Wonders of Life
Encyclopedia
The Wonders of Life pavilion was an attraction at Epcot
at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The pavilion was devoted to health and body related attractions. It is located inside a golden colored dome between Mission: SPACE
and the Universe of Energy
. The pavilion officially opened on October 19th, 1989, and closed on January 1, 2007, and although the space is sometimes used for special events, the attractions within have been closed and partially removed.
and Body Wars
, the first thrill ride located in EPCOT. Also featured was a theater (home to The Making of Me
), restaurant and interactive attractions that evolved around the idea of health and wellness. MetLife ended its sponsorship of Wonders of Life in 2001, which lead to the slow decline of the pavilion. On January 4, 2004, Disney made the decision to make the pavilion seasonal operation only. It reopened when the park was projected to hit near capacity during the high spring months and Christmas season. The pavilion's most recent operational phase was 11/26/06 through 1/1/07. While the pavilion is not operational to the public it is commonly used for private and corporate events. On August 5, 2007 the Wonders of Life sign and the 72 foot tall The Tower of Life Double helix DNA
structure were removed. No official explanation was ever given for the closure of the pavilion, but it was speculated that the loss of MetLife as a sponsor, poor attendance and location, and lack of updates to the attractions and the pavilion itself were all factors.
In 2007, temporary walls were placed around the existing attractions when Epcot hosted the Food and Wine festival in the Wonders of Life building. The "Celebrate the Joy of Life" and "Body Wars" had been removed during the last opening in 2009, and most of the exhibits had been removed. The pavilion also received a paint job inside, which painted it to more mute colors, such as white and light green. It is unknown if any of the attractions will ever reopen again, although it is possible that the pavilion could be re-opened with the same theme, or even a new one, if sponsorship is signed.
Currently, the pavilion is open seasonally as the center for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. For these events, the pavilion hosts seminars, videos, presentations, and more. Presently all attractions are shut down and their signs removed, and the state of Body Wars is unknown, but Cranium Command still exists. The theater that was formerly used for The Making of Me is still used for various movies and presentations during the events.
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The pavilion was devoted to health and body related attractions. It is located inside a golden colored dome between Mission: SPACE
Mission: SPACE
Mission: SPACE is a motion simulator thrill ride at Epcot. It simulates what an astronaut might experience aboard a spacecraft on a mission to Mars, from the higher g-force of blastoff to the speculative hypersleep....
and the Universe of Energy
Universe of Energy
The Universe of Energy is a pavilion located in the eastern half of Future World at Epcot. The pavilion contains one attraction, its second since its 1982 opening, entitled Ellen's Energy Adventure, starring Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy...
. The pavilion officially opened on October 19th, 1989, and closed on January 1, 2007, and although the space is sometimes used for special events, the attractions within have been closed and partially removed.
History
The idea of a pavilion devoted to health and fitness dates back to the original concept of the EPCOT Center theme park, but no corporate sponsor could be found to cover the costs. It was not until MetLife signed on that the pavilion was finally constructed, and it featured two main attractions: Cranium CommandCranium Command
Cranium Command was an attraction at the Wonders of Life pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot theme park. The show was a humorous presentation on the importance of the human brain....
and Body Wars
Body Wars
Body Wars was a ride at the Wonders of Life pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot. Body Wars is a simulator ride where the riders are "shrunk" and carry out a mission inside a human body. The ride is based upon the Advanced Technology Leisure Application Simulator...
, the first thrill ride located in EPCOT. Also featured was a theater (home to The Making of Me
The Making of Me
The Making of Me is a 1989 film about conception and birth directed by Glenn Gordon Caron and starring Martin Short. The film was shown at the Wonders of Life pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot when the pavilion was open...
), restaurant and interactive attractions that evolved around the idea of health and wellness. MetLife ended its sponsorship of Wonders of Life in 2001, which lead to the slow decline of the pavilion. On January 4, 2004, Disney made the decision to make the pavilion seasonal operation only. It reopened when the park was projected to hit near capacity during the high spring months and Christmas season. The pavilion's most recent operational phase was 11/26/06 through 1/1/07. While the pavilion is not operational to the public it is commonly used for private and corporate events. On August 5, 2007 the Wonders of Life sign and the 72 foot tall The Tower of Life Double helix DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
structure were removed. No official explanation was ever given for the closure of the pavilion, but it was speculated that the loss of MetLife as a sponsor, poor attendance and location, and lack of updates to the attractions and the pavilion itself were all factors.
