Behind the Mask: Experiencing a Local Theme Park Post-Pandemic

(SPOT.ph) Full disclosure: I am an adult who does not want to grow up. I still love buying children's books (especially local ones) and shopping for cute toys as soon as they come out. I also absolutely love amusement parks.

That being said, we’ve all had a lot of growing up to do during the pandemic, haven’t we? I survived a bout with the Delta variant and that’s part of the reason, though fully vaccinated, I have been cautious about going to crowded places, especially enclosed areas. I have traveled some, sure, to beaches and mountains locally—and to an Asian country that has a significant drop in COVID numbers.

I went to Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna recently—a few months sooner than I had planned. The park opened as early as October 2020, initially with no kids allowed. I have some balikbayan friends (you know how there are many of them finally coming over these days) whom I wanted to see and, I figured, I would be okay (in terms of both physical risk and mental health) as long as I stuck to the open-air parts of the park. 

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Enchanted Kingdom Protocols

Now at full capacity, the park has enough public health and safety protocols in place to allay any fears of over-cautious and over-concerned park goers, i.e. me. At least one person per group is required to accomplish and submit a health declaration form (available online and at the gate). Face masks were required to be worn at all times when I was there. There were also a lot of bottles of rubbing alcohol and fully-stocked hand-washing stations throughout the park.

Commuting to Enchanted Kingdom

I live in Manila, but my friends were staying elsewhere. So we planned to meet at the park gates. I don’t have a car, so I researched how I could commute safely to the location. In the process, I found out that Enchanted Kingdom now has a shuttle service that leaves the Taft-Buendia Bus Terminal in the morning and arrives about half an hour before the park opens at 11 a.m. A shuttle also leaves the park half an hour after it closes and returns to the Taft-Buendia area.

The ride there felt safe and it was very fast. You can book online either just the roundtrip bus tickets or bundled with your admission ticket. It’s also possible to ride a bus bound for Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and alight near the park, then take a tricycle to EK. Going back to Metro Manila might be a bit difficult though, you would have to get a ride to the Balibago bus complex, where more buses ply the route going back to Manila City. 

Getting through the Gates

You can purchase your ticket online or at the park gates, but be ready for long lines—but at least, they move fast. Remember that EK only allows you to bring a bottle or tumbler of water and absolutely no food inside—they check your bags thoroughly. If there’s anything you don’t want to give up, you’ll have to leave it at the Guest Relations Office, where you can pick it up upon leaving. 

You can also leave stuff in your car in the parking area. If you want to leave the park and then re-enter on the same day, make sure you get a stamp before you leave, so you can regain access. 

Let the Adventure Begin

We arrived before the gates opened, but some 3,000 employees were already there for a company trip. At the first sight of (and sounds from) the Grand Carousel, this amusement park-loving author was definitely amused. EK looks like it hasn’t changed, and the rides seem like they are very well-maintained despite the park being around since 1995. Depending on when was the last time you visited, you may spot some new attractions like the Twin Spin and Agila, the EKsperience.

No rickety sounds were heard, even while we were on the Wheel of Fate that grant us a view of nearby Laguna de Bay and Mount Makiling. We felt only the anxiety and then thrill you were meant to feel riding Anchors Away and Space Shuttle. While I didn’t have the stomach to try the EKstreme Drop Tower, some of our companions tried it more than once. 

What’s the Scoop?

The queue for each ride was not bad, considering we were there on a Saturday. I found out from a chatty park attendant (and EK’s employees are still so warm and accommodating, just as I remember) that they expected approximately 6,000 persons in the park that day. Even so, we rarely spent more than half an hour in line, except for when there were a lot of people who had the fast passes.

However, it seems the park needs to work on managing the volume of food orders better. There was a point, at around 1 p.m., when we wanted to order fries from a concessionaire, but they informed us that the wait would be at least an hour. It was the same situation at another booth that also sold fries in another part of the park. We also found that throughout most of the day, there were a lot of people eating at both the indoor and outdoor dining tables. So pack a whole lot of patience and try to schedule your meals during off-peak hours. Restrooms also tend to get packed, so be prepared to walk to the lesser-known toilet stops. 

The Last Word

So, how was it screaming with a mask on? It was actually liberating! Initially, I came to the park a little nervous about what the "new normal" would look like. While physical distancing was not strictly enforced, people mostly kept to their groups and were actually very courteous and gave way. For example, while waiting for our turn, someone from our group left the queue to go to the restroom, and people readily let him "cut" the line and come back to join us.

It helped that there are a lot of stations with sinks equipped with hands-free faucets and generously stocked with liquid soap, as well as rubbing alcohol to encourage frequent hand washing and overall hygiene. It was also very rare to see people who did not keep their masks on. If at all, only briefly to have a snack or take a drink.

And no, I didn’t dare take my chances at Rialto or any other indoor attractions. Though I did sneak a quick peek into one of the souvenir shops.

For a final pabaon, we saved the getting-wet-for-sure ride for last: Jungle Log Jam. We screamed and raised our arms in glee. 

Enchanted Kingdom is at San Lorenzo South, Santa Rosa, Laguna. It is open from Thursday to Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ticket rates start at P999. For more information, visit Enchanted Kingdom's website.