 |
The Independence Fountain (Bache, Vita, and Urbano!) |
Remember when you were a child and you used to do a roleplay with your playmates? Some of us took the role of a policeman while our unfortunate friend becomes the criminal? How about becoming a chef? fireman? doctor? The good old days! With our ever-evolving generation, kids nowadays tend to stray away from physical activities because of their gadgets and we need something to help them explore reality instead of sticking themselves in a phone screen.
KidZania is an indoor activity center focused on bringing
edutainment (educational entertainment) for kids ages 1-17 years old via roleplaying. The first KidZania opened in September 1999 in Santa Fe Shopping Mall in Mexico City and was named
La Ciudad de Los Niños (The City of the Children) so yes, it originated from Mexico and was brought to the Philippines last August of 2015.
KidZania is technically a play city, like an actual city scaled down for children. It has its own roads, transportation, economy and money called
kidZos.
This kidZos can be used to spend on different products and services available in the play city or they can deposit it in the bank (which KidZania also has, courtesy of
BPI). Running out of KidZos? Don't fret as
kids can work and earn too by doing a couple of errands in some establishments. In this way, they can appreciate the value of work while playing as well as learn lessons in saving and spending prepping them for #adulting (lol).
 |
Looks familiar eh? It somewhat resembles Cebu Pacific terminal |
Before we go any further, we've already mentioned that KidZania is a city scaled down for kids, this means businesses right? To give the mini-city a more realistic take, the businesses/establishments found inside KidZania are real-life brands/companies. From banks, boutiques, restaurants, and this awesome
Cebu Pacific ticketing booth in the entrance.
 |
Realism? They are on point! |
 |
The Cebu Pacific ground attendant will take care of your ticketing needs |
If the realistic Cebu Pacific still does not satisfy you, well, you'll have your own
KidZania Pazzport complete with personal details and pictures created by their very own
B-KidZanian Passport Office.
 |
Chloe and her KidZania Pazzport |
Once you have a pazzport, you will become a CitiZen of KidZania and just like in real life, there are benefits. Your pazzport can also be upgraded if you play/visit more and each pazzport level corresponds to different benefits.
 |
Three Levels: Naturalized CitiZen, Distinguished CitiZen, Honorable CitiZen |
We have been to KidZania a couple of times and I still like the way they put their concept to reality. From the airport security checkpoint to the makeshift baggage conveyor belt, we are just starting!
 |
First stop, we need to get some kidZos from BPI KidZania |
 |
Complete setup, from the counter to the BPI teller. |
After getting some kidZos, you can now roam freely in KidZania. You need to carefully plan which establishment you should go first to avoid long waiting time. Some establishments have at least 15 minutes wait time per cycle, this is to say that establishment A will start its cycle and can hold only 10 kids at a time, the rest should wait for another 15 minutes for them to enter. Schedules and business information can always be found outside each establishment.
 |
The busy and bustling street of KidZania |
Once inside, it's like you've been warped to another place as you'll be presented with streets, buildings, people and busy establishments. You'll get to see side street vendors, ATM, and benches scattered around the city.
Here are some of our "skyscraper" shot of the city:
 |
Paved road and pedestrian lane - KidZania Manila |
 |
It has a traffic system as well, how cool? - KidZania Manila |
 |
One of the busiest part of the city, the "food park" - KidZania Manila |
 |
Street lamps and manhole cover gives the place an authentic street vibe - KidZania Manila |
 |
KidZania's City Center |
After a couple of wonderful pictures, my wife and my daughter are very eager to work already and since we are really hungry, we've decided to go to Lady's Choice Cooking School. Note that it is highly recommended that you assist your child in this activity as they will allow 1 adult and 1 kid inside. Oh and also before we forgot, foods and drinks are not allowed inside KidZania Manila so don't bother bringing pack lunch. The good thing is, they won't let you get hungry as some activities will give out food/snack/drinks as a reward, for example, the Ladies Choice Cooking School will reward you two big egg sandwiches (
4 if you will go with your child).
 |
Daddy and Chloe queuing up! |
 |
Daddy and Chloe making their egg spread |
 |
Like a real culinary school, there will be someone who will guide you! |
 |
We got lunch ladies and gents courtesy of Lady's Choice Cooking School |
Now that we have lunch, I think we need some dessert to end this sumptuous meal and since Lady's Choice Cooking School is just beside
Goldilocks Bakeshop, my little baker will make herself her own dessert!
 |
My daughter is very eager to create her own sponge cake (mamon) |
 |
I think we have a baker in the making! |
 |
After a couple of sprinkles and icing mashing, we have dessert courtesy of Goldilocks Bakeshop! |
After feasting on our egg sandwich and Chloe's sponge cake, we are rejuvenated and ready for more! Next stop, we need to do some work to earn kidZos, remember, more kidZos more fun! We headed to the
LBC Delivery Service.
 |
LBC is a courier company based in the Philippines - KidZania Manila |
The job is simple, receive parcels in the LBC center and deliver them around KidZania! Sounds like fun eh? Welp, my little courier is ready to roll.
