Wonders of Life opened in October 1989 in the Future World section of what was then called EPCOT Center. Originally sponsored by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife), Wonders of Life included a collection of attractions, interactive exhibits, a restaurant, and a shop:

• Body Wars — a simulator like Star Tours, but with a higher queasiness factor
• Cranium Command — a very clever show about the functions of the human brain
• Sensory Funhouse — interactive kiosks about touch, sight, and sound
• The Making of Me — a film which answered the age-old question, “Where do babies come from?” honestly, yet in a way that was suitable for all ages
• Goofy About Health — a multi-screen presentation, promoting health using clips from old Goofy cartoons
• AnaComical Players Theater — live improvisational comedy show
• Other interactive exhibits
• Pure & Simple — a healthy counter service restaurant
• Well and Goods Limited — the pavilion’s shop

Let’s take a look at four parts of Wonders of Life, how they changed, and how they look during the 2009 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (September 25 through November 8, 2009).

During the 2007 and 2008 Food & Wine Festival, guests waited for wine seminars below the prominent Body Wars sign. The mural was gone, but the sign wasn’t.

For 2009, the sign is gone too.

In 2007, the former Cranium Command marquee became part of the stage for one of two wine seminar spaces in the Festival Center. Guests who didn’t know that it had once been an attraction marquee might even have thought it was designed to draw attention to the wine speaker at the front of the space. In 2008, culinary demos moved into the space, with the audience oriented differently, making it obvious that the marquee was an odd remnant of the past.

For 2009, the space is again used for culinary demos. With the marquee gone and a new demonstration kitchen, the space looks much better than last year.

The Sensory Funhouse was one of several interactive areas meant to educate guests about health. (Did you notice the “Wondercycles” is the Body Wars photo from 2002?) During the 2007 Festival, there where still remnants of some interactive exhibits.

For 2009, all evidence of interactive devices is gone.

The Making of Me, starring Martin Short, ran in a small theater near the back of the Wonders of Life pavilion. In 2007, an awkward curtain hid the marquee. In fact, it hid the entire front entrance to the theater. Guests could enter the theater through the exit doors to see a promotional film about Disney Vacation Club.

In 2008, there was no effort hide the original movie, even though the theater was showing films about food.

For 2009, the theater is showing Seasons of the Vine, with music by Bruce Broughton and narration by Jeremy Irons. Yes, it’s the same movie that was an attraction at Disney’s California Adventure until March 2008. The marquee certainly looks more professional now than during the 2007 and 2008 Food & Wine Festivals.

The Festival Center looks better in 2009 than in 2007 or 2008. There are consistant graphics and new paint colors. By removing remnants of the past, the pavilion looks more like a real event space than a defunct attraction pavilion.

But it also makes it clear that Wonders of Life is gone forever.

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© 2007-2009 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks

Updated October 1, 2009.

Photos of Wonders of Life: Werner Weiss (year shown under each photo).