Dufan Ancol — Local services in Jakarta

IF YOU ARE A FOREINGER DO NOT GO!!! This place was such a scam, I was very excited to go here because it looked like a fun and affordable amusement park, however instead it will completely ruin your day. I had such high hopes for this place, and after contacting the help center, I was told the price of a ticket FOR TOURISTS was 200,000rp. I then proceeded to go to dufan ancol, where I was surprised to find out that it cost an additional 35,000rp per person just to enter the gate, not even be in the theme park. Mind you, the place is totally run down so I'm not sure where this additional fee is going... Once inside, at the park ticket counter I was told that the amusement park tickets were actually double the price I'd been told! I showed them the figures I had been quoted and the employees began making up excuses and avoiding answering by saying that was the local price, or I needed to pay online and continuing to pa's me off to other people. After wasting an entire hour arguing and attempting to book online, which was still much more expensive, but less than what the counters prices were (which would not work because their WiFi was from the stone ages and all our credit cards blocked their sketchy website...), I was so outraged I asked to speak to a manager. After muchnervousness from the staff they called the manager who ended up being even more rude, incompetent and unhelpful than the staff. The entire time I tried to explain the situation she spoke over me and denied everything I was saying, even though I had the messages from her staff to back me up. IN OVER 90 MINUTES OF WASTED TIME, NO ONE APOLOGIZED ONCE!!!! Finally we were given the bottom line, either pay the outrageous prices (its literally less to go to TOKYO DISNEY - not to mention the park looks like it should be condemned) or leave!!! Meanwhile local prices are half of even the original price I was told, simply because as a white person/foreigner you are EXPECTED to have more money and just suck up the cost! I LIVE IN ASIA AND MAKE A LOCAL SALARY - BUT REGARDLESS THEY CANT LOOK PAST THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN!!! When I mentioned this, I only got a sneer and was dismissed. SO RACIST (but your just expected to tolerate this, cause it is not racist, its just the way it is...)!!!! DIGUSTING, HORRIBLE TREATMENT!!!! 2 hours later, ended up walking away with the employees smirking on the sides glad we had left. Ruined what was otherwise a very positive...

Dunia Fantasi, or Dufan, was my very first theme park, and I used to go often as a reward whenever I got good report cards—since the tickets were quite pricey. But after having kids and living abroad for a while, Dufan stopped being a favorite because we had Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Ocean Park, Movie World, which became the kids’ top theme parks.

When we moved back to Jakarta, the kids started asking about Dufan after hearing their school friends talk about it. So we finally went there during this Ramadan and signed up for the one-year e-card membership—definitely worth it and more satisfying for kids who love running around and being physically active.

All in all Dufan is fun!!! It was such a nostalgic trip for me and my husband. And the kids enjoyed it too—they found it just as exciting as theme parks abroad. The only downside was Pontang Ponting, which we felt should really be replaced—it’s outdated and not in great shape anymore.

The classics like Halilintar, Bianglala, Kora-Kora, Niagara, Ontang-Anting, and Alap-Alap brought back so many memories, and they’re still well-loved by today’s kids. There are also some fun new rides like Baling-Baling, Hysteria, Arung Jeram, Kereta Misteri, and Ice Age. The most intense one? Tornado—that ride was absolutely wild!!! My heart nearly jumped out of my chest!

I can still ride those rides as an adrenaline junkies as many as I want 😎😎😎😎 No sweat!!!

🅿️ Plenty slots 🏷️ 300k - 400k IDR 🚻 Excellent aircon toilet anywhere in Dufan ☀️ Hot and humid 🎽 Wear comfortable shirt and pants 🕶️ wear glasses and 👒 🕌 Several prayer spots available around 🍽️ Many kind of restaurants with decent prices

📣📣📣 Attention 📣📣📣

To visit Dufan, you need to purchase entrance tickets through various online apps, the Ancol.com website, or directly at the gate. Apps like Tiket.com, Loket, Traveloka, Klook, and others offer ticket options—and sometimes promos too.

In addition to the Dufan ticket, you also need to buy an entrance ticket for the Ancol area itself (per person and per vehicle) via Ancol.com. You’ll receive a QR code that will be scanned at the Ancol entrance gate. Enjoy!!!

YOU’LL LOVE IT...

While Ancol offers a lot of fun attractions, the waiting times for the rides are honestly not worth it (well everybody knew). The rides themselves are enjoyable, but they only last about 3-8 minutes, and considering how long you have to stand in line, it can be a bit frustrating. On my visit, I spent the entire day there, walked over 16,000 steps, but only managed to get on two rides because of the long queues. It felt like I spent more time waiting than actually having fun.

If you plan to visit, make sure to wear super comfortable footwear, as you’ll be walking around a lot. The grounds are large, and the crowds can make it feel even more exhausting. I would also recommend avoiding weekends if possible. The park gets incredibly crowded, which means long lines for pretty much everything, from rides to food. Even finding a place to sit and eat can be challenging, as there’s always a line, and the atmosphere can feel a bit hectic.

The water prices vary from 5,000 to 8,000 IDR, so it’s a good idea to ask for the price before purchasing. One bright spot during my visit was Pucok, a drink stand offering really refreshing beverages. The soursop flavor was particularly delicious and a great pick-me-up amidst the heat and crowds.

Overall, Ancol can be a fun day out, especially if you’re prepared for the crowds, long waiting times, and short ride durations. If you want a more relaxed experience, I would suggest visiting during the weekdays when it’s less crowded. Just be sure to manage your expectations about the time spent waiting versus the time spent enjoying the attractions. Note: please bring your own umbrella, sunscreen,...