Getting A Quick Fix at Splash Island

A few days before my vacation ended last 2016 while we were on our way home, I told the kids to pick one more place where we could go that weekend.  I gave them three choices: Star City (a theme park), the beach or Splash Island (a water park).  Fortunately for me, they chose Splash Island.  It’s the closest and most convenient place we could go (won’t take 30 minutes of driving from where we live).  I guess we were a bit tired from all the traveling we did during my month long vacation so the family had a unanimous decision to choose Splash Island.  When we got home, my wife and I searched for and purchased discounted vouchers right away.

The first time we went to Splash Island (website and Facebook official page), our son with autism was too young for most of the slides.  Our daughter too was just a toddler then.  Now that they’ve grown a bit, we thought that they could now enjoy the water park more.

Feel like frolicking in the waves?

Just like when we first visited the water park, we just got the air conditioned cabin.  It did not have beds or anything else inside.  It was just a bare, simple wooden cabin with A/C.  It didn’t matter to us because we just needed a place where we could change clothes and also leave our bags.  Most of the time we would be going around the park anyway.  The cabin also had 4 plastic chairs and a table.

Our first agenda, just to get us warmed up for the more exciting attractions, was at the wave pool, the Agos Grandes.  Our kids, most especially our son with autism, love the waves whenever we go to the beach.  This wave pool was no exception, they loved how the waters splash to their bodies and faces.

Getting warmed up in the wave pool

They love the waves!

At Splash Island, the attractions have their own schedule on what time during the day they will be open.  The more exciting attractions are usually open twice a day (one before noon and the other around 2-3 PM).  So while we were waiting for the big slides to open, we tried the Balsa River.  It’s just a manmade river where you can lie down lazily on the floating inflatables while being carried around by the light current.

Relaxing at the Balsa River while waiting for the big slides to open

When the big slides opened, my wife and I had to queue one at a time because most of the slides allowed only up to two people to ride together.  There were five of us so that meant that one of us had to stay behind with two kids while the other one went to the slide with one kid.  It wasn’t a hassle though as the queues were generally fast moving.

This was the first time that our special one could get on one of those big slides.  As we mentioned in our previous posts, he already had many experiences with roller coasters.  He was also so excited to see the other people having fun on the slides.  These were indications that he was ready to try these attractions.  This was confirmed when it was already our turn to pick up the inflatable where we would sit, he was so eager to help carry it up the stairs.  For autism families, it is important that your special ones are already in the stage where they can understand and follow orders when getting on these kind of attractions because the most you could do is to hold them down onto the inflatable with your legs.  Never risk getting on these rides if they can’t follow instructions yet.

Here they come!

Yeah! Rock n' roll!

It's our turn!

That was fun!

He was all giggles and big wide smiles on the slides.  Our other two kids had a blast as well.  At lunch, we ordered from one of the concessionaires in the park.  We bought the bilao meal (a group meal) which is more than enough for us.  The kids were only interested in the BBQ skewers anyway.  Splash Island does not allow food and drinks to be brought inside the park but there are a number of concessionaires in there that sell food at fairly reasonable prices.  Some, though, are priced on the higher side so it's best to scout the area for the cheapest food stall.  Some guests bring food and drinks but they leave them in their vehicles parked outside the water park, then they just have their tickets stamped for re-entry when they go to their vehicles to eat.

This is the Bilao Meal, but the kids are just interested in the BBQ anyway

Because we had an early lunch, by the time we finished eating, there was less than an hour remaining until the major attractions would close.  By that time, the queue to the Rio Montañosa, the only slide that allowed a group of five to ride together, was already short.  We rested a little then off we went to the queue.  Our daughter was a little scared because the slide was quite high.  But the descent wasn’t that rough and fast so kids still enjoyed.

