According to the Dallas-Fort Worth local NBC news outlet, the Frisco City Council has approved updated murals to be featured on the Universal Kids Resort hotel.
As shown in the graphic above, the newly approved murals will adorn the facade of the resort. The mural featuring characters from “Shrek” and another featuring Minions will be placed upon the front of the resort. Those showcasing characters from SpongeBob and TrollsFest will face the park-side.
A more detailed look at the characters included in each mural was released in the NBC news report. The story was based on images shared by forms from the Frisco City Council.
Frisco’s City Council must approve all hotels, parking structures, and any structure taller than 50 feet that stands outside of the park, in compliance with Frisco’s SUP development standards. The hotel’s entrance (above) faces the Cobb Hill community, where some residents previously voiced opposition to the theme park over traffic and quality of life concerns. This pushback has led to several changes over the course of the park’s development.
The new concept art for the entrance of the hotel is color-blocked with orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, and blue squares. Some of the windows in each section are oval-shaped, while others are square.
John Lettelleir, Frisco’s Director of Development Services, told the news outlet that the theme park is slated to open sometime between April and June of 2026.
In a closer look at the approved murals, Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots are among the “Shrek” franchise representation, while several Minions and an Evil Minion a.k.a. Purple Minion represent the Illumination’s Minions land coming to the park. These murals seem to correspond with specific lands in the park. As seen in more of the recently-released images, these are expected to be called “Shrek’s Swamp” and “Minions vs Minions.”
SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy Cheeks represent Bikini Bottom’s best, while Poppy and Branch are featured for the “Trolls” franchise. These areas are expected to be called “SpongeBob SquarePants – Bikini Bottom” and “TrollsFest.”
Universal announced the family-focused theme park in January 2023. The local Frisco government officially approved Universal Kids Resort in March 2023. Universal announced the name in December 2023 and said the “smaller-scale” park would “offer a unique theme park experience for the younger crowd.”
The lands of Universal Kids Resort will be inspired by Illumination, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and Jurassic World. Universal refers to them as “six immersive themed lands” plus a “custom Gabby’s Dollhouse experience.” Here are the listed areas announced earlier this year:
- “DreamWorks’ Shrek: Enjoy ogre-sized fun as you stomp, ride, laugh and play in Shrek’s swamp themed playground built personally by Shrek.”
- “Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants: It’s Bikini Bottom’s best day ever and SpongeBob and friends cannot wait to show you around their neighborhood under the sea.”
- “Illumination’s Minions: Let the games begin as Illumination’s Minions overrun a peaceful vacation retreat. When Yellow Minions attempt to rein in their Purple counterparts, it leads to a wave of unpredictable, water-soaked fun.”
- “Jurassic World: It’s a journey of exploration where kids can learn about and come face to face with dinosaurs of Jurassic World in uniquely exciting and interactive ways.”
- “DreamWorks’ Trolls: You’re invited to the most colorful, most joy-filled, and, of course, most glittery music festival of all time!”
- “DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: It’s a legendary day with Puss in Boots in Del Mar as the kitty adoption drive is in full swing with colorful decorations, sideshow games, fun rides and festive food.”
- “Park Hub with DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse: A central hub with interactive play areas and shady lawns for rest & recharge, plus an immersive retail experience where guests can meet characters from Gabby’s Dollhouse.”
The new paperwork also shared the first look at some updated concept art for the new park, which has updated the locations and appearances for several buildings.
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