Universal is Officially Opening a Brand-New Kind of Theme Park in North Texas Next Week—Here's a First Look

If you’ve ever dragged a toddler through a massive, sprawling theme park in the blistering summer heat, you already know that the traditional mega-resort setup isn’t exactly built with tiny legs in mind. Universal is officially trying to change that equation for parents.

Even though Universal is famous for its giant theme parks and intense roller coasters, the entertainment giant is launching its first-ever regional theme park built entirely from the ground up for young families. Grand opening next week on July 1 in Frisco, Texas, the brand-new Universal Kids Resort scales down the traditional park layout into a highly manageable, pint-sized wonderland designed to give kids ages three to eight their very first taste of theme-park magic without the overwhelming exhaustion.

Related: Universal Is Opening a Kids-Focused Theme Park and It’s Not in Orlando

The new 20-acre property is broken down into seven highly immersive lands, each pulling from some of the absolute biggest names in children’s entertainment. Littler adventurers can step right into DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp to experience Shrek and Fiona’s Happily Ogre After ride or cool off in the Swamp Splash play areas.

Over at Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, families can hop on Mrs. Puff’s Boating School course or take a spin on the Jellyfish Fields Jamboree.

Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club features a spirited, interactive water battle on the Bello Bay Cruise, while DreamWorks’ TrollsFest invites everyone to an all-day dance party featuring Poppy, Branch, and an armadillo bus ride called Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express.

Rounding out the fun is the adventurous Jurassic World Adventure Camp—complete with the kid-friendly Cretaceous Coaster—the festive village of DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar, and the welcoming Isle of Curiosity featuring characters from Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Related: Why You Don’t Need Pricey Skip-the-Line Passes This Theme Park Season

To turn the regional park into a true “kidcation” destination, Universal is placing a brilliantly colorful, 300-room on-site hotel right at the main gates. The Universal Kids Resort Hotel features heavily themed family suites that sleep up to six, an expansive outdoor pool, and custom dining menus specifically developed around what picky toddlers actually want to eat rather than just adapting down standard adult portions.

Staying on-property also provides the ultimate theme-park sanity saver: Early Park Admission, allowing you to breeze through select attractions an hour before the general public. Single-day tickets are officially on sale starting at $54.99, making it a delightfully accessible option for a quick summer getaway or a local Texas staycation

Related: Legoland Florida Throws Shade at Universal Amid Backlash Over Newest Theme Park