When the major attractions closed for lunch, we went to the kiddie part of the park.  There was a shallow pool with lots of fountains and a small slide.  This is where adults could just sit in one corner of the shallow pool and just watch the kids run around and play.  There was also a small, twisting slide for small kids who aren’t allowed in the big slides yet.  Small tots got to get on the slide over and over again to their hearts' content.  Our daughter enjoyed this slide because it was gentle and she was a little scared of the big slides.  There was an age/height limitation to this slide however and our son with autism wasn’t allowed there anymore so only our daughter got to ride the slide over and over.

At the top of Rio Montañosa

She was a little scared

But he's having a blast!

Time for some kiddie fun at Water Wahoo

Just run around and play!

Just be careful with those buckets

Kid friendly water slide...

...it also has some twists and turns

When the major attractions re-opened in the afternoon, we went for a few more rides before getting ready to go home.  We rested a bit and had some snacks in our cabin before we went home.  The park was already closing for the day when we got out but we still managed to purchase some of our photos in the park.

Our photo at Rio Montañosa

Another park photo

He loved the slide so much!

Splash Island is one of the good options for families looking for a quick getaway.  The location is convenient because it’s only a few kilometers from Metro Manila (less than 30 minutes from Alabang) and only about a kilometer or two from the Southwoods exit of South Luzon Expressway.  The price has also become more affordable compared to few years ago, thanks to online discount voucher stores like Metrodeal.  Although not all attractions are for everybody, people, including kids in the autism spectrum, can find park attractions that are best suited for them.  So if you’re looking for a weekend of family fun without having to travel far and not breaking the budget too much, you can give Splash Island a try.  We’re pretty sure that it won’t disappoint.

Tips:

Travel means: 
Car or private vehicle: It's just a short drive st South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), very accessible. Southwoods Exit isn't a heavily congested area at the time of this writing so traffic jam is unlikely there (I can't say the same for SLEX though because there are times that parts of the highway are being repaired).  There is a parking fee at the parking lot in front of the area (PHP 50 for light vehicles) and the parking lot isn't concreted.

Public Transport:  Though we haven't tried this one but I believe there are tricycles that can take you there from Pacita Complex.  Take a bus or jeepney with "Pacita" sign board and alight at Pacita Complex.  From there you can ask the tricycles to take you to Splash Island.  The disadvantage of public transport is that you won't be able to bring food and drinks (if you have private or rented vehicles, you can leave these inside the vehicles and just come back at lunch time).  Also, it would be best to tell the tricycle driver to pick you up in the afternoon because there aren't any public transport that ply that route.

Kidsentials and advise for autism families:

• Your sensory overload kit won't be needed much here, maybe just during the short travel or while resting.

• Lifevests or lifesavers aren't really needed.  Most of the attractions are only knee deep or up to the hips of an average adult (with the exception of Agos Grandes.  If you really need one, there are lifevests in the park available for free (at the lifeguard station near Agos Grandes) but there is only one size available.

• Toddlers and very young children (3 ft. in height and below) will not be allowed in more extreme attractions.  They can enjoy the kids' play area, Water Wahoo and the kiddie slides.  The pool areas for these younger ones are shallow.  Just be careful with the buckets at Water Wahoo because the pouring water from these elevated buckets might be too much for infants, small tots and other very young kids.

• This is basically a theme park (albeit a water park), so I think our advise for autism kids on roller coasters (See Disneyland post here) is applicable.  You can judge for yourself if your special one is ready for these kind of attractions.  Make sure that he can understand and obey instructions already.

Other general tips:

• It is recommended to purchase discount vouchers at online sellers like Metrodeal before you go there.  You can buy them at about PHP200 to PHP250 per person (at the time of this writing).  Just check the period when they can be used and any excluded dates.

• Come in the morning, most preferably at the first hour of park operation so that you can enjoy as much attractions as you can.  Cottages can also get fully booked during peak season so being early can be an advantage.

• There are banners around the park that display the operating hours of the attractions.  Take note of these timings and plan accordingly so you can maximize your time (the park closes around 4-5PM). 

• Queues can be long during peak season.

• When you get there in the morning and you're planning to eat inside the park, survey the available concessionaires where you can buy food.  Sometimes, most especially during peak season, you might need to order in advance to avoid waiting for your food.