Theme Parks Race To Build More Parks For Kids!

Most parents will tell you that it’s a kids’ world, and they’re just living in it. There are few places where that’s more accurate than at a theme park, where what you ride, eat, and do is entirely dependent on the smallest members of your party.

The “little kid” market at theme parks is growing – and fast. Between new (and expanding) Legoland parks in California, Florida, and New York; Orlando’s new Peppa Pig theme park; Sesame Place in Philadelphia and the new Sesame Place park in San Diego; plus an upcoming Mattel toy-themed park in Arizona and the recently-announced family-focused Universal park in Texas, there are plenty of places for families with little kids to play.

The Big Two

Disney and Universal certainly offer family-friendly activities and attractions – after all, Disneyland’s soon-to-open re-imagined Mickey’s Toontown will have open green spaces, climbing structures, water playgrounds, and plenty of interactive kid-friendly activities – but let’s face it, very little kids are not their target audience.

I clicked the “Preschoolers” filter on the Disneyland app for attractions in Disneyland Park, and there were 14 rides suggested (plus the Disneyland Monorail, Disneyland Railroad, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, and Main Street vehicles); at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, there are ten attractions designated as “kids-friendly (plus the Hogwarts Express), but some of those may not be suited for preschoolers.

That means a family with young kids will be spending a lot of money for a theme park vacation, during which many attractions will either have to be skipped or “child swapped.”

Theme Park Dictionary: Child Swap (or “Rider Switch” in Disney parlance) –  One parent rides (or rides with older kids) while the other waits with the baby/toddler, then they swap so the other parent can ride without waiting in the entire queue again. Universal parks even have indoor, air-conditioned rooms designated for baby swap waiting.

Read our article about Disneyland’s re-imagined Mickey’s Toontown:

https://www.micechat.com/307775-disneylands-toontown-closing-in-2022-for-enhancements/

Kid-Focused Parks

In contrast to the big two, in the not-quite-one-year-old Sesame Place San Diego (the original Sesame Place is in Philadelphia), all eight of the park’s rides are designated as “Kid-Friendly,” with a Count’s Splash Castle water-play area and Sunny Day Café character dining coming Summer 2023. Similarly, all 16 attractions at the also nearly-one-year-old Peppa Pig Theme Park in Orlando (part of Legoland Florida Resort) have a height restriction of 36 inches or less, even the park’s e-ticket attraction: Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster.

Legoland California Resort – which claims to be “the theme park built for kids” – definitely puts its money where its mouth is, with 28 attractions for kids under 36 inches tall (the average height of a three-year-old). In fact, Legoland Resorts across the U.S. have become extremely popular for families with preschool and school-aged kids, with full resorts in Southern California, Florida, and the newest in New York (about 60 miles from New York City), which all include theme parks, water parks, highly-themed onsite hotels, and lots and lots (and LOTS) of Legos.

“Legoland Resort is the ultimate Lego theme park destination for kids ages 2 through 12 and their families,” said Legoland New York spokesman Matt Besterman. “We focus on ‘hands-on, minds-on’ activities, and our interactive rides are designed to be a kid’s ‘first’ — like the first time driving a car or riding a roller coaster.”

According to Legoland North America Managing Director Rex Jackson, the Peppa Pig park was specifically designed for children ages six and under who realistically can’t make it through an 8-, 9-, or 10-hour theme park day. Instead, he noted, Peppa’s charming park can be experienced in just a few hours, AKA just the right amount of time before crankiness sets in.

“We are the first preschooler theme park in Florida,” said Legoland Florida Resort Head of Marketing and Communications Kelly Hornick. “Legoland Florida has…really nailed that two-to-12-year-old demographic, so we saw a big opportunity to get younger kids…really excited about…having a [park] just for them.”

Now, you might think families would still rather go to Disney or Universal parks (and if they have older kids, they might), but I’d argue many parents of toddlers would prefer to spend the day at a smaller park where their kids can ride everything than endure the tantrums that inevitably ensue when kids don’t meet the height minimums elsewhere (we’ve all seen it happen).

And by the way, going to smaller parks now doesn’t prevent anyone from going to Disney and Universal parks when everyone is big enough to ride everything (plus kid-focused parks are super fun for adults too).

“In March 2022…I saw many of you excitedly rush through the entry gates…ready to experience a theme park based entirely on the iconic show Sesame Street,” wrote Sesame Place San Diego Park President Jim Lake in an email to Season Pass Members. “You joined us for many sunny days spending your time on Sesame Street-themed whirling rides and splashy water slides, interactive playtime in our Neighborhood, singing and dancing with our parade and stage show, and of course taking photos (or selfies) with your favorite furry friends.”

