October 1, 2009: Erasing Wonders of Life

[Werner Weiss]

Wonders of Life at Epcot closed forever on New Years Day 2007. The golden domed pavilion reopened in fall 2007 for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as the Festival Center—with plenty of evidence of the pavilion’s former use. Now in its third year as the Festival Center, that evidence has been erased.

Link to Erasing Wonders of Life

Please discuss it here.

[The Shadoe]

Truly and honestly, I don't think Wonders of Life was a very good pavilion. It always reminded me of a dated version of the local Science Museum. Idea = good. Cranium Command = good. Everything else was mediocre to lame, set with all the atmosphere and charm of a late '80s shopping mall.

That said, I would still hope to see attractions back in there one day. Health is certainly something that should be discussed, particularly as our nation tries to figure out how to reform our health insurance problem. While our nation has the best doctors, hospitals, medical advances, and breakthroughs, we still have huge problems with obesity, addiction, proper exercise, etc. All of which are very much EPCOT topics.

Given this current political climate, one would think that a health insurance provider would want to sponsor a pavilion such as this to make themselves not look quite as merciless as our current administration has been portraying them.

[stu29573]

I actually kind of miss Body Wars. Yes, it was the same ride as Star Tours, but with different theming and movie; yes, it was more intense and had a bigger queazy factor, but it was still a fun and exciting ride that I only got to experience once. Cranium Command was fun, but it would be horribly dated now. The rest of the pavillion was pretty forgettable (for me anyway). Still I would have liked it to be maintained and updated rather than turned into a lecture hall....Sigh....

[Mr. Bungle]

I never liked Body Wars much, it seemed to me that it just shook you instead of any fancy movement like Star Tours did/does.

However, I still liked to check out Cranium Command on every visit until it closed.

But yeah, the Wonders of Life pavillion was a fairly weak offering overall, in my opinion.

[a-net-fan]

Originally Posted by The Shadoe

Truly and honestly, I don't think Wonders of Life was a very good pavilion. It always reminded me of a dated version of the local Science Museum. Idea = good. Cranium Command = good. Everything else was mediocre to lame, set with all the atmosphere and charm of a late '80s shopping mall.

That said, I would still hope to see attractions back in there one day. Health is certainly something that should be discussed, particularly as our nation tries to figure out how to reform our health insurance problem. While our nation has the best doctors, hospitals, medical advances, and breakthroughs, we still have huge problems with obesity, addiction, proper exercise, etc. All of which are very much EPCOT topics.

Given this current political climate, one would think that a health insurance provider would want to sponsor a pavilion such as this to make themselves not look quite as merciless as our current administration has been portraying them.

I agree with you. I never really enjoyed this pavilion and what it had to offer. Cranium Command was fun like you said but the rest left me underwhelmed. I really dont feel any sadness for the things that were lost here but I do wish that the space would be re imagineered into something with higher quality offerings such as what THE LAND offers. HEY maybe they should bring Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit back (not food rocks please) and put it in here!
What do you think???

YouTube - Kitchen Kabaret (part one)

YouTube - Kitchen Kabaret (part two)

Thank you warner for the pictures. It is nice to see what that space looks like now.

[kindagoofy]

Cranium Command was the best. As far as I know, it was the only accurate portrayal and inside story of a pre-teen boy's feelings for girls (which made my wife laugh every time she saw it.)

Thank you for the past and present photos.

[GrumpyFan]

Werner, thanks again for your efforts at preserving and showcasing WDW's past. Sadly, we always passed by this pavilion, always with the intent of catching it later in our trip, only we never did. Looks like now, we never will.

[The Shadoe]

Originally Posted by GrumpyFan

Werner, thanks again for your efforts at preserving and showcasing WDW's past. Sadly, we always passed by this pavilion, always with the intent of catching it later in our trip, only we never did. Looks like now, we never will.

I'm not sure if you (or any folks here) know about MouseBits, but Martin Smith has an excellent and in-depth tribute to the Wonders of Life Pavilion which you can download:

Wonders of Life - Martins Ultimate Tribute - 1 of 2
Wonders of Life - Martins Ultimate Tribute - 2 of 2

It contains footage of all the attractions within the pavilion, a history of the pavilion including mock-ups and things which never came to be, as well as a history detailing the demise of the pavilion. A very good watch. Curl up on the sofa late one night with a bowl of popcorn and a beer... and enjoy!

[goldenstate5]

What I'd really like to know is what still lies in the show buildings for Body Wars and Cranium Command. I have a good feeling we'll find out in 2010 when Disney opens them up as seminar halls and what not...

[The Shadoe]

My understanding is that the attractions are still there... albeit partially demolished. Body Wars is cannibalized for Star Tours parts as needed, and my understanding is they use a simulator for testing the new Star Tours II.

Cranium Command is still also back there, collecting dust.

Disney isn't going to do anything with these giant spaces unless they need to. My guess is that the Star Tours space isn't all that useful anyways, as they'd need to build a real floor and remove the simulators.

I personally don't understand why they don't use the old Millennium Village for this event, as it's newer, more generic, and closer to the World Showcase where most of the food and wine events are taking place.

[Timekeeper]

Originally Posted by The Shadoe

My understanding is that the attractions are still there... albeit partially demolished. Body Wars is cannibalized for Star Tours parts as needed, and my understanding is they use a simulator for testing the new Star Tours II.

Cranium Command is still also back there, collecting dust.

Disney isn't going to do anything with these giant spaces unless they need to. My guess is that the Star Tours space isn't all that useful anyways, as they'd need to build a real floor and remove the simulators.

I personally don't understand why they don't use the old Millennium Village for this event, as it's newer, more generic, and closer to the World Showcase where most of the food and wine events are taking place.

I argee(Why can't they use Millennium Village?)
Also, what were they thinking for puting "Seasons Of The Vine" in the "Making Of Me" Theater?(It would make a lot more sense to put it in The LAND.)
As to what A-Net-Fan said of puting "Kitchen Kabaret" in Wonders Of Life, Yes! Please put it in!(All they[Disney] would have to do, is make some space for it!) Sorry for ing.

Timekeeper.

[davidgra]

I really miss the Wonders of Life pavilion. Like The Land, it was a nice pavilion to visit during the heat of the day, where you could sit indoors and sip a cool drink, as well as see several attractions in one place.

The past two years, during the Food & Wine Festival and the Flower & Garden Festival, we've gone into the "festival center" in the pavilion and sat wistfully on benches, remembering the attraction as it once was. The domed space is still beautiful, and I still love the mobiles hanging from the ceiling.

It boggles my mind that a major piece of real estate within Epcot is left to deteriorate. While I'd love to see it reopened (with some upgrades), I would understand if they chose to tear it down and build something new. I just don't get the idea of leaving it there, mostly abandoned.

David

[Mr. Bungle]

I loved Kitchen Kabaret as a kid, and I'd love to see it return.

[LucyintheSky]

Interesting pictures. I did like the Wonders of Life pavilion as a whole, but I am not sad in the least about the permanent closure of Body Wars. That's the only Disney attraction I ever truly hated.

[Mr. Bungle]

Originally Posted by LucyintheSky

That's the only Disney attraction I ever truly hated.

I think it got the strongest negative reaction for a Disney attraction from me as well.