Wonders of Life: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Former pavilion in Future World at Epcot}}
{{for|the British television series|Wonders of Life (TV series)}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox attraction
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| section = [[Epcot#Future World|Future World]]
| coordinates = <!--Use ONLY if attraction is at one park. Use {{coord}}-->
| status = ClosedCurrently Abandoned <!--br> structure(building still stands -->)
| cost = US $100 million
| soft_opened =
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| closed = January 1, 2007
| previousattraction = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| replacement = [[PLAYPlay!]] Pavilion <br> (project continues to be frozen as of Sept 2024) <br> World Discovery
| type = Simulator ride ([[Body Wars]]) <br> Theater ([[Cranium Command]], ''[[The Making of Me]]'', Goofy About Health) <br> Exhibits (Fitness Fairgrounds & Frontiers of Medicine)
| manufacturer = <!--Must not be linked.-->
| designer = [[Walt Disney Imagineering]]
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}}
 
The '''Wonders of Life''' pavilion was an attraction at [[Epcot]] at [[Walt Disney World]] in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida]]. It was devoted to [[health care]], focusing on the [[human body]], [[physical fitness]], [[medicine]] and [[Human nutrition|nutrition]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tuckwood |first1=Jan |title=Epcot's Newest Pavilion: An Adventure in Health |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/132711015/?terms=%22wonders%20of%20life%22%20epcot&match=1 |accessdate=18 July 2020 |work=The Palm Beach Post |date=October 29, 1989 |page=G1}}</ref> Attractions included [[Body Wars]] and [[Cranium Command]]. It is located inside a golden colored dome between [[Mission: SPACE]] (formerly [[Horizons (Epcot)|Horizons]]) and [[Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind|Wonders of Xandar]] (formerly [[Universe of Energy]]). It opened on October 19, 1989,<ref>{{cite news |last=Fickley-Baker |first=Jennifer |date=September 17, 2012 |title=Epcot Photo Flashback: From the Cranium Command Control Room |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/09/epcot-photo-flashback-from-the-cranium-command-control-room/ |workarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919111725/http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/09/epcot-photo-flashback-from-the-cranium-command-control-room/ |locationurl-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2018 }}</ref> and closed on January 1, 2007.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> From 2007 to 2018, the Pavilion acted as EPCOT's Festival Center, before becoming a construction site in March 2019 in preparation for the upcoming [[Play!|PLAY! Pavilion]] Pavilion attraction set to replace it.
 
The original attractions within the building have been closed and partially removed. In February 2019, it was announced that a new [[Play!|PLAY! pavilionPavilion]] would be built in the domed [[show building]] formerly occupied by Wonders of Life, and iswas originally scheduled to open in time for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in 2021, but due to the park's temporary closure during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the pavilion's opening date was delayed indefinitely.
 
==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,<ref name="WOLHistory">{{cite AV media |people= |date= April 4, 2017|title= The History of & Changes to The Wonders of Life|trans-title= |medium= YouTube video|language= |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlH4jLokp08|access-date= December 4, 2017|archive-url= |archive-date= |format= |time= |location= |publisher= Park Ride History|id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |ref= }}</ref> and it featured two main attractions: [[Cranium Command]]<ref name="WOLHistory" /> and [[Body Wars]],<ref name="WOLHistory" /> the first thrill ride located in EPCOT. Also featured was a theater (home to ''[[The Making of Me]]''),<ref name="WOLHistory" /> restaurant and interactive attractions that evolved around the idea of health and wellness. MetLife ended its sponsorship in 2001, which led to the slow decline of the pavilion.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> On January 4, 2004, Disney made the decision to make it seasonal operation only.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> It reopened when the park was projected to hit near capacity during the high spring months and Christmas season.<ref name="Abandoned">{{cite AV media |people= |date= August 31, 2015 |title= Abandoned - Wonders of Life|trans-title= |medium= YouTube video|language= |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVjUTN-os4A|access-date= December 4, 2017|archive-url= |archive-date= |format= |time= |location= |publisher= Bright Sun Films|id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |ref= }}</ref> Its most recent operational phase was November 26, 2006, through January 1, 2007.<ref name="Abandoned" /> In 2007, the pavilion closed permanently, with no official reason given.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> While it is not operational to the public, it is still commonly used for private and corporate events.
 
