North Texas Winter Weather Shows the Operational Reality of Universal Kids Resort
Like much of the country, North Texas is in the middle of a nasty winter storm. And true to form for this area, it’s more ice than snow. But that didn’t stop me from driving over to Universal Kids Resort this afternoon, hoping to snap photos of a winter wonderland. As you can probably tell, that didn’t come to pass.
When forecasts first started rolling in earlier this week, I pictured a snow-covered hotel and coasters. Dallas, however, stuck to its ice storm reputation and delivered… not that. In fact, it had to deal with freezing rain on my drive over, not snow. Luckily, the ground temperature hasn’t caught up to the storm, so the hard ice hasn’t materialized yet. That will change overnight. We won’t get back above freezing until Tuesday.
While North Texas doesn’t see heavy snowfall very often, ice storms are a fairly regular occurrence. And they’re far more disruptive. Even a thin glaze of ice would force Universal Kids to close, resulting in cancellations and refunds. Locals can pivot. Families who traveled to Dallas to visit the park can’t.
Early on, many assumed Universal Kids Resort would operate year-round. But John McReynolds, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Universal Orlando, later told residents the park will likely close for an extended stretch during the winter months. That decision makes sense. If the park were scheduled to be open today, it wouldn’t be usable, leaving Universal to juggle refunds, rescheduling, and disappointed kids.
We’ll get more clarity on Universal Kids Resort’s operating schedule once tickets go on sale. We expect that announcement to happen soon.
Finally, for anyone hoping for a more beautiful winter scene, here’s a photo from 54 weeks ago. The first floor of the Universal Kids Resort Hotel had just gone vertical. This is what I was hoping for today. Maybe next time.
Read more: Universal Kids Resort Rides: Height Requirements for Every Attraction
