City of Dreams, fairy tales and kung fu
Approaching the road to the Golden City must be a real thrill to a child. The shiny castle at the end of the lane, the giant egg-shaped dome, flashing lights in the night sky — all of it, the stuff of fairy tales. It’s not called the City of Dreams for nothing.
It’s a fun place where grownups can do grownup things, that’s a given. Play a few hands of cards at its world-class casino, party the night away at Pangaea and Chaos, or indulge in a staycation at Nobu, Hyatt or Crown Towers — the possibilities are endless, as they say. But a child’s imagination has much more stretch to it. The golden walls mirroring cyan waters by the pool may as well be a portal to another land, their very own Narnia. Behind the walls, a playground where treats and thrills await.
During a recent visit to City of Dreams Manila, I assumed the mindset of a child, something I didn’t quite need much help with. A five-year-old and I would have the same needs: sweets, comfort and entertainment. That is all. At the lobby of Crown Towers, one of the three hotels inside the 6.2-hectare integrated resort, I was presented with a red cart full of toys. They call it the “Red Wagon Rollout.” Plushies, cars, trains, coloring books — if I were a kid checking in at the hotel, I could have any of them for the duration of my stay. A nice gesture, like being greeted with chocolates tied with lavender and twine, even better having a personalized welcome on a gigantic flat screen.
Crown Towers suites and villas (rooms with direct access to the pool area) come with a personal butler. Families from other countries will find it easy to communicate their needs because guest services officers speak fluent Chinese, Japanese and Korean. The butler, well, any parent would appreciate that. Does your child want salted caramel donuts in the middle of the night? No problem. In-room services are accessible via an interactive LED TV menu, which comes with children’s movies on-demand. You may also request for children’s slippers and bathrobe sets, or even borrow an Xbox One or Xbox Kinect for the length of your stay.
The same goes for modern-Japanese designed Nobu hotel, which is also inside City of Dreams. Children’s amenities include a stuffed tarsier, activity book, and Origami paper.
Even Hyatt City of Dreams Manila, a top choice for those traveling on business, is child-friendly. There is a changing station at the lobby lavatory, a car seat installation provision for limousine services, and babysitting services. Other items available upon request include a baby cot, sterilizer, baby booster seat, play-yard playpen, three-wheel stroller, baby cutleries, baby cups, a Peppa Pig plate and bowl (for Peppa Pig-obsessed kids, of course), and a bottle warmer. All-day dining is available at The Café, where the buffet includes choices for children.
City of Dreams Manila’s pool area has been the subject of many photos for good reason. While kids may gloss over the uniqueness of its aesthetic, parents can rest assured that they are completely safe to wade in. The three hotels’ pools are only four feet deep, with children’s pools at Hyatt and Crown at two feet. Lifeguards are on standby during operational hours. Wave, the poolside restaurant, serves child-friendly dishes. Buggies are also available to take guests in large groups around the properly quickly and safely.
After a tour of the hotels, I was taken to a real dreamland: DreamPlay by DreamWorks, the first DreamWorks interactive educational play space in the world. That’s right, the world. DreamWorks built it first in Manila, and it’s inside City of Dreams. DreamPlay recently announced its soft-opening and it has been busy since. It is open to children of all ages (although unaccompanied adults are not allowed to enter — you have to be with a child to enjoy the facility). Entrance fee for kids, which includes access to all
the attractions, is P680 for four hours during weekdays, and P880 for the same duration on weekends. Chaperones pay half the child rate, and can only access selected attractions. Kids-at-heart may opt to pay the child rate to enjoy all of DreamPlay’s fun features.
The Bridge of Calamity, a kung fu boot camp inspired by Po’s adventures in Kung Fu
Panda, gives guests a warm welcome of obstacles that are both physically and mentally challenging. There’s a strategy to overcoming them and you go along. Phases include the Thread of Enlightenment, The Furious 6, Wall of Destiny, Leap of Faith and Stairway to Heaven. As I walked past Leap of Faith a child was effortlessly and fearlessly hopping about it — mind you, the peak is almost 15 feet high. Meanwhile at Stairway to Heaven, a grown man was struggling with his balance as kids looked on.
Other attractions include the Dream Studio, where kids can create their own 30-second animated film; Whatever Floats Your Boat, a game for younger kids; crowd favorite free- play area Afro Circus, where kids stay for hours and hours; Cooking Class with Gingy; and How to Fly Your Dragon — all inspired by wellloved DreamWorks franchises like Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and How to Train Your Dragon.
I got to try out Dream Theater, a 4D theater that played short films for kids where I was sprayed, dried, and entangled in tentacles, and the DreamTale Library, which all the adults agreed is a dream library come to life. While dining at Chez Gingy, which serves noodles, dim sum, pizza, ice cream and other family favorites, Shrek walked by. Being the gracious ogre that he is, he stopped to take photos with the kids before retreating to his swamp. Our guide told me that sometimes, Po comes out too, when he’s not too busy with his kung fu training.
Three party rooms for 40, 30 and 20 kids are also available for private functions. Near the exit is a DreamWorks store stocked with adorable memorabilia. DreamPlay is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
City of Dreams Manila is an integrated casino resort, but its developer Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation made it a point not to leave kids out. It’s family destination: gaming, entertainment, shopping, dining is all in the cards and it’s all in good fun. With its extensive range of amenities and features, it delivers the total package for families looking for more than just the usual vacation. It’s more than just a city of dreams — it’s a place for making memories with the whole family.
For hotel accommodations, restaurant reservations and DreamPlay admission, call City of Dreams Manila at 800-8080 or email guestservices@cod-manila.com.