Happily Ogre After: A Magical Coincidence
- Alyssa Manina
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Vines and Villa Rentals
Sometimes the universe has a sense of humor.
When we decorated and named our Frisco, Texas Airbnb "Happily Ogre After," painting the walls, leaning into the Shrek theme with every design detail, and building something genuinely magical for families, we had no idea what was coming.
Then Universal Destinations & Experiences announced Universal Kids Resort. Opening July 1, 2026, right here in Frisco. Seven themed lands.
The first Shrek ride ever built in the United States. And the name of that ride?
Shrek & Fiona's Happily Ogre After
We couldn't have planned it. We didn't.
But our guests sure do love this 5 star rated, themed home!
But here's the thing: whether you think it's fate or just very good luck, the timing couldn't be better for families planning a trip to Frisco, Tx. And there's something you need to know about where you're going to stay...
Frisco Is About to Become One of America's Top Family Destinations
Universal Kids Resort is unlike anything built before. Located on 32 acres just north of Dallas, it's the first theme park designed specifically for young children and their families.
Seven immersive lands bring beloved characters to life at kid-sized scale:
🐉 DreamWorks' Shrek's Swamp including Shrek & Fiona's Happily Ogre After ride, the first Shrek attraction ever built in a U.S. theme park
🦕 Jurassic World Adventure Camp
🍍 Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
🍌 Illumination's Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club
🌈 DreamWorks' TrollsFest
🐱 DreamWorks' Puss in Boots Del Mar
🎀 Isle of Curiosity featuring Gabby's Dollhouse
Tickets start at $54.99 per person. Opening day, July 1, 2026, is already sold out.
Here's the Problem With the Hotel
Universal Kids Resort has one on-site hotel. It's beautiful, immersive, and steps from the park entrance. It also has just 300 rooms.
For a destination expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the country, 300 rooms is a drop in the bucket. Standard rooms sleep up to 5 guests. Family Suites sleep up to 6.
And they're filling up fast.
For most families visiting Frisco for Universal Kids Resort, the on-site hotel simply won't be an option, whether because it's booked, out of budget, or just not the right fit for a larger group or multi-generational trip.
That's where a well-chosen Airbnb near the park becomes not just a backup plan, but the better plan.
Why Airbnb Wins for Families: The Real Value
Let's be honest about what families actually need on a trip like this.
The on-site Universal Kids Resort Hotel tops out at 6 guests in a Family Suite. For a multi-generational trip or a larger family, that means booking multiple rooms, paying for multiple nights, and spending the whole vacation coordinating across floors and hallways.
A vacation rental changes the entire equation. Hotels average 300 to 400 square feet per room. A well-appointed vacation rental offers multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, and outdoor space, all under one roof. Everyone stays together. Kids have their own room to crash in after an epic day at the park.
Parents get their evening back.
And food is where the math really shifts in your favor:
A family of four eating three restaurant meals daily can spend $150 to $200 per day on food alone
A full kitchen lets you cook breakfast and dinner, saving potentially $800 to $1,400 over a week-long trip
That savings can go right back into an extra park day, a nicer dinner out, or a little more Shrek merchandise than you planned on...
According to an Upgraded Points survey, 75% of vacation rental loyalists say space and privacy is their number one reason for choosing a rental over a hotel.
For families, that's not a preference. It's a necessity.
Anyone who has tried to put a 4-year-old to sleep in the same hotel room where their neighbors are not so quietly celebrating or they want to watch TV at 9 PM knows exactly what we mean.
Come unwind and cooking breakfast for the family before the park, in Gingy's kitchen!
Our "Happily Ogre After" Home: The cozy 5-Star Frisco Base Camp
When we decorated this home, we went all in. Green walls. Shrek details throughout. A space designed to feel like an adventure from the moment you walk in, because that's what family vacations should feel like.
What we built before the Universal announcement turned out to be exactly what families heading to Universal Kids Resort need: a fun, fully equipped home base near the park where kids can stay in the magic and parents can actually breathe.
5.0 stars
Every single review.
And now, knowing that Shrek & Fiona's Happily Ogre After is the name of the actual ride your kids will board at Universal Kids Resort, we think that's a pretty good omen for your trip.
The Bottom Line
Universal Kids Resort is going to be extraordinary. The Shrek ride alone, the first ever in the United States, is worth the trip for any family who grew up watching Donkey try to get in on the fairytale. For kids under 10, this park was built for them in every possible way.
But 300 hotel rooms can't hold the families that are coming. Book your Airbnb near the park, cook your own breakfasts, give your kids their own room to crash in after an epic day, relax in the pool, and show up to Shrek's Swamp rested and ready.
Your family's Happily Ogre After starts here.
Book "Happily Ogre After" on Airbnb and experience Frisco's most perfectly timed vacation rental. 5.0 stars and one very cool coincidence.