A Lazy Girl’s Guide to an Epic Star City Weekend

If you’ve ever wanted to go out with your friends but didn’t have the mental bandwidth to plan anything remotely complicated, this one’s for you.

No itineraries, no spreadsheets, no over-the-top budget, just pure, spontaneous fun + crazy company -- cue: our Star City weekend.

It was a gloomy Saturday that practically begged us to stay in bed with chips, Netflix, and zero guilt. But we already had a semi-plan to meet up at Star City, so we decided to trudge on, go out, and be actual functioning social beings. LOL Heck, we didn’t even mean to end up at Star City. Chinatown was the OG plan then Tagaytay came up, and as expected, we all realized we were too lazy to plan something that logistically ambitious.

So, in true indecisive fashion, we landed on Star City: convenient, indoor-friendly, and no reservation needed. Exactly our kind of vibe.

Located near SM MOA, Star City is nothing compared to Enchanted Kingdom in Laguna in terms of area, the number of rides available, and other things to do. However, when it comes to accessibility and convenience on days when the weather is unpredictable AF, Star City wins hands down.

Here are a few reasons why:

Getting There Was a Breeze (And a Steal)

If you’re from Metro Manila, Star City is amazingly low-effort. I just hopped on a jeep to Baclaran and took a taxi from there. I didn't even need to whip up my phone and get a Grab because taxis were everywhere.

Fare? Php 85. Unreal.

Late But Not Too Late

The park closes at 10 p.m. so depending on how atat you are to check out their rides, you can go there as late as your procrastinating ass wants to.

We arrived around 6 p.m., fully expecting long lines, missed chances, and late AF to mostly everything but surprisingly, we managed to ride almost everything we wanted.

Either we got lucky, or the unpredictable weather scared people away, but one thing was certain: we were not expecting to get so much of our visit at all, considering how late and how rainy the day was.

Heck, I even thought the waiting time for each ride would be around an hour, but I was wrong, and the number of rides that we were able to go on in the short amount of time that we were there was a nice surprise.

Indoor Rides Saved the Day

Rain? No problem. Star City’s indoor rides are definitely more PG-13 than adrenaline-rush-inducing, but they delivered. My inner child had a moment with the bumper cars, and honestly, that alone made the trip worth it.

My fave ride - bump cars!

With the weather acting up when my friends and I got there, the park's outdoor rides were non-operational for a while. The skies eventually cleared up (thank god!), so everything was a go then, and we managed to maximize our ride-all-you-can tickets.

Outdoor Rides: Mild But Still Screamy

Their outdoor rides may not be that extreme, but they're still scream-worthy at some point.

Their Surf Dance was cool, and I managed to try it after some very insistent prodding from my friends (talk about peer pressure hahaha!). 

They also have a roller coaster called Star Flyer, which I, unfortunately, didn't try because I chickened out like usual. Some things never change. LOL

No Food Gatekeeping Here

Food stall goodies are not overpriced, and big shoutout to Star City for letting us bring in outside food. After the trauma of having to surrender our snacks at EK's gates before, this felt like redemption. There’s even a 7-Eleven right outside if you want to stock up without draining your wallet.

Lowlights Worth Mentioning

• The “Giant” Star Wheel wasn’t exactly giant, and the enclosed pods made it feel like a glorified elevator. FYI the view sucked because of the metal bars and foggy glass. (After some checking online, I found out that a man had fallen off the said Ferris wheel just a month before. However, claims that he jumped were not ruled out since there were signs that the metal bars/glass were forced open.)

• The Time Tunnel? Skip it. Trust me. Just snap a photo at the entrance and bail.

• The upper deck of the Grand Carousel is cute in theory, but a full-on headache in practice. Stick to the lower level.

But Also, Some Unexpected Highlights

• Gabi ng Lagim is a haunted house-type, and let me just say: I screamed like there's no tomorrow. Hydrate before entering.

• Think baby version EK's outdoor 40-meter tower drop repeated a couple of times for some twisted fun, and you'll get Star City's MoseRide Tower Drop. I didn't try it, but seeing my friends up there and their reaction was worth missing the ride and getting everything on video.

• The upper level of the Grand Carousel might look like the dreamy, fairytale moment you imagined as a kid l but trust me when I say that its headache-inducing and gives one hell of a reality bitch-slap. You're honestly better off sticking to the lower level. It's way smoother, just as pretty, and won't make you question your life choices mid-spin. I even liked their tiny outdoor carousel more, and that one's not even trying hard.

Pro Tip: Get Your Tickets on Metrodeal

Not sponsored and not vouching for their other promos, but we scored ride-all-you-can passes for just Php 300 each on Metrodeal, which is way cheaper than the Php 490 listed on Star City’s website. That left more budget for other things like food and souvenirs.

We finished our Star City adventure with a dinner at Harbour Square, which was just across the park. It was a good way to cap off the day.

Whether you're craving some reliable fast-food bestsellers from Jollibee or Many Inasal or maybe a shot of caffeine and sugar at Krispy Kreme, the line of eateries at Harbour Square is a welcome oasis for anyone who just got out of the park and is hungry AF.

Heading back home on our respective ways was easy and convenient enough as well. We just booked a 6-seater Grab to head back to SM MOA and from there, my friends took a bus going north while I took one going south.

For a rainy and gloomy Saturday that seemed to be the perfect excuse to stay in, curl up in bed, be lazy, and not go out, I'm pretty glad I did the exact opposite. Star City may not be all that on some aspects, but for the wonderful time that I spent with my friends enjoying some classic kind of fun, it was worth it.

Was Star City perfect? Nope. Did we have fun anyway? Absolutely. Sometimes, it’s not about the wild rides or picture-perfect moments. Sometimes, it's just about getting out of the house, laughing with your friends, and making the most of a rainy Saturday.

Honestly? I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. This day was one for the books.