 |
Chloe the courier ready to deliver your package! |
 |
Yup, I think you forgot the parcels sweetheart? |
 |
Off to her first stop at Philippine Daily Inquirer |
Once she has the boxes, we'll help her deliver the packages around KidZania. That'll be a great way to walk around and check other establishments.
 |
They also have Philippine Daily Inquirer inside! |
 |
Off to the next destination - KidZania Manila |
 |
The last destination is Mercury Drug, wait, they have a drugstore inside?! |
After getting her salary in LBC, we headed straight to
Pascual Lab to learn about medicines and vitamins.
 |
Pascual Lab in KidZania Manila |
 |
Chloe is really paying attention and is very eager to learn, proud dad here! |
 |
She is very focused and attentive. |
 |
They'll let the kids experience on how to manufacture medicines. |
 |
She got her boost! |
Since she is still in the mood to learn about medicine, why not experience their local
Mercury Drug where she can experience different sorts of pharmaceutical stuff lol!
 |
The drugstore really looks legit from the exterior to the interior. |
 |
I think Chloe is trying to check the temperature of the instructor. |
 |
My very gorgeous pharmacist - KidZania Manila |
After a couple of walking and picture taking, we've decided to grab some snacks but hey we are not going to buy but our daughter will work hard to earn it! Here's our itinerary,
Yellow Cab,
Purefoods R&D Center,
Jack 'n Jill Cream-O Cookie Factory,
Magnolia Ice Cream Shop,
Oishi Creative Hub,
Coca Cola and
McDonald's!
 |
Yellow Cab - KidZania Manila |
 |
First, she's a baker, then a pharmacist, now she's a pizza maker! |
 |
She wanted pepperoni overload but it's out of stock, good thing she loves ham! |
 |
Isn't she beautiful? While waiting for her pizza. |
 |
One snack down, couple more to go! |
 |
Purefoods R&D Center in KidZania Manila |
 |
She wants hotdogs! Give her hotdogs! |
 |
That's a big ass Tender Juice hotdog! |
 |
Jack 'n Jill Cream-O Cookie Factory |
 |
They were taught how to Cream-O is created |
 |
Yummy! Let's go get some more! |
 |
The Magnolia Ice Cream Factory |
 |
She's using the machine to make ice cream |
 |
Proud! Dessert! One for the team! |
 |
Mother and daughter bonding c/o Oishi Creative Hub |
 |
I love this shot. |
 |
Snacks for reward?! Put em on our basket! |
With all those snacks, we need something to push it down the drain. We need something to drink! Chloe to the rescue!
 |
Good thing there is a Coca Cola factory nearby! |
And our last stop for our miryenda hunting journey, McDonald's!
 |
McDonald's burger shop! |
 |
This is my favorite part of KidZania when Chloe is making me a cheeseburger because she knows it's my favorite. |
 |
For daddy, such a sweetheart! |
After that long journey and freakishly tiring daddying, we get to sit back, relax and enjoy Chloe's spoils. We rested for a while then off to the last part of this wonderful day, Chloe is excited to try the rest of the play city so here we go again.
 |
Her precious, she loves pizza more than anything else. |
While we walk to our next destination, we can't help but to admire the establishment that heavily focuses on cars, too bad Chloe can't try them yet because of the minimum age requirement of 7 I think, maybe in the future.
 |
Shell - where you can drive this cute car. |
 |
Honda and A1 Driving School in KidZania Manila |
 |
They also have a pit crew training center for F1 cars |
Chloe always wanted to be in action so what better way to let her experience it by hopping on an emergency situation as an emergency responder c/o
St. Luke's Medical Center.
 |
St. Luke's Medical Center in KidZania Manila |
 |
My little first responder |
 |
Briefing them about today's mission |
 |
Not sure what happened here, it looks like Chloe was able to save the poor guy |
 |
KidZania's very own ambulance c/o Green Cross |
Aside from the hospital, they also have a fire department and their own truck fire brigade. Chloe was able to try it before, we are not able to try it this time because of the long queue. A lot of kids want to be a fireman! They'll get to experience riding the fire truck, grabbing a water cannon and extinguish the fire, epic!
 |
KidZania Fire Department |
Chloe was also able to experience what's it like to be a flight attendant. I wanted her to be a pilot but meh, we had to wait for a long time so we moved on to the next establishment. Too bad, we are not able to capture what she did inside because it's off-limits for adults. Oh and by the way, here's a trivia, did you know that this part of a plane is an actual plane? Crazy right! I KNOW!
 |
Cebu Pacific in KidZania Manila |
 |
Pet Express Veterinary Clinic in KidZania Manila |
 |
My little animal lover |
 |
Love your pets - Chloe |
That was it! Phew! This is by far, the longest blog that I've written. Anyway, should you wish to visit this wonderful place, you may visit
KidZania Manila's website and book!
 |
My two beautiful ladies, my queen and my princess (Team WTF) |
It's a great and wonderful experience not only for me and my wife but especially for our daughter. She was taught how to save money, care for others, be patient (because of the queue) and most importantly, to enjoy small things in life. As early as now we want our daughter to be optimistic when it comes to any situation and I think KidZania really steps up when it comes to teaching your child the values they needed to be successful in the future.
Have you been to KidZania? Tell us about your experience!
No comments:
Post a Comment