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KidZania
Family Entertainment Center
Industry Entertainment venue
Founded 1 September 1999; 25 years ago (1999-09-01)
Headquarters
Cuajimalpa, Mexico
Number of locations
 30

KidZania (/kɪdˈzeɪniə/) is a Mexican privately held international chain of indoor family entertainment centers currently operating in 30 locations worldwide, allowing children to role play adult jobs and earn currency. It receives around 9 million visitors per year.

Overview

Kidzania
KidZania, Lisbon, 2014
Mock Court at Kidzania Bangkok
Mock Court, KidZania Bangkok, 2015
Kidzania Noida
Fireman Activities at KidZania, Noida

Every KidZania is themed as a child-sized replica of a real city, including buildings, shops and theaters, as well as vehicles and pedestrians moving along its streets. In this city, children aged 4 through 14, work in branded activities from bottling Coca-Cola, working in a Crest-sponsored dentist office, working at a McDonald's restaurant, painting with Corporação Industrial do Norte, washing hands with P&G's Safeguard soap, and using airline tickets from American Airlines, Fly Dubai and Saudia.

The children earn kidZos (KidZania's currency) while performing the tasks, and the money is kept in the KidZania bank for children to spend at the gift shop and on KidZania's activities. Inside every KidZania facility around the world, children wear electronic bracelets that allow parents to keep track of their kids remotely.

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan owns a 26% share in KidZania India and helps promote the brand in India.

History

KidZania was created and developed by the Mexican entrepreneur Xavier López Ancona, the current KidZania CEO. The first KidZania opened in September 1999 in Santa Fe Shopping Mall in Mexico City, and was named La Ciudad de los Niños ("The City of the Children").

Corporate sponsors funded 55% of the initial investment.

In 2007, KidZania hired entertainment strategist Andrew Darrow as executive vice president. Cammie Dunaway joined in late 2010 as the chief marketing officer.

KidZania at Westfield London, cost £20 million to build. In partnership with British Airways, it is operated by Joel Cadbury and Ollie Vigors through their Longshot Ltd company.

KidZania characters

The mascots of KidZania are called the RightZKeepers. According to the site’s story: They represent the rights that all KidZania patrons have, and together, they share an extra sixth right, the Right to Be.

The following are the mascots that KidZania has adopted over time:

  • Urbano (Right to Know): A 9-year-old, green-haired kid who is ingenious, inquisitive, and adventurous. He is interested in conducting experiments and making inventions. (Appeared since 1999)
  • Vita (Right to Care): Urbano's younger sister, a kind and thoughtful blue-haired girl who loves all living things. (Appeared since 1999)
  • Bache (Right to Play): Urbano and Vita's blue pet dog. He loves to play, and will eat anything. His dream is to make sure every kid in the world is as happy as he is. (Appeared since 1999)
  • Beebop (Right to Create): Urbano's 10-year-old best friend. He is a huge fan of music and is very artistic. He has orange hair, and wears a yellow shirt and headphones. (Appeared since 2012)
  • Chika (Right to Share): The fashionista of KidZania, a sociable and cheerful pink-haired girl who wears fake cat ears. She gets her inspiration from her favorite anime and manga characters. (Appeared since 2012)
  • Bekha (Right to Be): An 11-year-old dark blue-haired girl who according to the story: shows the power to be self-determining, unique and free in harmony among humankind. This Right is grounded in the eternal idea of freedom: the power to act, speak and think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. (Appeared since 2017)

Locations

Current locations

Kidzania Bangkok, Dec 2017
KidZania Bangkok, December 2017
  • KidZania Mexico City, opened in September 1997 as La Ciudad de los Niños, rebranded KidZania La Ciudad de los Niños
  • KidZania Monterrey, opened in May 2006; includes a broadcasting experience co-branded with Multimedios Televisión, including live remotes with the network's programming
  • KidZania Tokyo, opened in October 2006 (franchise)
  • KidZania Jakarta, opened in November 2007 (franchise) at Pacific Place Jakarta - This is the first KidZania location in Indonesia.
  • KidZania Koshien, opened in March 2009 (franchise) - This is the second Kidzania location in Japan.
  • KidZania Lisbon, opened June 2009 (franchise)
  • KidZania Dubai, opened January 2010 (franchise)
  • KidZania Seoul, opened February 2010 (franchise)
  • KidZania Kuala Lumpur, opened February 2012 (franchise)
  • KidZania Santiago, opened May 2012 (franchise)
  • KidZania Cuicuilco in Mexico City, opened June 2012
  • KidZania Mumbai, opened April 2013 (franchise)
  • KidZania Kuwait, opened June 2013 (franchise, by the Alshaya Group)
  • KidZania Cairo, opened September 2013 (franchise)
  • KidZania Turkey, Istanbul, opened February 2014 (franchise)
  • KidZania Jeddah, opened January 2015 (franchise)
  • KidZania São Paulo, opened January 2015 (franchise)
  • KidZania London, opened June 2015 (franchise)
  • KidZania Moscow, opened 28 January 2016 (franchise, by Innova)
  • KidZania Busan, South Korea, opened in April 2016. This is the second KidZania location in South Korea.
  • KidZania Delhi NCR, in Noida India, opened in May 2016. This is the second Kidzania location in India. The first being in Mumbai.
  • KidZania Guadalajara, opened November 2018
  • KidZania Doha, Qatar, opened May 2019
  • KidZania Abu Dhabi, opened June 2019 at Yas Mall - This is the second KidZania location in the UAE.
  • KidZania Johannesburg, opened 2019
  • KidZania Dallas, opened November 2019 Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Texas (franchise, by Innova)
  • KidZania Surabaya, opened 12 December 2020 (franchise) – This is the second KidZania in Indonesia.
  • Kidzania Fukuoka, opened August 2022 (franchise)

Upcoming locations

Former locations

  • KidZania Manila, opened August 2015 (franchise, by ABS-CBN) - Closed August 31, 2020. Arguably one of the most popular KidZania parks until its closure.
  • KidZania Bangkok, opened March 2013 (franchise) - Closed May 2021. This was arguably KidZania’s longest-living franchise, operating only for 8 years until its closed in May 2021.
  • Kidzania Costa Rica, opened December 2018 (franchise) - Closed July 2021. This was arguably KidZania’s most short-living franchise, operating only for 2 years. The park fell into recession since June 2020, until it finally closed in July 2021.

Awards and recognition

KidZania was voted the World's Top Family Entertainment Center by the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) and 2009 Global Leisure Operator of the Year.

From 2011 to 2015, KidZania has been recognized as one of The Best Mexican Companies (Las Mejores Empresas Mexicanas), a recognition promoted by Banamex, Deloitte México and Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Gallery

  • Edificio de rappel en Kidzania

    KidZania Mexico

  • Cocina en Kidzania

    KidZania Mexico

  • Kidzania 2017 (4)
    Kidzania Lisbon, August 2017
  • Kidzania plaza Cuicuilco
    Kidzania Plaza, Cuicuilco, Mexico
  • Fruit Orchad02
    KidZania Fruit Orchard, KidZania Mumbai

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: KidZania para niños

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