. For a second I thought the park was closed and there were only a select few employees parked in there. With the heat and school starting, I'm curious if Universal will rethink their schedule moving forward.

 

[Diservations]

I drove by the park today around 1pm, and the parking lot was by far the emptiest I had ever seen it. For a second I thought the park was closed and there were only a select few employees parked in there. With the heat and school starting, I'm curious if Universal will rethink their schedule moving forward.

It was the same when I stopped by for about 45 minutes yesterday. They might want to start by staying open later. Elementary schools let out at 3:10 and middle schools at 3:50. Diehard APs might rush over for a ride or two, but most families probably won’t bother if the park closes shortly after they get there.

Later hours could also mean more of those families sticking around for dinner once in a while.

 

[Andysol]

It was the same when I stopped by for about 45 minutes yesterday. They might want to start by staying open later. Elementary schools let out at 3:10 and middle schools at 3:50. Diehard APs might rush over for a ride or two, but most families probably won’t bother if the park closes shortly after they get there.

Later hours could also mean more of those families sticking around for dinner once in a while.

It’s year one and absolutely unreal temperatures (106!); so with that tiny sample size, I might even think the opposite. Start that Tuesday-Thursday off schedule earlier than they thought.

Peppa has Weds off and short hours. But they also offer super cheap discounts for M-F.

Do we see the same? After visiting a couple times this summer, I have zero desire to go back until it’s cooler weather. Maybe it becomes much more popular in the fall and they can make the margins they lose in the summer.

Going to be interesting to see what they do.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

A water park would be far more popular during the hotter months and help offset soft summer attendance.

 

[Mad Dog]

Idlewild Park here in western Pa, is one of the oldest, if not oldest, children's parks in the USA. It's also considered one of the best. At this time of year they only open on weekends and an occasional Friday. I think that speaks volumes on the demand once school season starts running. Lots of operating EXPERIENCE there. And it appears it's a much better park than Frisco, not even close. And Idlewild includes a small water park.

 

[Andysol]

A water park would be far more popular during the hotter months and help offset soft summer attendance.

We know it’s the big expansion planned. If they don’t bite that bullet, next summer might be a doozy. Maybe they’re waiting to see if fall weather (which could legit not be until end of October/early November some years) will improve the demand.

 

[Diservations]

It’s year one and absolutely unreal temperatures (106!); so with that tiny sample size, I might even think the opposite. Start that Tuesday-Thursday off schedule earlier than they thought.

Peppa has Weds off and short hours. But they also offer super cheap discounts for M-F.

Do we see the same? After visiting a couple times this summer, I have zero desire to go back until it’s cooler weather. Maybe it becomes much more popular in the fall and they can make the margins they lose in the summer.

Going to be interesting to see what they do.

I hear you on the heat. I'm not necessarily talking about longer hours in August. But fall would be a great time to have a few extended weeknight hours.

 

[Diservations]

The outlier for Universal Kids is the attached hotel. There'd be a lot to figure out if they opt for weekday closures.

 

[MAC]

The outlier for Universal Kids is the attached hotel. There'd be a lot to figure out if they opt for weekday closures.

Legoland Florida closes and has the hotel attached so I assume there’s a standard for how to treat this.

 

[Jake S]

The outlier for Universal Kids is the attached hotel. There'd be a lot to figure out if they opt for weekday closures.

Yeah, is there much precedent for something like this (with an attached hotel) only operating on weekends? I think that would make staffing challenging. Not impossible, of course ... but challenging.

Edit: Well there you go! Though it looks like Legoland is only closed one day a week, which I'd imagine is not as disruptive.

 

[Diservations]

Legoland Florida closes and has the hotel attached so I assume there’s a standard for how to treat this.

Yep. But Legoland's hotel is open 365 days a year. UKR's isn't. I'm not sure how much they can take away from that model.

 

[TheCodeMan95]

I'm not sure of the hotel hours, but Legoland New York operates seasonally with a hotel attached.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

Cedar Point has the Hotel Breakers attached…I believe during the fall when they’re only open Thursday through Sunday they just have everyone check out Monday morning, close Tuesday, and resume check-ins Wednesday afternoon.