Because long lines, and hefty ticket prices are killjoys.

Summer is here! That means no classes & vacation leaves! You can drive, dine, drink and enjoy life to your heart’s delight. And why? To make sure you are still sane… that’s why. We may have overly sunny days ahead, but you can still do a lot of cool things, in order to make it an unforgettable one.

To many people, a summer wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the park. And since we’re on the topic, why not make it a visit to a “world-class amusement park that remains incomparable and arguably superior compared to similar establishments in the metro,” right?

You’ve probably heard of Enchanted Kingdom or “EK.” That’s because many people, young or old, love to go there to have a good time! The park has many attractions and different rides you can try with your family and friends. Living true to its name, Enchanted Kingdom gives a magical vibe you can’t just easily rub off.

If you’re planning to visit Enchanted Kingdom, make sure you take note of these simple, but useful, tips, to make sure you live your best day ever at this huge theme park.

1. Avail their special promo/s to get huge discounts

Let’s face it, the admission ticket to a theme park such as this isn’t really cheap. In fact, I strongly advise that you save up for this beforehand. The rates vary on weekends, weekdays, holidays and peak season. So if you’re paying for your little sibling or little cousin’s entrance, aside from your own, you need to get all the discounts you can get!

As you plan for a trip to EK, make sure to CHECK THEIR WEBSITE for current promotions! Discounts don’t grow on trees, you know. For example, there were six of us who wanted in on this adventure. So we availed their Mother’s Day promo which got us 5 tickets (4 + 1 for free), and another promo using the PAG-IBIG Loyalty Card (it’s 20% off!).

NORMAL PASS TOTAL: 4,800 (without food/drinks) – Weekday Pass at P800 x 6

PROMO PASS TOTAL: 4,580 (comes with the 5 free meals so we only bought 1 more) – Mother’s Day Promo at P3,900 & Weekday Pass with PAG-IBIG discount at P680

Take note. The free meals weren’t just snacks, but legit chicken with rice meals + drinks + dessert). Considering that the food sold inside have a premium price, the free meals come as a pretty nice gift (THANKS MOM!!)

Check out their promos here!

2. Check the park schedule plus its opening and closing hours

We went to EK on a Friday, and the park sched was from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm. I think before, my friends and I were able to enjoy the park from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm.. so you see what’s my point here. Want to stay longer? Then check the schedule! You must also consider that there are some companies who book the entire park for private functions, so to save time and effort going there, make sure that you don’t just go 100% walk-in.

3. Consider weekdays when visiting EK

You need to give this a serious thought. Many people go to EK during weekends because that’s the ultimate rest day for both kids and adults. BUT! Weekdays make for a more fun and “productive” EK day!

It’s summer time. That means there are thousands more who go to the park for recreation. If you are an adult, you may take a leave during the weekday so you can go enjoy the park MORE! Shorter lines – many rides – uncrowded park, that’s for sure.

ALSO READ: 10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do At Circulo Verde

4. Beat the traffic, especially if you’re from far away

We are coming from Pasig, and going to EK, that’s 39.2 km away. We originally planned to leave at 8:00 am, with the 11:00 am opening in mind, but since we learned that the park won’t open till 2:00 pm, then we left Pasig around 12:30 pm. We got there just in time!

5. Eat some light snacks as you queue up for the tickets

We lined up the ticket area at around 2:05 pm and we didn’t get ours until 3:20 pm (yes, I had a timer on). Imagine that! To think that the line wasn’t even that long. There were a lot of people who wanted to avail different promos (birthday, graduation, barangay etc), and that’s what’s causing the additional waiting time.

You should probably use that hour to eat some light snacks as fuel for your body. Don’t get too full, though. You don’t want to vomit at your first ride.

6. Be a scout and have some ready candies in your pockets

You’re not one to have motion sickness or dizziness in rides, I get it. But what about your friends or family members? Always be a scout and carry some candies in your pocket, so you have something to share with your mates after the Air Race ride. Eating a couple of bites when you feel so dizzy can definitely help.

7. Leave your belongings in the locker area as soon as you enter the park

The last time I was here was 2015. Back then, there were NO automatic lockers yet. We had to hand over our baggage to the staff then they’ll give us the key. I don’t know. Maybe a lot of park goers lost their keys so they had to invest in automatic lockers. It’s so worth it, by the way. Am I the only one who’s so amaze-balls by this? You tell me!

8. Bring extra clothes for when you sweat too much, or get wet from the water rides

Whether you’re riding the Jungle Log Jam, or the Rio Grande Rapids, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get out of either ride fully dry. You will get wet, that is a warning! The level will depend on your personal luck. Best to have some clothes you can change into, at the end of the day. Right?

9. Plan your route in the park to save time

The map comes in really, really handy! You’ll know which way to go, the rides nearest to you, and the food stops you’ll pass by as you’re on your way to the other side of the park. EK has a land area of 25 hectares. It’s that big. You can’t finish all the rides in one day (we tried!) But you can plan ahead and try to ride as many as you can.

When we visited, we were able to enjoy the following (from 3:40 pm to 9:00 pm)

AGILA The EKsperience
Flying Fiesta
4D Rialto Theatre
Jungle Log Jam
Space Shuttle
Air Race
Wheel of Fate
Bump N’ Splash
Rio Grande Rapids (x2)
Anchor’s Away (x2)
Grand Carousel

That’s a total of 11 rides and attractions. Pretty cool! In an ordinary busy park day, we would only be able to ride about 5 because of the long lines. So you see, back to the point that weekdays are worth it!

10. Bring a handy camera (phone/ action cam) to store precious memories

What’s a magical adventure without a camera to capture it? Use your phone or SLR so you can keep your memories with family/friends for a very long time. Much better if you have it printed out as a keepsake.