HISTORY
The theme park was founded by Mario and Cynthia Mamon. Their family frequently visited local theme parks such as Boom na Boom, Big Bang sa Alabang, and Fiesta Carnival, all of which inspired the couple to open a theme park of their own. While they were visiting Ocean Park in Hong Kong in the early 1990s, they attended an amusement conference being held in the country where they were then introduced to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). Realizing the group can help them enter the amusement park industry, they joined the association in 1992 following the their first trade show attendance in Dallas, Texas.
Aside from being the founder and President of Enchanted Kingdom, Mario Mamon is the first Asian and first Filipino to head the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions or IAAPA.
EK’s RIDES
AGILA: The EKsperience
AGILA: The EKsperience The attraction was custom designed for Enchanted Kingdom by Canadian firm SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment. A new patented system called SkyRide was used in the designing of the ride. A large projection screen is part of the ride which is touted to be the largest in Southeast Asia and among the largest screens in the world. Los Angeles-based firm Rhetroactive was also involved with the attraction’s design. Agila: The EKsperience is housed inside a 10-storey high circular building which is meant to symbolize the sun in the Philippine flag. The attraction covers a footprint of 6,000 square meters (65,000 sq ft) which makes Agila the largest attraction of Enchanted Kingdom. The attraction building was designed by local firm DQA Design & Planning. A six-minute film with 6K resolution is projected in the curved screen featuring 20 locations in the Philippines. The film was taken through aerial videography by a cinematographer and Emmy Award winner who has taken shots featured in the Survivor television series and the film Titanic. The film which is projected in a 544 square meters (5,860 sq ft) screen was shot in 10 days. “4D” motion theater technology is used for the attraction. The attraction is targeted to both domestic and foreign tourists. The attraction devises wind, water, mist and scent effects to stimulate multiple senses of its patrons, and also uses a combination of overhead stereo speakers and seat bass shakers.
The premise of the attraction involves Eldar the Wizard, the Enchanted Kingdom mascot introducing the attraction’s visitor to his companion Agila who takes the visitors to a “quest to restore the light to the fading gems stones of Earth, Water and Air” and transports the visitors to various points in the Philippines. The attraction has a seating capacity of 105 people, accommodating that many people at any one time. The motion-based seating of the attraction has three tiers.
Jungle Log Jam
This is an exciting water ride that takes guests two times up a lift and down a slope before splashing into the water. The Jungle Log Jam gives the thrill of racing along a twisting river with up and down chutes, while seated in a dug-out log. There are seventeen (17) logs that can seat up to four (4) guests each.
Rio Grande Rapids
Rushing over rough waters onboard a rubber raft is no tame experience. The Rio Grande Rapids is an exhilarating family (or group) ride that has guests constantly catching their breath while traversing raging white water. Each of the eleven (11) circular rafts can seat 8 riders for this awesome and refreshing water adventure.
Anchor’s Away
Experience casting off on a pirate ship and sail over imaginary waves in pendulum motion. This ship can accommodate up to fifty (50) riders and from full stop, swings back and forth until it reaches a maximum angle of 70 degrees.
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle is a steel roller coaster situated at Enchanted Kingdom in Santa Rosa, Laguna in the Philippines. Space Shuttle Max is a Vekoma Boomerang coaster. It has a single train with seven cars, with 2 rows per car and 2 seats per row.
Rona's Blog 