Create Your Own Dreamland at Fantasy World

Photo by Myk_Crypt on Foter.com / CC BY-ND

The Disneyland of the Philippines – that was the promise that Fantasy World had that got children of all ages to leap with joy. The theme park was built over 30 hectares of land in nearby Lemery, Batangas, a mere 2-hour drive from Metro Manila. That was in 2001, and, 20 years later, the promise was never born.

The troubled past of Fantasy World

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ECE Realty and Development, led by business owner Emilio Ching, envisioned a magical place. The company designed Fantasy World to have a giant castle with an access road and a majestic gate, a clubhouse, a 504-room hotel, a chapel, and thrilling rides. With a budget of PHP 1 billion, it was set to be the most ambitious theme park in the country.

Today, the Bavarian-themed castle sits atop a hill, visible from miles away. The main gate stands with the road lined with lush forests to create a grand entrance. Some rides also made its way into the park, but not much else. Due to a lack of funding and bad run-ins with the Security and Exchange Commission, all work on Fantasy World ceased to exist.

Not everything is lost, however. Sure, the abandoned theme park can give some people the creeps. The walls are filled with graffiti and peeling paint, definitely showing signs of age and neglect, but not too much. The creative residents around Lemery found a way to put this still majestic place to good use. Now maintained by the town’s homeowners association, Fantasy World found new life as an interesting destination for photoshoots, small ceremonies, and Instagram exposure.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Day tour rates at Fantasy World costs PHP 100 (USD 2) per person. This gives you access to the grounds for the whole day. Special rates apply to access some rooms of the castle, like the throne room (PHP 300 or USD 6).

Fantasy World is open from 8 am-5 pm, and even though nothing works, there is still quite a lot to do around the place.

Photoshoots

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The main reason people visit Fantasy World is to take lots of photos. Though some parts of the park are old and dilapidated, the town did a good job of maintaining the grounds. With no lines, no restrictions, and barely any people, Fantasy World is littered with Insta-worthy spots. The colorful rides and buildings make for a dramatic backdrop. The rides may not be operational, but guests are allowed to still go in sit in the seats. Everything looks good without you even trying.

However, if you bring professional cameras, there will be a charge of PHP 5,000 (USD 100). Stick to phone cameras and amateur point-and-shoots to keep things lowkey.

Play Dress-up

Take your photoshoot a step further with medieval costumes available for rent at the park. Rental is at PHP 300 (USD 6) for the whole day.

You can pose like royalty around the castle, in the throne room, or up at the main tower. Then again, why limit yourself? Play princess on the rides or around the gardens!

Have a picnic

Food from outside the park is not allowed, but there are a few food stalls inside. It’s nothing substantial – mostly snacks and some quick meals – but still enough to cool you down on a quick break.

Climb the Tree House

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Climb 100 steps and up to a treehouse. From here, you’ll get an unobstructed view of all the greenery that surrounds Fantasy World. The treehouse connects to a duplicate one via a hanging bridge.