In 2007, temporary walls were placed around the existing attractions when Epcot hosted the Food and Wine festival in the Wonders of Life building. The "Celebrate the Joy of Life" and "Body Wars" had been removed during the last opening in 2009, and most of the exhibits had been removed. The pavilion also received a paint job inside, which painted it to more mute colors, such as white and light green. It is unknown if any of the attractions will ever reopen again, although it is possible that the pavilion could be re-opened with the same theme, or even a new one, if sponsorship is signed.
Currently, the pavilion is open seasonally as the center for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. For these events, the pavilion hosts seminars, videos, presentations, and more. Presently all attractions are shut down and their signs removed, and the state of Body Wars is unknown, but Cranium Command still exists. The theater that was formerly used for The Making of Me is still used for various movies and presentations during the events.
Attractions
- Cranium CommandCranium CommandCranium Command was an attraction at the Wonders of Life pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot theme park. The show was a humorous presentation on the importance of the human brain....
- A theater show with audio-animatronic actors and a movie. The show explained the functions of the human brain and its interaction with the human body. - Frontiers - Listen to stories about medicine and the brain on small televisions.
- Body WarsBody WarsBody Wars was a ride at the Wonders of Life pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot. Body Wars is a simulator ride where the riders are "shrunk" and carry out a mission inside a human body. The ride is based upon the Advanced Technology Leisure Application Simulator...
- Epcot's first thrill rideThrill rideThrill ride or Thrill Ride may refer to*Amusement ride*3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrill Ride*Thrill Ride, the 4th book in The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series....
, a motion simulator ride taking guests on a Fantastic VoyageFantastic VoyageFantastic Voyage is a 1966 science fiction film written by Harry Kleiner, based on a story by Otto Klement and Jerome Bixby.Bantam Books obtained the rights for a paperback novelization based on the screenplay and approached Isaac Asimov to write it....
-like trip through the blood stream. 40 passengers could be accommodated in one of four, 26-ton simulators. The film shown was directed by Leonard NimoyLeonard NimoyLeonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
, and starred actors Tim MathesonTim MathesonTim Matheson is an American actor, director and producer. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth-talking Eric 'Otter' Stratton in the 1978 comedy National Lampoon's Animal House and has had a variety of other well-known roles, including providing the voice of the lead character...
, Elisabeth ShueElisabeth ShueElisabeth Judson Shue is an American actress and producer, most famous for her roles in the films The Karate Kid, Adventures in Babysitting, Cocktail, Back to the Future Parts II and III and Leaving Las Vegas, for which she won five acting awards and was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden...
and Dakin MatthewsDakin MatthewsDakin Matthews is an American actor with a long history of work in film, television and theater. He is also a playwright, director, and theatrical scholar.-Life and career:...
. Often compared to Star ToursStar ToursStar Tours is a motion simulator attraction currently operating at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. The ride is based on the successful Star Wars film series created by George Lucas, making it the first Disney attraction based on a non-Disney produced film.The first...
at Disney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Hollywood StudiosDisney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. Spanning 135 acres in size, its theme is show business, drawing inspiration from the heyday of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s...
and Disneyland Park as its rougher counterpart. - Coach's Corner - Guests can swing a bat while a professional player gives tips.
- Goofy About Health - A multimediaMultimediaMultimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
show about healthy living hosted by GoofyGoofyGoofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
, using clips from his cartoons. - Fitness Fairgrounds - Tested guests' athletic abilities (this is due to be demolished starting by January 16, 2009)
- Sensory Funhouse - Interactive playground
- The Making of MeThe Making of MeThe Making of Me is a 1989 film about conception and birth directed by Glenn Gordon Caron and starring Martin Short. The film was shown at the Wonders of Life pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort's Epcot when the pavilion was open...
- Short movie about birthBirthBirth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring. The offspring is brought forth from the mother. The time of human birth is defined as the time at which the fetus comes out of the mother's womb into the world...
and life starring Martin ShortMartin ShortMartin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
. - Wonder Cycles - Stationary bicycles with a television attached. The faster riders pedaled, the faster the video played. The bicycles would take the rider on a short tour, with a selection of:
- 100th Anniversary Rose ParadeTournament of Roses ParadeThe Tournament of Roses Parade, better known as the Rose Parade, is "America's New Year Celebration", a festival of flower-covered floats, marching bands, equestrians and a college football game on New Year's Day , produced by the non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.The annual...
Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet... - Disneyland in California - The rider could see that day's park patrons watching the camera pass and moving out of the way for the operator.
- Take a Little Ride: Microworld Bigtown, U.S.A.
- 100th Anniversary Rose Parade
See also
- EpcotEpcotEpcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
- Epcot attraction and entertainment historyEpcot attraction and entertainment historyEpcot is a theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort. The term "attractions" is used by Disney as a catch-all term for rides, shows, and exhibits.-Current Future World attractions:...