Fantasy World Travel Guide

Background

Fantasy World is an abandoned theme park located in the first-class municipality of Lemery in Batangas province. It is situated 81 kilometers away from Metro Manila which is a four-hour drive. It offers tourists a fantastic view of a Bavarian-inspired abandoned castle that sits on top of the hill. Fantasy World is forty-five minutes away from Sky Ranch Tagaytay which is also a popular amusement park for kids and adults. Also, it is only a one-hour drive from the famous Tagaytay Picnic Grove in Cavite province and a forty-minute drive away from the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours which is considered the biggest church in the continent of Asia.

Fantasy World has a size of 30 hectares or 300,000 square meters. According to its past history, Fantasy World was designed to compete with the global recreation ground. It was primarily deliberate to be a members-only club however it was modified into a resort-theme park that allows tourists coming from Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog region. The reason it’s called Fantasy World is that the castle is a medieval theme park resembling those found in Disneyland Park in California and Florida state in the United States of America.

In the year 1997, it acquired an endorsement coming from the Department of Tourism (DOT). In the first instance, there was coordination to construct a five hundred-room hotel within the theme park’s area as well as another amenity for relaxation and entertainment. Afterward in the year 1999, the land acquisition started while the area development was being handled by ECE Realty And Development Incorporated.

The year 2001 was when the park was acknowledged as a revolutionary incentive by the Board of Investments (BOI). Fantasy World was endorsed to be the Disney World of the Philippines and was visualized as the mini Enchanted Kingdom. The year 2002 was when the Fantasy World was spotlighted in the Filipino romantic comedy film named Got 2 Believe. Afterward, In the year 2006, the GMA Network television drama fantasy series named Majika was filmed at Fantasy World.

The project for this theme park was expected to cost one billion pesos and it was planned to be fully operational by the year 2005. Nevertheless, due to financial matters and the health problem of the ECE Realty boss Emilio Ching, the progress of Fantasy World discontinue and have been abandoned in the decade of 2000s even with the aid of the Department of Tourism. Even so in the year 2010, the theme park was bought by new owners and it was opened to the locals as an area for photography sessions only. The theme park is still maintained in order to raise the budget but only to a certain section only. Upon coming to this park, visitors will see the fading paint on the Bavarian-style castles which gives the visitors an uncanny feel.

Presently, Fantasy World remains unfinished business. Inside the theme park, there are installed rides but all of them are non-operational. Howbeit the lavish theme park main castle still stands today over the lush hills of Lemery and it is still very akin to the Cinderella fairy tale castle which has an overlooking view of the famous Taal Volcano.

Name: Fantasy World
Location: Diokno Highway, Barangay Mayasang, Lemery, Batangas, Philippines
Features: towering castle and abandoned theme park

My trip to Fantasy World

It was Wednesday afternoon after our tour at Taal Volcano, our group went to our planned side trip which is to visit the Fantasy World in Batangas. We reached the wide parking area of Fantasy World around 1:30 pm and we get off out of the van. Then I immediately feel the cold atmosphere because at that time it was raining a little bit and the skies were so cloudy. For this reason, I wear a jacket to warm my body a little bit. A few moments later, we walk towards the entrance gate and paid the necessary entrance fee.

Inside the abandoned theme park I feel the fresh air blowing and my body feels so relaxed. I noticed that the amazing castle is so colorful and attractive to the human eye which is so awesome. I enjoy the scenery while we explore the theme park. We saw children together with their parents enjoying the wonderful place. Then I told myself that if this theme park is fully operational it will be the Disneyland of the Philippines where Filipinos don’t need to go to another country to experience the fascinating structure.

On the other hand, some of the group members rent fairy tale costumes for taking Instagrammable pictures to share on their social media accounts. The captivating theme park is literally filled with Instagrammable worthy spots such as the fountain, tree house, hanging bridge, chapel, main castle, and the warren garden.

Then we go up to the top of the hundred feet high main castle and after reaching the top we were greeted by a peaceful 360-degree view of the entire abandoned theme park, beautiful surrounding terrain, forest, and Taal Volcano. One by one we take pictures as souvenirs of this wonderful castle. For this reason, it brought out my inner child and my fantasy dream during my childhood days.

At the top of the empty castle of Fantasy World, we enjoy again the fresh and cool breeze. Then I surveyed and I noticed that there are only a few visitors maybe because it was a weekday. I see some couples and families walking around the park. The dark sky adds drama and character to the theme park giving it that real medieval feel. Also, I spotted some small rides but they are not functioning. The ambiance at the top of the main castle is spookish we feel like we are in a dismay movie because of the tainted molds and paint from the unfinished rooms.

Even though there was no something high-spirited at the theme park, most tourists visit the theme park just to have a selfie, a close-up view of the castle, and admire the magical surrounding. After staying at the top of the castle for nearly twenty-five minutes, we started to go down the castle and start heading towards the hanging bridge. A few minutes later we crossed the hanging bridge that is connected to the two huge trees. Afterward, we explore the other spot and we have our group pictures taken in the hallway and in the fountain.

