Enchanted Kingdom or “EK” as we have gotten used to calling it recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 17. The country’s first and only world-class theme park hosted executives from Asia’s leading theme parks and major amusement destinations and who are all members of the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), as well as ride manufacturers and suppliers. The visit opened doors for expanding existing partnerships between these parks and manufacturers as EK embarks full-steam on its “EK 2020” expansion program in time for its silver or 25th anniversary.
The magical celebration launched a lineup of new attractions and events for the rest of the year and 2016. On your next EK visit, make sure you go inside the Rialto Theater which has been transformed into the much improved New Rialto Theater 4D, with an increased seating capacity of 108 seats (plus four non-moving seats for PWDs) from 60 seats. The new theater also boasts of the latest in 4D technology and is guaranteed to give guests an enhanced and unforgettable simulator theater experience. The renovation included the main lobby and pre-show area to accommodate more waiting guests in air-conditioned comfort.
Another highlight of the amusement park is the historical sites and stories of Enchanted Kingdom – The First 20 Years – A Journey Through Time. Travel back in time as EK features its heritage from the sights, sounds and mementoes of their humble beginnings, and get insights on future things to come.
For families with kids who are not allowed to ride some adult attractions, there is Kinder Magic, the new indoor entertainment venue that caters to children six years and below. Parents can leave their kids here to enjoy different interactive entertainment and try the rides around EK. Kinder Magic is set to have a fully equipped and comfortable facility for nursing mothers and their babies as well as diaper changing stations. Activities for the youngsters will include arts and crafts, storytelling, kinder math with the use of oversized Lego bricks, role playing and gardening, among others.
This year, EK will hold the 3rd International Sky Wizardry Competition. The pyro musical grand finals will have different teams from Spain, United States, France, Singapore, Netherlands, and of course the Philippines competing against each other to earn the distinction of becoming EK’s Sky Wizardry Champion for 2015.
Next year, be enchanted with EK’s most ambitious ride project since it opened 20 years ago – Agila, a unique flying ride experience that is the only one and largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. The plight of the country’s national bird, the Philippine eagle, and the sites of our native land inspire this exciting ride. The big-ticket Agila attraction scheduled to open in June 2016 is seen to bump up the theme park’s annual attendance by at least a million visitors.
“With our Agila attraction alone, we hope to breach the two million visitor mark and beyond, thus placing Enchanted Kingdom among the top 30 theme parks in Asia Pacific, and increasing our visibility and viability of being an international tourist destination,” says Enchanted Kingdom’s chairman and president Cesar Mario Mamon. “Agila is targeted not only to our local and traditional guests, but also for foreign tourists who may want to experience more of the country but have limited time. It is our first salvo in promoting Philippine tourism,” Mamon said, adding that a double-digit share in foreign guests is expected with the new attraction.
So next time you plan to take a trip outside the country for some gut wrenching attraction, why fuss with all the booking when you can experience world class amusement park in your own country?