Sneak Peek: Inside the 8,000-Square-Meter Play City of KidZania Manila

It all started 15 years ago in Mexico City, and now KidZania Manila is already the 20th metropolis in the global KidZania network.

KidZania Manila is proof that the Philippines is truly going world-class. It is a unique role-playing entertainment center and a safe, secure space where children are free to play, explore, and imagine their future careers. Here, kids can be themselves and try out different professions, helping them understand what they might want to become someday.

Inside KidZania, children can experience being a pilot, doctor, firefighter, driver, and so much more. Honestly, it is an amazing, immersive world of its own, and we are fortunate to have it here in the Philippines. I’m especially excited to have been part of its launch.

Welcome to KidZania International Airport. Next destination: KidZania Manila.

The park is open to kids aged 4 to 14. Toddlers may enter and explore with their parents but are not allowed to participate in the activities.

These are the ticket prices, yes, they may feel quite high for some but believe me, it is absolutely worth it. The kids will enjoy every moment, and even parents will find it just as memorable.

Let me remind you that while the children are busy exploring inside KidZania Manila, parents can freely walk around, take photos, and enjoy some selfies as well. This setup encourages children to independently choose and experience their own activities.

Parents are not allowed to accompany their children inside most establishments, except for specific areas like the TV Studio and Movie Theater, where parents can join as part of the audience.

It is actually quite intriguing to observe what truly interests our kids when they are given the freedom to decide for themselves.

In this environment, we simply observe first, then follow their lead. When children enjoy what they are doing, passion naturally follows and they begin to give their very best.

I have been to one of the events of KidZania Manila last year, and the only question I had in mind was: when exactly will this amazing city finally open?

As they designed, shaped, and built this unique KidZania Manila facility and visitor experience, they made sure to carefully check every corner and every space. They studied how kids and families move, interact, and are guided, because KidZania around the world is built as a fully immersive, all-access experience.

They wanted to ensure that their content was relevant and meaningful.
They wanted to build a true community of believers.
They wanted to give children a sense of cultural memory and identity through play.

The values of service and empathy are especially important today, as we live in a fast-paced world shaped by the digital revolution.

Ultimately, it helps spread a positive message about why the Philippines is such a fun and vibrant place, thanks to KidZania Manila.

Upon entering, you will be greeted by the Cebu Pacific staff with a warm smile. They also have a convenient counter for kids, along with a free and strong Wi-Fi connection for guests to enjoy.

The safety of children is their utmost priority, which is why every visitor at KidZania Manila is required to wear an RFID (radio frequency identification) security bracelet.

Each child will be matched with a corresponding adult, who will also be required to wear an RFID security bracelet.

No child is allowed to leave the facility unless accompanied by, or officially picked up by, their registered adult guardian at KidZania Manila.

When you enter, you’ll find real businesses operating inside KidZania Manila, actual companies that kids can recognize and relate to.

What makes it even more engaging is that when children take part in activities, they’re not just playing pretend. They interact with realistic setups inspired by real-world industries, making the experience feel authentic and meaningful while still being fun and educational.

There are elevators available at the entrance that can accommodate and assist children with special needs and disabilities, making it easier for them to move from floor to floor inside KidZania Manila.

The baggage belt / flight connections area is mainly for taking selfies, I guess but more practically, it also serves as a convenient space where you can leave excess baggage while inside KidZania Manila.

For food, they also offer a variety of fresh meals at the café within the city, so guests can dine comfortably during their visit.

However, there are specific guidelines on food and drinks that may be brought inside:

• Distilled drinking water for infant formula
• Food required for medical purposes and medically indicated nutritional supplements
• Food needed for special dietary needs
• Canned, jarred, or processed foods, including breast milk and infant formula
• Liquids such as water, juices, or liquid nutrition/gels for passengers with disabilities or medical conditions, provided there is no suspicious activity

These rules help ensure both safety and convenience for all visitors.

