👀 The Frisco Attraction Everyone Will Be Talking About

July 1st is almost here, and I'll be honest… I am maybe more excited about this than my 4-year-old is, which is saying something because she's been asking about SpongeBob every single morning for two weeks.

Universal Kids Resort officially opens July 1, and unlike most theme parks, it was built specifically for kids ages 4 to 8. Think shorter walks, lower stimulation, and bathrooms in every themed land.

The breakdown:

Tickets:

The hotel has 300 rooms, opens June 30, and hotel guests get early park admission before the general public. If you're planning a trip for little ones and want to avoid the opening week chaos, early entry might be worth it.

Food heads-up: Budget for it. Water and soda run $4.99. Most entrées land around $13-$15. The Goofy Gooburger is $13.99 and yes, obviously I'm getting one.

I can tell you the infrastructure conversation is real. Universal Parkway wraps around the park, and a new traffic light is going in at Universal Parkway and Dallas Parkway. Worth knowing before you head over on opening weekend.

This park is going to be a big part of what it means to grow up in Frisco.

Two things happened this week that are going to make your Rail District trips a lot less annoying, and I think they deserve to be mentioned together.

First: The new parking garage is open.

The city's brand new five-story garage at Elm and Third streets officially opened June 18. That's 450 free public parking spaces, EV charging on the first floor, security cameras, and six future ground-floor retail storefronts on the way. The project cost $27 million, funded through voter-approved bonds and an EDC grant.

If you've ever circled Main Street three times looking for parking on a Saturday evening, this is the news you've been waiting for.

Second: The Rail District Boxcar is live.

Frisco launched a free downtown shuttle pilot this month called the Rail District Boxcar, a nod to the city's railroad roots. Two shuttle vans run a loop with 13 stops from World Cup Way to North County Road, hitting Main and Elm streets and Frisco City Hall along the way.

Hours:

It's free. You park once in the new garage and ride the rest of the way. Emily already wants to do this on a Sunday afternoon with the girls, and honestly, I'm on board.

This is part of a bigger Rail District push that also includes GoZone, the on-demand rideshare that launched in May across central Frisco ($3-$5 per trip, weekdays only). The city is clearly investing in making downtown more than just a place you drive through.

StreetLights Residential just unveiled plans for a 22-story residential tower on the former JCPenney campus at 6501 Legacy Drive in Plano. That's right across from Legacy West, where I spend my weekdays.

The numbers:

Amenities include a three-tier resort pool with private cabanas, sky lounge, golf simulator, coworking spaces, library, 24-hour concierge and weekend valet. The dog park is built into select floors. These are not starter apartments.

Also quietly taking shape on the same campus: Texas' first Miyako Hybrid Hotel, a 12-story Japanese luxury hotel by Kintetsu Group Holdings, expected to open fall 2027. The $117.5M project blends Japanese-inspired design with a sustainability focus.

The old JCPenney campus going from corporate HQ to luxury high-rise living and a Japanese boutique hotel is one of those North Texas plot twists that makes you do a double take on your commute. I've driven past that property dozens of times. It's going to look very different in three years.