Then one member of the group named Kimberly told us that if she is the owner of the Fantasy World she will renovate it, plant more trees and open the rides to the public. Then our group leader replied to her that when you’re inside the theme park you won’t think you’re in the Philippines because it feels like you’re walking in another part of the world. It’s like being in a real castle which definitely feels like fulfilling your childhood dream.

From my point of view, I definitely recommend going to this neat and quiet place to all local and international tourists even though there is no mascot or parade. In addition, I hope in the near future there is somebody who is willing to invest in developing and renovating the Fantasy World. This is a good opportunity for many locals living there because locals can have good work and they don’t need to go abroad.

Moreover, the Fantasy World is very close to Tagaytay City which makes it a good day tour side trip. Although it is not completed, it still serves as a tourist destination in Lemery Batangas. It is an interesting theme park but a very disappointing place as well. This would have been the Philippines version of Disneyland if it had been successfully completed. Nevertheless, I have a great time walking around and exploring the abandoned theme park and I felt so aesthetic. We stayed at the Fantasy World for almost two hours.

Afterward, we go inside the van and decided to have a stopover at Tagaytay City before going back to Metro Manila. It was 8:45 pm when our van reached Metro Manila and we bid goodbye to each other. On the whole, my trip to Fantasy World sums up this beautiful quote “continue living the dream and inspiring others to do so.”

Sample itinerary to Fantasy World

5AM – Depart from Metro Manila
8:30AM – Arrive at Fantasy World
10:30AM – Going to Tagaytay City
11:10AM – Arrive at Tagaytay City
12PM – Lunch at Tagaytay Mahogany Beef Market
1:30PM – Explore Tagaytay City
4:30PM – Going back to Metro Manila
8PM – Arrive at Metro Manila

Note: you can adjust the above itinerary if you have other preferences or options.

Things to bring on your visit to Fantasy World:

Valid Identification card and fully vaccination card
Umbrella
One bottled mineral water
Facemask
Extra money
Outfit of the day clothes
Alcohol
Small bag
Cap
Mobile phones

How to Go to Fantasy World

By commute:

1. From the Buendia bus terminal in Pasay City, ride a DLTB bus going to Nasugbu Batangas and tell the bus driver or bus conductor to alight you at the terminal boundary of Nasugbu and Alfonso, Cavite. The approximate travel time is around three hours and ten minutes.
2. From the boundary of Nasugbu and Alfonso Cavite, ride a passenger jeep bound to  Lemery and drop off at Fantasy World on Diokno Highway. The estimated travel time is around twenty-five minutes.

Note: if there is no jeep at the boundary that passes Barangay Mayasang then you can ride a tricycle going to the Fantasy World. In addition, if your group comes from Taal Basilica then you can ride a tricycle going to the terminal boundary of Nasugbu and Alfonso. Afterward, ride a jeepney going to the front of Fantasy World.

By private car:

1. Pin the Fantasy World on your Waze App on your mobile phone. 
2. From Metro Manila, take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and exit at Santa Rosa or Eton City/Greenfield City Exit.
3. Then stay at the Santa Rosa – Tagaytay Road until you arrive at Silang Junction Cavite. 
4. From the Silang Junction, make a right turn at Tagaytay – Nasugbu Highway and continue driving covering Tagaytay and Alfonso. Then at the boundary of Cavite and Batangas make a left turn going to Lemery. Afterward, proceed to Diokno Highway all the way to the front of the Fantasy World on the left side of the road.

Note: the Diokno Highway is a zigzag road that connects Cavite to Lemery Batangas and sometimes during the rainy season the fog makes the road trip more difficult for incompetent drivers.

Reminders and Tips:

• As of today, Fantasy World is still closed to all tourists coming from different parts of the world. They can only watch it from afar and they are free to take pictures outside of the park. 

• Flying of camera drone is allowed inside however visitors will need to pay a certain amount.

• The entrance fee in Fantasy World is 100 pesos per head and the operating hours start from 8 am up to 5 pm in the afternoon. 

• Renting a medieval costume range from 350 to 500 pesos. 

• The prenup shooting or debut costs 5000 pesos and above.

• As of September 2022, the 150 hectares Fantasy World property is now for sale. It costs 5.5 billion pesos with a clean title. The property for sale includes a hotel, castles, a non-operational amusement park, clubhouse, a tree house, a church, two restaurants, five function rooms, table tennis, a bowling area, a billiard area, four water pump station, a proposed golf course, Olympic size swimming pool, water park, fishing area, and condotel.
  
  
  

Let’s appreciate life more, let’s be thankful for the things that we have because some people are already thankful for the things that they don’t have. Just live a simple life with a happy heart. Predominantly, I wish that this Fantasy World travel guide has been fulfilling to you and to your group of friends. Stay safe until next time. God bless us all.