Enchanted Kingdom

Enchanted Kingdom opened at Santa Rosa in 1995 and remains the largest conventional theme park in the Philippines. It is laid out in themed zones around a central lagoon, and the headline rides are the Space Shuttle, a steel coaster with an inversion, the Rio Grande Rapids raft ride, the Anchors Away swinging ship and the Wheel of Fate, the tall observation wheel visible from the expressway. There is a 4D theatre, a dark ride and the usual bumper cars and carousel for smaller children, plus regular seasonal overlays around Halloween and Christmas that are heavily attended. It is a family day out rather than a regional destination, and it prices and behaves accordingly.

History

The park was the idea of Mario and Cynthia Mamon, whose family visits to local fairgrounds and to Ocean Park in Hong Kong led them into the amusement industry; they joined its international association, IAAPA, in 1992, and Mario Mamon later became the first Asian and first Filipino to head it. The park was designed by Gary Goddard, then with Landmark Entertainment; building began in August 1994 on 10 hectares, and it opened on 19 October 1995. The first years were hard, with the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and business only recovered in 2003; the park has since grown to 25 hectares (Wikipedia, Enchanted Kingdom).

The main sights

• Space Shuttle - the park's looping steel roller coaster and its longest queue.
• Rio Grande Rapids - the circular raft ride that guarantees a soaking.
• The Wheel of Fate - the observation wheel over the lagoon and the whole park layout.
• The seasonal overlays - Halloween and Christmas events that transform parts of the park.

When to go

The dry months from November to May avoid afternoon downpours that close the outdoor rides. Weekdays in term time are dramatically quieter than weekends, and the April to May school holidays are the busiest stretch of the year along with the Christmas season. Opening hours vary by day and by season, so check before travelling.

Practical notes

It is small next to the big regional parks in Singapore or Hong Kong, and adults who arrive expecting that scale come away flat. Shade is limited and the heat by midday is serious; queues stand in it. Rides go down for maintenance without warning. Food inside is expensive and outside food is restricted. The expressway back to Manila on a Sunday evening is slow.

Nearby

Tagaytay and the Taal ridge are about an hour southwest.

Key facts