children,education,Featured,Lifestyle,User experience
KidZania has been the talk of the town for quite some time now. Our eldest son was able to spend half a day at a place that is quite similar to KidZania way back, and we were ecstatic to find out that the original one is opening in Bonifacio Global City. Finally, a place that is both fun and educational!
For those who do not know what KidZania is yet… It’s a city where everything is built for the kids, in kiddie size, too! Children ages 4-14 years old can choose what roles to play in the make-believe grown-up world. They get to have a taste of what it’s like to work and earn. “We can’t wait for Filipino children to finally enjoy the unique role-play experience that KidZania Manila offers. Kids will play and learn together, figure out what makes a good city, nd collaborate to help run their own community. Play at KidZania will spark dreams and imagination — empowering them to believe that they can make a better world,” says Maricel Pangilinan-Arenas, State Governor for KidZania Philippines.
Last week, we were invited to the press preview of Kidzania. Check out what we did and plan out your own KidZania trip:
KidZania means Land of Kool Kids. You’ll see this metal plate on the ground, right outside the entrance.
The entrance feels like you are about to check-in for your flight:
Here are the things you will receive upon payment:
map, boarding passes, cheque worth 50 KidZos, receipt and complimentary meal (for media)
you each have and RFID bracelet to keep track of where you’ve been inside KidZania
You surrender your boarding passes as you enter.
As soon as you go in, I would recommend that you get your child a Kidzanian Passport. With it, you can get discounts from the establishments where you have to pay; and get additional payment from the institutions where you worked. It’s usually less 2 KidZos or addtional 2 KidZos for the latter. You also get 5% discount from the actual KidZania store.
Take note that you can only apply for the passport if both child and parent are present.
Once you have all these, then your child will have to encash the 50 KidZos cheque at BPI bank. You cannot go with your child inside the bank, which is pretty cool. Makes them more independent and confident to do things on their own. Actually, on our second trip, he already went to the bank by himself while I lined up to buy his passport 😉
JJ’s 50 KidZos cheque from BPI
You will receive 1x20K, 1x10K, 3x5K, 1x1K.
Once you have all these, then you can proceed to try out over 40 KidZanian partner establishments. Parents aren’t allowed inside the rooms, and outside each room, you will see a metal plate like this:
Example:
Capacity is 8 pax
Duration is 20 minutes
Age requirement is 4 years and up
Earn 8 KidZos
(for some, you will have to pay, so it’s -15 KidZos)
Here are some of the establishments we went to:
Make your own chips by Jack ‘N Jill. JJ made his own chips by pretending to roll out some yellow dough, and shaped them with a cookie cutter. Payment is 15KidZos, with passport – 13 KidZos. The kids will be given a head cap (for hygienic purposes) which they can use all throughout.
He got to wear a lab jacket.
Roll out some yellow dough.
He got to bring home a regular pack of Piattos.
Right across it is Purefoods where you can make your own Chicken Nuggets.
At the fire department, the kids will earn 8 KidZos (or 10 KidZos with passport) after the session.
The kids were briefed via a 15-minute video about the hazards of fire and what to do if there is a fire.
Complete fire gear, and the kids ride the fire truck around KidZania.
Try Cebu Pacific out and be a pilot or flight stewardess.
All geared up to be a pilot
Flight simulation
The kids get to drive their own cars, too! But before they learn how to drive, they have to sign up at A1 Driving School to get their driver’s license. Both establishments require you to pay 15KidZos (or 13KidZos, with passport) each.
Getting briefed and ready to drive.
They learn to drive, paying attention to the stoplight.
You can also opt to be a gas boy, where you earn 8 KidZos (or 10 KidZos, with passport).
We were able to squeeze in time at the StarMusic Recording studio. JJ enjoyed it immensely here, where he felt like a rockstar 😉 Free of fees, here! JJ also enjoyed building walls at the Construction Site.
For kids below 4 years old, they can hang out by the playroom sponsored by Toy Kingdom:
fun areas by Toy Kingdom
Or by the Kindergarten room.
We went home with a super happy child, who wanted to keep going back to Kidzania.There are still so many to try, and so many your children would want to do all over again. I am pretty sure your kids will feel the same way, too!
Temporary driver’s license and passport – check!
with stamps from all the establishments that JJ tried:
Now, the fees (prices will go up after October 7) below. You may book your tickets online by clicking this link.
| Visitor Type | Mondays-Thursdays | Fridays – Sundays (and National Holidays) |
| Children (4-14 years old) | Php 750.00 | Php 1,000.00 |
| Toddlers (1-3 years old) | Php 420.00 | Php 550.00 |
| Babies/ Kids below two (2) feet in height | FREE | FREE |
| Adults | Php 420.00 | Php 550.00 |
*KidZania Manila is located at Park Triangle Building in Bonifacio Global City. Visit their website for more details.
Bonifacio Global City, KidZania
008-29 De Septiembre st. Sun Valley
NAIA Pasay City