When kids engage in role-playing, they want the experience to feel real.

Inside KidZania Manila, there are over 52 establishments, with activities typically lasting around 15 to 20 minutes each. This setup allows children to experience multiple roles in one visit, making it possible for a child to try around 5 to 6 different professions in a single day.

Each child will be given a check of 50 KidZos upon entering KidZania Manila, along with other essentials such as the KidZania map, a McDonald’s food stub, and a boarding pass.

These items help guide the children through their experience as they explore the different activities and role-playing establishments inside the city.

Kids who receive a check of 50 KidZos can open a savings account at the BPI bank inside KidZania Manila and even get an ATM card. They can withdraw and spend their KidZos at the KidZania tiangge or the KidZania Department Store.

They can also use their earnings to pursue educational experiences at the CEU University within the city. As they earn different degrees, whether bachelor’s or master’s, their “sahod” (salary) increases when they take on various roles in different establishments, making the experience more realistic and rewarding.

When they run out of KidZos, they are not allowed to simply buy more. Instead, they need to work to earn additional KidZos inside KidZania Manila.

This system helps teach children the basic fundamentals of economics, such as earning, saving, and spending, in a fun and practical way through real-life role-playing experiences.

I always handle banking transactions myself whenever we go to a bank, of course, but here, the experience is designed to teach kids the importance of independence and responsibility inside KidZania Manila.

In the BPI bank inside KidZania Manila, they have a kid-friendly counter where children can exchange their checks for 50 KidZos, which is the official currency used in the city.

The reception desk is perfectly designed for a child’s height inside KidZania Manila.

My only wish is that all banks in Manila could be like this, no long lines, no long queues. Long lines are bad for business. Hah!

 

See how fast and easy the transaction was! She was able to get her own BPI ATM card in just a few minutes inside KidZania Manila.

 

How cute are these BPI ATM machines, perfectly sized for little darlings, right?

Too bad we weren’t able to check the balance at the end of our tour inside KidZania Manila.

You can buy cool KidZania merchandise and different kinds of career uniforms suited for kids as souvenirs near the entrance of KidZania Manila.

Stair lifts are also available for establishments or levels that are accessed through stairs inside KidZania Manila, ensuring better accessibility and convenience for all visitors.

The building is equipped with CCTV cameras all over. Information in establishments within the city is available in audio-visual medium.

They also have a KidZania Clinic inside KidZania Manila, just in case something happens. One can never be too sure.

Meet the KidZania RightZKeepers, Bache, Vita, and Urbano!

Inside KidZania Manila, they represent the “RightZ” that are treasured and protected in the Land of Kool Kids.

This is the founder, global president, and CEO of KidZania Manila, Mexico’s gift to the world—Sir Xavier López Ancona, sharing insights about the vision behind KidZania Manila.

KidZania Manila finally opens on August 7, 2015!

You can purchase your tickets online starting August 3. Save the date, dearies!

So, let the tour of the KidZania establishments begin!

Inside KidZania Manila, there is a KidZania Radio Station by DZMM where children who love music and broadcasting can try transmitting live. They can also deliver news reports, perform in radio dramas, and even be part of an actual live radio broadcast experience within the city.

Unfortunately, the station was closed on the day of our visit.

What a fun way to stay healthy while doing your groceries at Healthy Options!

Children can learn about making smart food choices while staying within a budget. They can also experience how to manage a supermarket and attend to customers, giving them a realistic introduction to basic work responsibilities inside KidZania Manila.

If only parents were allowed to enter the establishments too, right?

Welcome to our favorite hangout place whenever we’re in the mall, National Book Store!

Children can freely browse different book titles and art supplies inside KidZania Manila.

They can also join the storytelling team and help bring a featured story to life at the Central Plaza. Cool!

Because we are part of a tour that day, we weren't able to participate in creative design in the OISHI department.

Here, your children can brainstorm product ideas with other kids and design an original treat inside the Oishi Shop.

