Universal Kids Resort Faces Criticism for "Cheap" Rides Ahead of Opening

A new Universal theme park in Texas isn’t set to open until next month, but some fans are already criticizing its rides on social media.

Universal Kids Resort, set to open in Frisco, Texas, on July 1, will mark the company’s first-ever theme park designed specifically for families with young kids. But some social media users are slamming the park as “cheap” and “low effort” after a video of its “Shrek and Fiona’s Happily Ogre After” ride went viral this week.

The Shrek-themed attraction places guests in open-air carriages and gently moves them along a track as they pass by different vignettes from the animated film series, according to a sneak-peek video shared Thursday by the theme park news site Laughing Place.

The clip, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, quickly drew backlash. One X user said the ride “may be the worst attraction I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” Another user claimed “everything I am seeing from this park seems so cheap and last-minute,” while a third person called the park “low effort.” YouTuber Jenny Nicholson, known for making in-depth videos on amusement parks, also offered her two cents on the issue.

“In most industries you can make something that's pretty bad and be like ‘well it's okay because it's made for little kids’ but with theme parks the best and most famous stuff out there is also made for little kids,” she wrote on X.

Others defended the park, pointing out that it’s designed for young kids, rather than adults who might be looking for flashy, thrill-seeking rides.

“Everyone is mad but is this not for like... literal toddlers? This is how toddler rides are,” one X user wrote.

“It’s made for five year olds not families like Disney parks are designed for. A five year old may really love this,” another said.

The Independent has contacted Universal for comment.

The park is expected to feature seven different themed areas dedicated to beloved animated characters like Shrek, SpongeBob, and the Minions from the Despicable Me franchise. One-day general admission tickets start at $54.99, while two-day passes start at $73.99, according to Universal’s website. The park also offers annual passes, which are currently sold out.

Guests have the option of staying at the park’s on-site hotel, which has “300 rooms and family suites, delicious dining that will delight even the pickiest of eaters, an outdoor pool, and other family-friendly amenities,” Universal said in a press release.

"Every detail was designed through a child's eyes, from signs at their height to colors that invite them in," Molly Murphy, president of Universal Creative, said in a statement last year. "The result is a park that celebrates the joy of being a kid – where imagination isn't just encouraged, it's embedded in every attraction, space, and experience."