We went there courtesy of my Mom and Dad in law, as a celebration for Rain's cousin G's birthday. We weren't sure if there was enough food chocies inside so we had breakfast first at McDonalds at the ground floor. Upon going inside the main lobby, one can get confused if it IS the lobby of Kidzania or if it's a Cebu Pacific ticket office / mini airport. Looking at the photo above, you can understand why.
It's where you present your ticket and where they give you your wristbands. The wristbands are how kids can track their jobs and salaries.
After getting our wristbands, we went through this checkpoint where you can get Kidzania maps.
After going through the checkpoint, you will be seated in this area which still looks like an airport waiting area. This is where you will wait until Kidzania officially opens its doors.
It even has a with a fake baggage claim conveyor belt.
Waiting for their "flight" to Kidzania!
Here's a poster on how you can make the most of your time in Kidzania. I'm telling you. We were there since 9am-2pm, the kids didn't get to try all the jobs. Another point that I ill stress on later on why I think Kidzania is awesome!
A few other reminders! Parents are not allowed inside the shops. But can peek through the big windows :-)
Then finally, the guards open the entrance to the escalator leading up to the 2nd floor, where the park is located. And TADA!!!!!
I love how it looks like a real world with crossings and pedestrian crossing lanes.
All shops are still closed once you enter. Then they officially open with a mob dance. Everywhere you look, the staff are out on the streets doing the welcome dance.
The first thing we did was go to the very first shop as you enter. The B-Kidzanian PaZZport Office. This is where you can get passports for the kids. It's not mandatory. But it's goot to have because if your kid has a passport, they earn +2 KidZos in every salary that they get. (KidZoz is Kidzania currency) Yes! Kids earn "salaries" here! It's a great way of teaching kids about the value of money, and how you have to work hard to earn.
With this passport, kids also get 5 KidZos off when they shop at the "Department store", and 5% discount in "National Bookstore". The cost of the passport is only P250 and the child needs parental consent when they get.
Next stop, "BPI"!
Upon entering, the kids will be given 50 KidZos as "paycheck" to start with.
Doesn't it look like a real BPI? Hahaha! Your kid can either encash this at "BPI" so they have pocket money to spend around the park, or they can also deposit it into their KidZania account.
We decided to encash it first. Here's Rain with her cold cash!
There are also "ATMS" around the park where they can withdraw.
Since there was so much shops, the boys and the girls decided to split up. Because the girls wanted to do girly stuff, and the boys of course wanted to do more boyish stuff.
Rain's cousin Ate Z was really kind enough to go with her. They first tried the recording studio. Here they are getting a quick orientation. That's the thing about Kidzania. It's not just get-inside-play-get out. The Kidzania staff are really there dressed up as different professions, and they are there to really orient the kids and give them specific tasks to do for the duration of the job.
And one job can run from 25 mins to 45 mins. This is why it's impossible to try everything on your first visit. And there is also an age requirement since some jobs require more maturity in writing or reading. Each shop has a Census Plaque outside with these details. The Ecomony shows if this activity requires a KidZo payment.
Rain had a blast dressing up and being a drummer, then a keyboardist, then a singer as the music studio "records" their performance. My little rockstar!
Next they wanted to try the salon!
Rain came in as a worker, and her ate Z went with her as a customer.
Look at her in her salon apron! So cute!!! They had to give Rain a step stool to be able to reach Z's hair haha!
Next, the girls went to the hospital to take care of babies!
They were taught the proper way to carry a baby, to change their diapers, and make sure they properly support the baby's head.
Next, they wanted to try to be a messenger at "LBC"
Orientation at LBC.
Rain and Ate Z were tasked to pick up packages from different stores and bring it back to LBC to be delivered. While the other kids were tasked to deliver. They are given a clipboard with a check list of stores they need to go to.
Next, they worked as mimes at Star Magic Acting Academy.
They were given gloves and for how many minutes were taught a few tips and tricks in becoming a convincing mime.
After a few minutes they came out and went in the middle of Kidzania Plaza, right in front of the Theater to their street mime presentation. The story was about a tree and what we can do to protect nature.
A round of applause for the great mimes!
Rain and Ate Z has been eyeing Penshoppe where kids get to do be a model!
So we kept the fashion show schedule in mind. We went back by around 12:15 for the last show.
Before going in, we bumped into their other cousin, M. We didn't think he would be interested in doing a fashion show, but seeing that his BFF cousin Rain was going to do it. he went with them too! So fun!!!
Here's M trying on cool clothes!
Rain's already in her Penshoppe apparel, and now choosing the right accessories.