Be a pharmacist for a day and enjoy working at Mercury Drug!

Your children can help manage and stock medicine inventory, ready medicine orders, and prepare special medicinal compounds.

Inside KidZania Manila, children are required to pay a certain amount of KidZos for their training.

Each activity usually lasts around 15 to 20 minutes, after which they need to work in order to earn additional KidZos as their “salary,” reinforcing lessons on effort, responsibility, and earning through work.

You can always find your way home with this cute direction post inside KidZania Manila. Having a poor sense of direction and being as absent-minded as I am, this is truly essential (no Waze here in KidZania!).

Appearances can be deceiving, but when it comes to interior décor, that can actually be a good thing.

Ceiling murals like this one that mimic the sky and clouds are absolutely amazing, they create such a fun, immersive atmosphere. I honestly feel like I need something like this in my own house!

Those holes… are those speakers? I’m not entirely sure. What I do know is that there are several kid-friendly restrooms located throughout KidZania Manila for everyone’s convenience.

See? Kid-friendly, I told you! She is Noa, the daughter of a blogger mom friend and she's only 4 years old.

Here at the SKY Cable station inside KidZania Manila, children can experience being a cable service installer or part of a service team for a day.

They even get to simulate climbing and working on elevated areas while servicing different establishments with cable connections, making the experience feel realistic and exciting.

We’ll definitely try this next week, I promise!

Here at the KidZania Tax Office inside KidZania Manila, children can experience what it’s like to be both a taxpayer and a tax officer.

This activity teaches them the importance of paying taxes on time. Under adult supervision, children can also help compute and collect taxes from different businesses within the city, giving them a basic understanding of civic responsibility in a fun and interactive way.

Check out this cool Mini Holiday Inn and Suites inside KidZania Manila!

Let your kids be part of the hotel staff and they will teach them how to assist guests.

Children will be able to learn how to ensure guests have a comfortable stay while working in housekeeping, food and dining, or reception inside KidZania Manila.

Finally, someone will teach them how to make a bed properly and become part of our children's morning routine.

I was not able to visit this SHINE AT NIGHT GLOW IN THE DARK establishment. Not really sure about this.

My kids are total animal lovers. I once asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up, and my daughter said she wanted to become a vet because she loves dogs so much.

If your child is also an animal lover, then at Pet Express inside KidZania Manila, they can experience being a veterinarian in training. They will learn how to perform a check-up on a dummy dog, giving them a fun and educational introduction to animal care.

Enjoy becoming a florist for a day here at Joy Basket!

Inside KidZania Manila, your children can experience working as florists by assisting customers with ordering gifts and beautiful flower arrangements.

They will also learn how to create bouquets and assemble gift baskets, giving them a fun, hands-on introduction to creativity, customer service, and basic entrepreneurship.

When you visit the KidZania Tiangge inside KidZania Manila, your kids can experience being an accessory maker at a traditional jewelry shop.

They get to explore creativity by designing and assembling simple accessories, while also learning basic skills related to craftsmanship and small-scale retail.

They can weave, tie, bead, or loom your very own handcrafted creations for just a few KidZos.

They can also do art crafts using colored papers and do painting as well.

Kid-friendly tattoos are also available and they can spend their hard-earned Kidzos here.

Here at the ABS-CBN Theater inside KidZania Manila, your kids can enjoy any of KidZania’s free theater shows or even take part in meet-and-greet sessions with KidZania’s RightZKeepers.

This image here reminds me of the movie Back to the Future. Remember the famous clock tower where lightning struck in Hill Valley, providing enough power to send Marty McFly and the DeLorean back to 1985? There is a similarity, right?

The Little Mermaid was the theater show that day. No one wanted to participate. If only parents could join!

Here at the KidZania Fire Department by Pioneer Your Insurance inside KidZania Manila, children can experience what it’s like to be firefighters for a day!

If you let your kids join KidZania’s Fire Brigade, they learn about fire safety and will be trained to put out fires in the city.