Mattel Adventure Park

The first-of-its-kind Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, AZ, has somehow managed to fly under the radar after being announced in 2021. Originally scheduled to open in 2022, the park is now expected to open in 2024, along with a resort hotel, a six-acre swimming lagoon, and a shopping and dining district.

But it’s the park itself that will appeal to families with young kids – well, and maybe also the lagoon – with branded Mattel toy-themed attractions and experiences like a Hot Wheels roller coaster (with super cool ride vehicles themed to the brand’s iconic “Bone Shaker” hot rod), a Thomas & Friends train ride, the Barbie Beach House featuring a flying theater attraction (a la Soarin’), and the Master of the Universe’s Castle Grayskull, which will house a state-of-the-art laser tag arena.

But wait. There will also be a Mattel games-themed mini golf experience and a climbing structure made from oversized UNO cards.

“We are extremely excited to [feature] Barbie, Masters of the Universe, and Mattel Games-themed attractions and rides…at the first-ever Mattel Adventure Park,” said Mark Cornell, president of Epic Resort Destinations, the company developing the park. “We have spared no expense to bring these iconic brands to life in ways that will delight visitors of all ages for years to come.

We don’t know how many rides will be specifically preschool-friendly (apart from the train). Still, with a promise from Mattel’s Senior Director of Global Location-Based Entertainment Julie Freeland that the park will be “the largest representation of Mattel’s beloved brands in a live space,” I’m hoping for a scaled-up version of the Toy Story-themed land at Walt Disney World, which is fun for every age.

Universal Got the Memo

Universal Parks & Resorts, whose three U.S. theme parks (plus the currently under-construction Epic Universal) offer plenty of thrill rides and big coasters, is swinging to the other end of the spectrum with their recently-announced new park coming to Frisco, TX.

According to Universal, this new park (expected to open in about four years) is specifically intended for families with young kids, featuring family-friendly attractions, shows, character meet and greets, and immersive lands themed to the stories and characters that appeal to what Universal Parks & Resorts President of New Ventures Paige Thompson calls “a younger generation of Universal fans.” The park will also be scaled down to regional park size, making it easier for families with little kids to manage.

Although Universal hasn’t announced any specific characters or franchises that will be represented, they did release concept artwork that seems to include a whimsical land themed to the “Trolls” movies, a wooded and castle-themed area that could be Shrek- and/or Puss in Boots-related and a section that looks to be themed to the “Madagascar” movies (specifically the Central Park Zoo). There also appears to be a land themed to Jurassic Park/World, although the rides are more family-friendly than the current Jurassic franchise attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando.

The concept artwork also shows a lot of green spaces, water features, and shade, three things Disneyland also focused on for its Toontown re-imagination, and something parents definitely appreciate.

Read more about Universal’s Texas project:

Universal Rebrands Parks Division as Alternative Destinations & Experiences Ramp Up

Certified Autism Centers

Both Sesame Place San Diego and Sesame Place Philadelphia and all three Legoland Resorts (including Peppa Pig Theme Park) are Certified Autism Centers.

This designation means they’ve partnered with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), and were awarded that certification by conducting staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training and developing detailed sensory guides to provide information about how each attraction may affect each of the five senses.

The sensory guides can be found under Accessibility in the “Plan Your Visit” section on each Legoland park’s website (including Peppa Pig) and under Accessibility in the “Park Info” section on each Sesame Place park’s website.

Although not Certified Autism Centers, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood,and Universal Orlando Resort all offer guides for guests with cognitive disabilities.

We don’t know whether or not the Mattel Adventure Park or the new Universal Park in Texas will be Certified Autism Centers.

Where can you find more information about these little kid-friendly parks of which we speak? It’s easy! Just click on the links below:

• Legoland California Resort in Carlsbad, CA
• Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven, FL
• Legoland New York Resort in Goshen, NY
• Sesame Place San Diego in Chula Vista, CA
• Sesame Place Philadelphia in Langhorne, PA
• Peppa Pig Theme Park in Winter Haven, FL
• Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, AZ

Let’s Hear From You!

Are Parks Just For Little Kids A Good Idea?

Do you have little kids in your life (or plan to in the future)? How many times have they had to wait for bigger kids or adults to ride something they’re too small for? Do you think going to a scaled-down little kid-friendly theme park makes sense for your family? Could you imagine Disney building a regional park for kids like Universal is doing in Texas? Let us know in the comments!