The Penshoppe staff went out to inform us that the kids were going inside the Kidzania theater to practice for their fashion show and that we should wait outside the theater. After a few minutes, they asked us to go inside. That was a pleasant surprise! We get to watch the show!!!
But my adorable Rain got stage fright during her solo strut. Pretty unusual since she usually loves walking around stages and just being there whenever we go to parties and stuff. Her Kuya M and Ate Zoe though ROCKED IT!!! It was so fun watching all of them strut the runway! I mean stage :-)
Rain's older boy cousins on the other hand were doing some pretty cool stuff! They worked for "Inquirer" as an investigator and a writer.
Here's Rain's cousin Kuya X finishing his story for the paper. This is one of the establishments that require older kids to join because they need to know how to type.
Kuya G and Kuya X done with their work at Inquirer! They print out the newspapers with their name in every article. So cool!
They also went to work as salesmen at ABS CBN Mobile, showing phone demos to other people.
Then to see the whole Kidzania land, Ate Z and Rain boarded the tour bus as tourists for 2 KidZos per person. Kids can also work for the Central Station of Kidzania to work as tour guides.
Happy tourists Rain and Ate Z! Little kids need to be accompanied by an adult so Rain's Yaya went with them as well.
There's a Honda Dealership (which I immediately took a photo of and tagged my sister Chai (author of car blog Pink Turbo). Her response: Can adults play too? There's even a tiny Shell Gas Station that I forgot to take a photo of!
There's the firestation
With a mini electric Fire Truck
A construction company
McDonalds
Holiday Inn where kids learn how to work in a hotel with I think with guest relations and house keeping.
Milo Stadium
Which has an actual basketball court inside
And opening soon: Art Design Academy!
On the 2nd floor, there's a Coca Cola Bottling Plant
Where kids learn how to bottle coke
A Yellow Cab where kids get to make their own pizza
And this is pretty cool. A TV studio!
With cameras and everything!
There's an abandoned hotel. This has a purpose I'll show you later
And for Sky Cable, kids climb an apartment wall to install cables. Awesome right?
There's a radio station
Where kids can work as a DZMM radio hosts. They have scripts that they read from the monitor in front of them.
A supreme court!
inside the supreme court
During the last hour, Rain and her cousin Kuya M were learning what it's like to be vets at Pet Express. They were learning how to check the ears of the pets, and the fur, grooming, etc.
... while G and X were very busy being a Crime Scene Investigator. This is when it got even more interesting!
All of a sudden, there was a fire at the abandoned hotel!
The police came with traffic cones to warn people not to come close because it's unsafe. I believe they were chanting "Please step back! It's not safe!" while hand in hand.
And then then pretty soon the firemen came and extinguished the fire while the ambulance came and were in standby in case anyone got hurt! Action-packed!
At the end of the day, Rain earned around 120 KidZos. This was pretty high because she didn't really buy anything and didn't go to jobs that require paying a fee like Yellow Cab, Coca Cola, etc.
I bet parents cant help but tear up a little seeing their little ones in adult uniforms :') And by "parents" I mean me. It was truly an amazing feeling seeing Rain really trying her best get the job done. You can really see all the kids all have that focused look on their faces. For them this was the real thing. And that's pretty amazing!
I also like the fact that kids not easily run out of things to accomplish in Kidzania. First of all, as I mentioned, different establishments require different ages for them to to the job. So Rain may not be able to work as a radio station DJ now, but in a year or so, she could! There will be something to look forward to each year.
Another smart thing is that your kids KidZos and their passports can be used in all Kidzania branches worldwide.
And most importantly, Kidzania is amazing simply because in a fun way, it helps kids decide on what they want to be when they grow up. It teaches kids the value of money, how to be independent, and it teaches kids to appreciate and respect the hard work of people in different fields.
Honestly, one visit to Kidzania is not enough. We're all so excited to go back! And I'm so happy that they're here in the Philippines!
See prices and book your tickets here: https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/kidzania/Online/
REMINDERS:
· Role-play activities are for kids 4-14.
· Kids below 4 are considered toddlers.
Toddlers may only play at toddler designated areas namely, the RightZKeepers’ House and the Kindergarten,
where one (1) guardian may accompany the toddler inside.
· Babies below 12 months are free of charge.
Kidzania
Park Triangle, 3245 North 11th Ave.
Bonifacio Global City
1634 Taguig
Email: info@kidzania.com.ph
Official Website: http://manila.kidzania.com/en-ph/
Facebook: @KidZaniaManila
Instagram: kidzaniamanila
Twitter: @kidzaniamanila