First ‘Shrek’ ride in the United States opening at new Universal theme park

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.”

Updated on June 20, 2026, to include a review of the ride by Dani Meyering from our hosted media preview of the park.

Early concept details

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.

A simple ride that won us over

‘Fiona’s Happily Ogre After’ ended up being my son’s favorite attraction at Universal Kids Resort, which probably says as much about the park’s target audience as it does the ride itself. The gentle boat ride won’t impress thrill seekers, and some older guests may find it slow or uneventful. But for younger children, something is appealing about simply taking the wheel and steering along.

The attraction’s storybook-inspired art style has also received plenty of praise online, and seeing it in person, it’s easy to understand why. The colorful scenery feels pulled directly from a children’s picture book and offers a welcome break from screens, loud effects and high-energy thrills.

At the same time, I found myself wishing the surrounding environment felt more immersive. The attraction lacks the lush landscaping and layered greenery that often help theme park rides feel transported into another world, leaving parts of the experience feeling more exposed than enchanting.

The ride isn’t without its drawbacks. Operations can be slow, particularly during unloading, and the queue is surprisingly basic compared with the richly themed environments found elsewhere in the park. It also closes during stormy weather.

Even with those issues, I appreciated having one of the few attractions in the park that simply lets families sit together and enjoy a calm ride. In a resort filled with spinning rides, climbing structures and kinetic play areas, ‘Fiona’s Happily Ogre After’ provides a slower pace that younger children may gravitate toward again and again.

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 just announced July 1, 2026 as the opening date for Universal Kids Resort.