The Wonders of Life pavilion was officially announced on January 22, 1988, with construction beginning the following month.<ref>{{cite news|date=January 24, 1988|title=Disney World plans events|work=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72414767/disney-world-plans-events/|access-date=April 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It opened to the general public on October 19, 1989.
In 2007, temporary walls were placed around the existing attractions when Epcot hosted the Food and Wine festival in the pavilion. The "Body Wars" sign was removed in 2008, replaced by a temporary Garden Town sign while the imprints from the original marquee were painted over.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> By 2009, significant portions of the Body Wars attraction had been removed. The "Celebrate the Joy of Life" sign was removed following in 2009, while most of the exhibits left were removed. The pavilion also received a paint job inside using mute colors such as white and light green.
 
MetLife ended its sponsorship in June 2001, which led to the gradual decline of the pavilion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2001/06/25/story7.html|title=MetLife pulls cash from Epcot's Wonder of Life}}</ref> On January 4, 2004, Disney made the decision to make it seasonal operation only. It reopened when the park was projected to hit near capacity during the high spring months and Christmas season. Its most recent operational phase was November 26, 2006, through January 1, 2007. In 2007, the pavilion closed permanently, with no official reason given. While it is not operational to the public, it is still commonly used for private and corporate events.
The pavilion then operated seasonally as the center for the [[Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival]] and the [[Epcot International Food & Wine Festival]] as the Festival Center. For those events, it hosted seminars, videos, presentations, and more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents?id=EpcotInternationalFlowerandGardenFestivalSpecialEventPage|title=Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival - Walt Disney World Resort|work=Walt Disney World}}</ref> It was used as a central merchandise location during the two festivals as well. All attractions are shut down and their signs have been removed. As of November 2014, the ''Body Wars'' ride simulators have been dismantled.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> The queue still exists, but most of the props and other electronics have been removed.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> As of 2017, ''Cranium Command'' has had its queue and pre-show partially dismantled, but the theater - including the animatronics, lighting, seats, and staging area - remains intact.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> The theater that was used for ''The Making of Me'' is still used for various movies and presentations during the event.<ref name="WOLHistory" />
 
In 2007, temporary walls were placed around the existing attractions when Epcot hosted the Food and Wine festival in the pavilion. The "Body Wars" sign was removed in 2008, replaced by a temporary Garden Town sign while the imprints from the original marquee were painted over.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> By 2009, significant portions of the Body Wars attraction had been removed. The "Celebrate the Joy of Life" sign was removed following in 2009, while most of the exhibits left were removed. The pavilion also received a paint job inside using mute colors such as white and light green.
On September 11, 2012, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a notice of commencement with the Orange County Comptroller’s office indicating the intentions for a "selective demolition" to take place at the pavilion.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} In February 2019, it was announced that a new interactive pavilion would be built in the dome formerly occupied by Wonders of Life. The pavilion is scheduled to open in time for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Thomas |title=First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’s Historic Transformation |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/02/first-of-its-kind-play-pavilion-new-park-entrance-part-of-epcots-historic-transformation/ |website=Disney Parks Blog |accessdate=21 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuttle |first1=Brittani |title=Disney announces transformed Epcot park entrance, ‘Play Pavilion’ to replace Wonders of Life |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/epcot-park-entrance-play-pavilion/ |website=Attractions Magazine |accessdate=21 February 2019}}</ref>
 
