First ‘Shrek’ ride in the United States opening at new Universal theme park
Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After, the first “Shrek” ride in the U.S., will open at the new Universal Kids theme park near Dallas, Texas, in 2026.
In the land formally named “DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp,” Universal says guests can “take a ride on Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After to hear how an ogre and a princess were enchanted by love.”
Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After will be an outdoor ride. Guests will sit in open-air carriages and see moments from the “Shrek” movies represented in creative “wooden” vignettes.
Universal’s official ride description for Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After reads:
Ride along with Shrek’s triplets as you live the story of how Shrek and Princess Fiona were enchanted by love. Kids and their grown-ups will join a heroic rescue from the dragon’s castle — with the help of the one and only Donkey — and more magical movie moments leading to Shrek and Fiona’s happily ogre after.
The “Shrek” land will also include Shrek’s Swamp Splash and Smash, a playground built by Shrek for his triplets, as well as meet & greets with Shrek and Fiona.
Universal Kids Resort, a new theme park, will open in 2026 in Frisco, Texas, with rides themed to “Shrek,” “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Trolls,” “Minions,” “Puss in Boots,” and “Jurassic World,” plus a “Gabby’s Dollhouse” area.
“Shrek” has been well represented within Universal’s domestic theme parks over the years, from DreamWorks Land at Universal Studios Florida to the now-defunct Shrek 4D on both the east and west coast. However, Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After at Universal Kids would mark the first ride based on Shrek in a U.S. theme park.
Internationally, rides based on the “Shrek” franchise include Shrek’s Merry Fairytale Journey (a trackless dark ride) at Motiongate in Dubai and Puss in Boots’ Giant Journey (a roller coaster) at Universal Studios Singapore. Check out POVs of these rides from our friends at Attractions 360:
Universal has not announced an opening date for Universal Kids Resort other than “2026.”
Will you be visiting Universal Kids to see the “Shrek” ride? Stay tuned to Attractions Magazine for daily coverage of theme park news, trip reports, and exclusive interviews from Disney, Universal, and independent attractions around the world.
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