Dinosaurs come alive in Manila
Dinosaurs have become extinct, dating back to ages we’d count with breathlessness. And now they’re back, to set foot on a land they’ve once owned. Colossal. Massive. Breathtaking.
However, they are not inhaling the air that goes into our system and stalling for breeding time, but rather a transportable exhibition of robotic dinosaur replicas. And in a few days, Filipinos will be seeing them face-to-face out of their eggshells.
The Dinos Alive! Tour (DAT) 2008 in Manila made their much-awaited sneak preview to the press last Nov. 17. It has been weeks since the buzz about this transportable theme park came to town and developments are really speeding up with the opening day fast on its way.
It took months to prepare for the six-week operations. Intensive research for the perfect and strategic spot to stage this massive theme park has been made vigorously. Even to the season it would be set up has been well studied. And with the help of a team of experts and numerous people working round the clock, Dinos are really coming to life.
DAT traveled over 10,000 kilometers to the Philippines after attracting over a quarter of a million visitors collectively in Bangkok, Thailand (2006) and Jakarta, Indonesia (2008).
Dinosaurs will set foot again on land they once inhabited, sans actually living. Life-size dinosaurs will leave Filipinos breathless because they are made to look real. Some will even be moving and breathing. This is going to be a close to real-life thrill.
James White, vice president for sales and marketing of Max Entertainment, says these dinosaur replicas were really made to give a very close resemblance to the actual dinosaurs. Recalling the Jurassic Park movie days, he adds that the DAT uses the same Japanese technology in the film, which has attracted lots of praises from many people.
Different themed environments are being set up within the complex as well to highlight their dinosaur inhabitants. With dramatic sound and lighting effects, the visitors will be taken to an experience of the Cretaceous and Jurassic eras. The walk-through exhibition will take them from rivers and jungles, to deserts and volcanoes. The journey will be equipped with adventure and fun surprises.
Tyrannosaurus, Triceraptors, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, and Megalosaurus and many more are formed with high-quality latex to make them similar to how the scientists believe they ought to feel and look.
The tour along the dino area wouldn’t be better without enthusiastic and fun tour guides. These men and women will lead visitors to the different areas and will also provide added information about the dinosaurs and their environment. Visitors can also take pictures if they wish to have the whole pack locked in the digital moment.
Theme parks are there for people to experience a bigger-than-life thrill for the fun of it. They are hits to mostly all ages and have become laid-back to tourist attractions. Like all walk-through exhibits, there’s always the main goal: let the people have fun and learning at the same time. Now the Dinos Alive! Tour is the whole package and even more.
You won’t be in and left to pay for numerous inside attractions while you search for places to venture into. It only takes you one ticket to access the Dino exhibit and all the fun activities in store for you. Among these are the Purefoods dino trains and inflatables, Alaska game zone, QTV Movie Theater, Caltex fossil dig, Santa’s grotto and entertainment to be provided by magicians, clowns, face painters and the likes.
When your feet have done all the walking, it’s time for a break and a good meal. The organizers have seen to it that visitors will be able to have fun time with full and satisfied stomachs for the needed energy to explore more. This is made possible through the sponsorships of Filipino fave food brands to the Dinos Alive! Tour. KFC, Dunkin Donuts, Alaska and Purefoods outlets will be available on site, offering good and reasonably priced meals.
To top it all off, what better way to end the day but to have memories to bring home. Capture picture-perfect moments by the Kodak Photo Area, either with the dinos or Santa Claus, and smile that happy thought!
A bazaar shopping area or the merchandise shops will sell some souvenirs, ranging from apparels to stuffed dinos.
Interested parties can also plan out birthday parties or Christmas celebrations and company outings at these spaces. Call Mylene Amalgro for inquiries at 0927-4170008.
Ticket prices for adults are P550, kids below a meter are P400 and the family package costs P1,600 (two adults and two kids, plus one free ticket) on weekdays.
For weekends, tickets for adults are P600, kids below a meter are P450 and the family package costs P1,750 (two adults and two kids, plus one free ticket).
The Dinos Alive! Tour organizers have considered the economic situation and how the Filipino loves going out in large groups. So on top of the family package, three supplementary tickets are available for purchase at P200 each.
The Dinos Alive Tour sponsors have generously pledged extra goodies for all DAT visitors. The first 45,000 theme park goers (who purchase the family pack) will be entitled to free Purefood hotdogs. Alaska is also offering free yogurt for the first 30,000 students who are brought to the DAT on a school trip.
There are specially designed KFC boxes available at KFC outlets that will offer 10 percent discount for the first 10,000 ticket buyers. Ticket purchases from BDO-issued credit cards — BDO, Equitable and American Express — can also enjoy 10 percent discount.
The Dinos Alive! Tour will run from Nov. 28 to Jan. 11 at Block 5, SM Mall of Asia. Tickets are available for purchase from Ticket World by calling 891-9999 or online at www.ticketworld.com.ph. There are also Ticketworld booths in selected National Bookstore outlets.
For inquiries, log on to www.dinosalivetour.com.
