“A dream is a wish your heart makes…”
If you’re familiar with this line from the theme song of Cinderella, you’re either a dyed-in-the-wool romantic or you’re having a hard time shaking off the child in you.
I must confess to being both!
I’m a sucker for books and movies on romance, and amazed that the child in me is just dormant, after all, easily brought back to life when I am exposed to anything attractive to children.
Here’s one that has caught my fancy recently.
DreamWorks Animation is an American film production outfit that has produced the Shrek series of movies, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How To Train Your Dragon, Puss In Boots, and The Croods, grossing more than $13 billion worldwide, as of April this year.
Built upon the lovable creatures of DreamWorks and harnessing their popularity, City of Dreams Manila put up DreamPlay by DreamWorks, a first-of-its-kind indoor, interactive play and creativity center.
The 5000-square meter space features a restaurant, three themed party rooms and more than 12 attractions inspired by DreamWorks beloved movie characters.
Thread of Enlightenment tests the child’s bravery and balance as he makes his way across a two-level ropes course, while Fast as Lightning gives the child the chance to be a Kung Fu Master alongside Po and The Furious Five. Wall of Destiny tests the child’s climbing skills as he reaches the top and finds his destiny.
How To Fly Your Dragon lets the child create his own unique dragon and, once completed, climb on top of it to fly it. Dinotrux teaches the child to build and pilot his own Reptool. Whatever Floats Your Boat is where the child helps the penguins by creating a sound seafaring vessel.
Afro Circus is a multi-level play area where the child can dive into a world of foam and fun as he joins Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria. Cooking With Gingy is like a kitchen lab which teaches the children how to bake their own gingerbread man, and Shrek’s Swamp Stomp gives the child a tour of Shrek’s swamp house, with an unpleasant surprise if the child doesn’t stay away from the outhouse.
Dream Tales Library is where storytelling comes to life as the DreamWorks characters take the stage in a puppet show.
DreamStudio puts children in the Director’s chair and allows them to make their very own animated films while DreamTheater gives the audience the ultimate excitement in movie viewing through a unique 4D experience.
Last month, DreamPlay celebrated its first anniversary with an enthralling month-long line-up of activities which included a new 4D movie, new activities in the various attractions, a flash mob, arts and crafts workshops, and culminated in King Julien’s Dance Off, a dance competition for children ages seven to 14. Over a hundred thousand worth of prizes were given out to the winners.
The whirlwind of activities set off by DreamPlay’s first anniversary celebration last month certainly attracted a lot of children to this mecca of family entertainment. City of Dreams Manila, the dynamic and innovative resort complex at Entertainment City, Manila Bay, which owns and operates DreamPlay, has proven that it doesn’t cater only to gaming aficionados but also to the family-oriented crowd.
City of Dreams Manila is an integrated resort, which features three luxury hotel brands—Crown, Nobu, and Hyatt—retail, dining, lifestyle venues and two levels of cavernous gaming space. It has been developed to meet the needs of the large, rapidly growing and increasingly diverse audience of leisure and entertainment seekers, both in the country and those from abroad.
So, for those of us who always dream of having the best that entertainment can offer, take heed of the last lines of Cinderella’s song—“…If you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.”
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
Your Friday Chuckle
Two blondes drove down the freeway looking for the Exit that leads to Disneyland. A few hundred meters later, they saw a sign that "Disneyland Left" They went home.!