Universal CONFIRMS 31 New Attractions Set to Open in 2026

Universal just gave theme park fans a lot to look forward to.

©Universal

The company has officially confirmed a staggering 31 attractions, rides, shows, meet-and-greets, and interactive experiences across the seven themed lands of Universal Kids Resort, the brand-new family-focused theme park set to open in Frisco, Texas, in 2026. That number alone signals how seriously Universal is treating this project, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most packed opening-day lineups we’ve seen from any theme park in recent memory. Here’s a full breakdown of what’s coming.

A Park Built for Younger Guests (But Not Only Them)

Universal Kids Resort is smaller in scale than Universal’s flagship parks, and that’s entirely intentional. The entire experience is designed with young children in mind, with lower height requirements, gentler ride profiles, and immersive environments that feel approachable rather than overwhelming.

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That said, the sheer density of what’s been confirmed suggests there’s plenty here for parents and older siblings to enjoy alongside the little ones. With seven uniquely themed lands, the park covers a remarkable range of beloved IPs from DreamWorks properties like Shrek, Trolls, and Puss in Boots to Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Netflix’s Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Shrek’s Swamp Has a Ride and a Water Play Area

DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp is one of the most well-rounded lands confirmed so far. The anchor attraction is Shrek and Fiona’s Happily Ogre After, a family ride that takes guests through the love story of an ogre and a princess.

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The second offering, Shrek’s Swamp Splash and Smash, is a water play area built for Shrek’s triplets, featuring two separate play zones designed for younger kids.

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It’s a solid mix of ride-based and non-ride fun, which is smart design for a park targeting this age group.

SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom Is the Most Attraction-Dense Land in the Park

Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom is packing in six confirmed attractions, making it the single most packed land in the park. Jellyfish Fields Jamboree is a floating ride that has guests catching jellyfish above the coral alongside SpongeBob himself.

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Barnacle Bus offers a slower, sightseeing-style tour through Bikini Bottom with familiar characters and locales along the route.

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Bobbing Barrels is a spinning water ride where guests blast water alongside Patrick Star or Sandy Cheeks. Mrs. Puff’s Boating School puts riders behind the wheel of an undersea vehicle, with spins, swerves, and reverse maneuvers built into the course.

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Rounding out the land is a SpongeBob character meet-and-greet featuring SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and Sandy, plus interactive splash zones for kids.

Minions Brings the Water-Soaked Chaos You’d Expect

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club is leaning fully into the water battle premise.

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The Yellow and Purple Minions face off across two confirmed experiences: Bello Bay Cruise, a rapids ride that drops guests into the middle of the chaos, and Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby, a spinning vehicle ride built around a runaway golf game.

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Guests should plan for the splash factor here, as Universal has been upfront that this area is water-soaked by design. Character meet-and-greets with the Minions and interactive play zones round out the land.

Jurassic World’s Land Includes a Baby Raptor Meet-and-Greet

Jurassic World Adventure Camp is home to three rides, a sensory garden, play areas, lookout towers, and a meet-and-greet with a baby raptor. Universal hasn’t done anything quite like that at its other parks, and it’s a smart addition that gives this land a clear differentiator.

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The rides include Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster, a family coaster themed around tracking down a missing ankylosaurus named Baby Bumpy. Pteranodrop takes guests skyward for gentle drops and dips meant to mimic pteranodon flight.

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Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin is a classic spinning pod ride that rounds out the trio. The land also features paddock play areas and a sensory garden, which is a pretty thoughtful inclusion for guests with sensory sensitivities.

TrollsFest Has Rides, a Dance Party, and More

DreamWorks’ TrollsFest is billed as a round-the-clock glitter party, and the confirmed lineup backs that up.

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Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express is a coaster-style ride aboard an Armadillo Bus that weaves through the land with Branch and Poppy. Hair in the Clouds is a balloon ride that lifts guests above TrollsFest for a colorful aerial view.

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The King Trollex Techno Dance Party is a live musical celebration with a disco ball and high-energy music hosted by the party-loving King Trollex himself. Two interactive play areas, Poppy’s Playland and Trolls Critter Crawl, give younger guests even more to do.

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Character photo ops with Poppy and her crew are also confirmed.

Puss in Boots and Gabby’s Dollhouse Round Out the Lineup

DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar features a swing ride called Swings Over Del Mar, which carries guests high above a festive kitty adoption day celebration alongside Puss in Boots, Perrito, and Mama Luna.

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The land also includes Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day!, a live show with puppet performances and some Spanish-language moments worked into the fun.

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An interactive games area and a Puss in Boots character meet-and-greet complete the experience. Finally, Isle of Curiosity, located near the park’s entrance, serves as the home base for Gabby’s Dollhouse content, with a character meet-and-greet featuring Gabby and friends and an epic dance party to welcome guests into the park.

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One More Thing Worth Noting

What’s impressive about this confirmed lineup isn’t just the volume of experiences; it’s how intentionally Universal has structured each land. Nearly every area includes a mix of rides, character interactions, play spaces, and entertainment. That kind of layering means families won’t be standing in line for one big ride and then running out of things to do. Height requirements and additional ride details are already available on Universal’s official website, so you can start planning ahead right now.

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We’ll be keeping a close eye on everything Universal Kids Resort-related as the 2026 opening approaches, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates as they come in.

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