An Enchanted Day

Last Sunday, I brought the kids to Enchanted Kingdom which is the Philippines own mini-version of Disneyland (minus Mickey & the gang).

My best friend couldn’t believe that I didn’t bring the nanny along. But I was in the Extra Challenge mode. Nannies are sometimes a burden because you have pay extra for the entrance (and at Enchanted, this was not cheap). Besides, nannies do act more brattish than the wards they are supposed to look after.

And so I was wondering if I could survive the day with three hyperactive tots. I had three basic rules for them: Be close together, follow your Mother and whoever gets lost…

“…is a loser!,” Paolo chimed in.

I do think that September is the best time to go to EK because there are no long lines. But the weather was still hot, sweltering hot!

The kids had such a fun time riding the Bumbling Boulders, Air Pterodactyl, Stone Eggs, Dinosoarus, Up Up & Away, among others.They also romped in the Rock Quarry. The Swan Lake would have been beautiful except that two kids couldn’t ride together in one boat.

Paolo and I teamed up for the Roller Skater. Afterwards, we were daring enough to try the Anchors Away which turned out to be a mistake. The ride revived my fear of heights, precipitated my Vomit Quotient and made me feel terribly like I was in the sinking Titanic. Paolo was shouting “Stop! Stop! I don’t want anymore…” Not content, we tried The Jungle Log Jam and as we prepared for the 50-foot drop, the common expression was “Oh no, not again….!” while I closed my eyes and shrieked. The ultimate challenge was supposed to be Space Shuttle but I’ve tried it before and I’ll never try it again. After going through all the thrilling rides , I felt like a sadist for subjecting my son to the mini-torture; he might as well apply as a parachutist for the Philippine Air Force. My verdict is that some of the EK rides are not so child-friendly and definitely not for the fainthearted.

We had some more picture-taking with the Enchanted mascots and fairy-tale characters. Afterwards, it was time to go home. Paolo was candid enough to say he preferred Fontana and the Pirates’ Ship. Being mallrats that they are, the kids couldn’t have cared less if I brought them to play in the Megamall arcade instead of motoring all the way to Sta. Rosa, Laguna. But I am sure the experience was still worth it for them if only to say to their playmates “I’ve been to Enchanted!”