Complete with cool fireman uniforms with boots and hat. These junior firefighters are ready to fight leaping flames in super awesome yellow uniforms.

The "burning" Flamingo Hotel in Kidzania Manila where the junior firefighters were supposedly try to put out the "fire".

This is probably one of the coolest activities inside KidZania Manila.

After completing their training, the children get to join a real firetruck ride and help extinguish a burning building using actual water, while proud parents cheer them on.

This is really the coolest firetruck, ever!

Here at the mini St. Luke’s Hospital inside KidZania Manila, your child can experience being a nurse or a doctor for a day.

They can work as a team to perform a simulated transplant operation on a dummy patient inside KidZania Manila. The activity is complete with a defibrillator, commonly used in real-life situations to treat life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation.

St. Luke’s was a big part of my life. Why? I was part of the pathology department there, and it was also where I met my ex-boyfriend, who later became my husband of 10 years.

I was really glad when my daughter asked if she could train there to become a doctor for a day. I honestly wasn’t expecting that at all.

At the Hospital Baby Care Center by Johnson’s Baby inside KidZania Manila, my two daughters each paid 10 KidZos to join the training course for nurses.

Scary-looking real-life-looking babies, don’t you think?

The children are now practicing the basics of baby care. Complete with uniforms, of course!

At the Paramedic Station by Green Cross, the children will become part of a brave paramedic team. They will respond to emergency calls within the city and provide basic first aid.

It’s a pity I did not let my kids try the C.S.I. Station, where they would have had their fingerprints taken.

Those “crime scene, do not cross” yellow tapes are pretty cool, aren’t they? And the makeup kits too. Just kidding.

At the Car Design and Dealership by Honda Cars, children who are fascinated with vehicles can take on roles such as a customer, car designer, or salesperson.

There is a showroom where vehicles are displayed for kids to explore and interact with. They can also create and customize their own car designs.

At A1 Driving School, children can experience being a student driver for a day. They will be taught basic traffic regulations and how to operate a vehicle.

They will also let you take a test drive, and once you pass the assessment, you can earn your driver’s license. You will be given an A1 Driving School student permit card like this.

If the kids do not pass the driving test given by the driving school, they can apply at the Shell Gas Station as a pit crew member or a car mechanic. They will be allowed to operate the gas pump, change oil, check tire pressure, and help take care of a customer’s car.

Your child can also try applying at McDonald’s as a crew member.

They will teach your kids how to make their own McDonald’s burgers using miniature McDonald’s equipment.

Kidzania merchandise is also available at the National Store of Kidzania, located just in front of McDonald’s.

Hang out with mom and dad at the Making Friends Café and connect with other cool parents as well. If you are too tired to explore this exciting city, cafés like this are available where you can rest and recharge.

And if you are too tired to roam around the streets of KidZania, you can simply pay the required amount in KidZos and enjoy the whole city by joining the KidZania City Tour Bus.

You can ride and relax with the whole family as you take in the sights of KidZania Manila. The bus stops at popular activity spots along the main roadway of KidZania Manila.

ABS-CBN Star Magic brings out the performer and actor in your kids. They can take part in a stage play at the theater or perform in the city parade.

They will also teach them how to play the guitar or the piano in minutes!

At the Star Music Studio, your kids will learn how to sing and play instruments through their own jam sessions and discover what it takes to become a recording star or recording artist.

We love singing at home using our own KTV equipment, and I am pretty sure my children would love to be part of this activity when we visit KidZania next time.

This is also one of the coolest jobs in KidZania: becoming an ABS-CBN Studio on-cam talent or an off-cam team member at the ABS-CBN Mini Studio.

The three of them working as a team to produce a live broadcast news program or a variety show, like their favorite noontime show, “It’s Showtime.”

Normally, a workplace must have at least two exit routes to allow for the prompt evacuation of employees and other building occupants during an emergency. In KidZania, however, there are more than two emergency exits located throughout the city, which is reassuring and well planned.

