Wonders of Life: Difference between revisions

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/ |access-date=December 30, 2018 }}</ref> and closed on January 1, 2007.<ref name="WOLHistory">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlH4jLokp08 |title=The History of & Changes to The Wonders of Life |date=April 4, 2017 |medium=YouTube video |publisher=Park Ride History |access-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/XlH4jLokp08 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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! Pavilion]] to replace it.

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 |date= April 4, 2017|title= The History of & Changes to The Wonders of Life|medium= YouTube video|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlH4jLokp08 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/XlH4jLokp08 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|access-date= December 4, 2017|publisher= Park Ride History}}{{cbignore}}</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 June 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 |date= August 31, 2015 |title= Abandoned - Wonders of Life|medium= YouTube video|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVjUTN-os4A |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717095556/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVjUTN-os4A&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=2016-07-17 |url-status=dead|access-date= December 4, 2017|publisher= Bright Sun Films}}</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.

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.

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" />