Epcot is filled with learning experiences — from farming to energy, space to technology, and culture to geography. But one area that Epcot doesn’t focus on anymore is human life – at least not since the closure of the Wonders of Life Pavilion. This area, which opened in 1989 and closed in 2007, had offered experiences such as glimpses inside the body and the brain (Body Wars and Cranium Command), a sweet film about where babies come from (“The Making of Me”) and a presentation featuring cartoon clips that promoted healthy habits (Goofy About Health).
Now, the pavilion is used as Epcot’s “Festival Center,” and is only open during events such as the Food and Wine Festival each fall and the Flower and Garden Festival in the springtime. But what about the other seasons? This valuable space could be repurposed to bring more “life” to the Wonders of Life Pavilion – every day of the year. Here are 5 things that Disney should do with the space.
1. Update classic attractions
The new Pixar movie “Inside Out,” which will be released in June, follows the five emotions inside a girl’s head. Cranium Command put people inside a boy’s head. Why not update the old Cranium Command attraction with a new “Inside Out” theme? Also, Body Wars could be updated much like Star Tours, with different scenarios so it’s not just the same experience every time.
2. Get physical
If kids (or adults) need to let out some energy, they could scale a rock-climbing wall (maybe with a special prize for reaching the top), or play physical video games that get them up and moving. In addition, the games that will soon be leaving Innoventions West, such as Where’s the Fire and the Great Piggy Bank Adventure, could find a new home in this pavilion.
3. Add more cooking demonstrations
Live cooking demonstrations are a common sight during both festivals. Disney could set up live demonstrations all year long. Different times of day could have different themes – for example, a healthy breakfast demonstration could be followed by a kid-friendly make-your-own-pizza lunch, then a date-night dinner. Representatives from the World Showcase could get involved in making meals from their home countries for the demonstrations, and the meals could even be paid for with Disney Dining Plan credits.
4. Embrace nostalgia
Memories are a part of life too, and a theater could allow guests to experience Epcot rides and shows that no longer physically exist. The attractions shown could include Magic Journeys, Horizons, World of Motion, Kitchen Kabaret and Food Rocks. Maybe the seats could move for some attractions and remain stationary for others, and the attractions could change throughout the day.
5. Get hands-on
During the Flower and Garden Festival, the back of the pavilion has featured pictures of Disney’s impressive topiaries, along with written explanations of how they’re created and small models showing each step of the process. And during the Food and Wine Festival, the area has been full of extraordinary chocolate sculptures – last year’s featured chocolate versions of the Snow White Mine Train and a large “fire-breathing” Maleficent, among others. The areas are popular for guests to walk through, but live demonstrations of how to make some of these creations and others (such as gingerbread houses during the holidays) would make for a very interesting show – as well as a nice place to stop and relax before seeing all of the rest of the attractions that this pavilion would have to offer!
There are all kinds of things that Disney could add to this pavilion – and many of the attractions suggested here could easily be moved or changed during the festivals, so the space would still be available each spring and fall. Do you have any more ideas for the pavilion? Add them below!