Some establishments like this ART AND DESIGN ACADEMY are still closed. Maybe they will open on August 7.

They also have a beauty salon called Kurlz, which is perfect for my little artistic daughter. It is a pity we were not able to try this as well.

More awesome shops and establishments are located on the second floor of KidZania Manila. Yes, it has a second floor.

Remember to bring bottled water for you and your kids so you will not need to look for a store while exploring the city.

Welcome to WORKERS STREET of Kidzania!

Here are some photos of the establishments on the second floor.

We were not able to visit each one because my feet were already hurting from all the walking. Still, walking is a great way to stay active and burn calories. If you plan to explore KidZania, make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Do not wear heels.

This is the view from second floor in one angle. You could see the awesome GREENCROSS Ambulance below.

Be an arborist at the Urban Garden, where you can learn about arboriculture, the practice of cultivating, managing, and studying individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. Arborists focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees rather than managing forests or harvesting wood.

This is the view from the second floor from another angle.

Let your kids become pastry chefs for a day at the Goldilocks station, where they can decorate pastries with icing, toppings, and sprinkles.

You can also take home with you your cake creations :)

Your children can participate and be part of the CITY CLOCK TOWER Performer
They will Rehearse and present a marching band show at the balcony of the City Clock Tower for visitors

Parents can avail these yummy treats from MAGNOLIA store.

While the kids participate at the Magnolia Ice Cream Factory as Ice Cream Production Engineers, they can try making their own ice cream in a cone or cup.

Have you seen the Milo Stadium below?

Here, kids can become athletes, cheerleaders, and dancers. They can take part in exciting team sports matches, learn chants to cheer for their favorite teams, and get active while dancing and moving to fun beats.

At the Farm House Store, kids can become a Green Grocer or an Urban Farmer for a day.

Kids will learn the importance of fruits and vegetables by planting, harvesting, and delivering produce.

For parents with toddlers, there is Toy Kingdom’s Kindergarten Free Play area, where you can stay if you are already exhausted from the tour.

Here, toddlers can discover their skills and abilities through play, making it a great way to spend quality time with them.

The COCACOLA BOTTLING PLANT will open it's doors to public this August 7.

Your kids can be a Product Lab Pharma Scientist here at PASCUAL LAB
They can learn how to conduct an experiment and manufacture supplements and medicines.

Let your kids become Cookie Engineers at the Jack ’n Jill Cream-O Cookie Factory. They can learn how to work in a factory setting and help prepare quality chocolate cookies.

Cebu Pacific Aviation Academy offers training for junior pilots, flight attendants, and cabin crew. Your kids will receive hands-on training on the tasks that pilots and cabin crew members perform before, during, and after each flight.

They told us that this is a real Airplane. Junior Pilots fly the plane on state of the art flight simulators, complete with a pilot uniform and hat.

They also have Games Room in Kidzania which the kids can play cool tabletop games or sing karaoke with friends.

At the R&D Center of PUREFOODS, your kids can be trained and work as Food Technologists.
They will learn how to preserve the goodness of processed meats through different techniques.

Did you know that the people who helped construct and build this entire city, the employees and construction workers along with their children, got to experience this marvelous city just last week?

It was truly heartwarming to know that they were given the chance to try it first.

We all know that here in the Philippines, we greatly value spending quality time with our children and the importance of education.

KidZania Manila believes in the power of play. It helps cultivate children’s intelligence, creativity, and confidence. I believe that this kind of environment empowers young minds and encourages children to believe that they can help create a better world.

Let your kids discover KidZania Manila, the city where kids do big things.

KidZania Manila is open seven days a week, with one shift from Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. On weekends and national holidays, there are two shifts: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM for the first shift and 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM for the second shift.

Do not forget, KidZania Manila opened its doors to the public on August 7, 2015. Tickets were available online starting August 3.