The pavilion then operated seasonally as the center for the [[Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival]] and the [[Epcot International Food & Wine Festival]] as the Festival Center. For those events, it hosted seminars, videos, presentations, and more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEvents?id=EpcotInternationalFlowerandGardenFestivalSpecialEventPage|title=Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival - Walt Disney World Resort|work=Walt Disney World}}</ref> It was used as a central merchandise location during the two festivals as well. All attractions are shut down and their signs have been removed. As of November 2014, the ''Body Wars'' ride simulators have been dismantled.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> The queue still exists, but most of the props and other electronics have been removed.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> As of 2017, ''Cranium Command'' has had its queue and pre-show partially dismantled, but the theater - including the animatronics, lighting, seats, and staging area - remains intact.<ref name="WOLHistory" /> The theater that was used for ''The Making of Me'' is still used for various movies and presentations during the event.<ref name="WOLHistory" />
 
On September 11, 2012, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a notice of commencement with the Orange County Comptroller’sComptroller's office indicating the intentions for a "selective demolition" to take place at the pavilion.<ref>{{citationCite web needed|date=September 11, 2012 |others=Document #20120484289 |title=WONDERS OF LIFE SELECTIVE DEMOLITION |url=https://selfservice.or.occompt.com/ssweb/document/DOC1018S11407?search=DOCSEARCH2950S1 |access-date=February 201829, 2024 |website=COMPTROLLER PHIL DIAMOND, CPA ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA}}</ref> In February 2019, it was announced that a new interactive pavilion would be built in the dome formerly occupied by Wonders of Life. The pavilion iswas originally scheduled to open in time for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in 2021, but was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Thomas |title=First-of-its-Kind Play Pavilion, New Park Entrance Part of Epcot’sEpcot's Historic Transformation |url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/02/first-of-its-kind-play-pavilion-new-park-entrance-part-of-epcots-historic-transformation/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222062131/https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/02/first-of-its-kind-play-pavilion-new-park-entrance-part-of-epcots-historic-transformation/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |website=Disney Parks Blog |accessdate=21 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuttle |first1=Brittani |title=Disney announces transformed Epcot park entrance, ‘Play'Play Pavilion’Pavilion' to replace Wonders of Life |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/epcot-park-entrance-play-pavilion/ |website=Attractions Magazine |date=February 21, 2019 |accessdate=21 February 2019}}</ref>
 
==Attractions==
* '''[[Cranium Command]]''' - A theater show with [[audio-animatronic]] actors and a movie. The show explained the functions of the brain and its interaction with the human body.
* '''Frontiers of Medicine''' - Listen to stories about medicine and the brain on small televisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anet.net/~newwolf/frontiers.html|archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050213023555/http://www.anet.net/~newwolf/frontiers.html|title=Frontiers of Medicine|archivedatearchive-date=February 13, 2005|publisher=}}</ref>
* '''[[Body Wars]]''' - A [[motion simulator]] ride taking guests on a ''[[Fantastic Voyage]]''-like trip through the bloodstreamheart, lungs, and brain. The film shown was directed by [[Leonard Nimoy]], and starred actors [[Tim Matheson]], [[Elisabeth Shue]], and [[Dakin Matthews]]. Often compared to [[Star Tours]] at [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]] and [[Disneyland]] as its counterpart.
* '''Coach's Corner''' - Guests can swing a bat while a professional player gives tips.
* '''Goofy About Health''' - A [[multimedia]] show about healthy living hosted by [[Goofy]], using clips from his cartoons.
* '''Fitness Fairgrounds''' - Tested guests' athletic abilities
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*[http://magicallydigital.com/wonders-of-life/ Wonders of Life Festival Center Photo Gallery]
*[http://www.yesterland.com/erasing.html "Erasing" Former Wonders of Life]
 
{{Epcot}}
 
{{coord|28|22|29.88|N|81|32|47.99|W|region:US_dim:150|display=title}}
 
[[Category:Former Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions]]