Wonders of Life...what's the deal?

[copcarguyp71]

I am just looking to get info or start a discussion on this attraction. Why has Disney let such a prime piece of Epcot become so unused? I have never seen this attraction myself as we travel to disney during low season and it is always closed. Why close it during that time? And if it is attended so poorly why not re-design/replace it and help to spruce up Epcot?

I know in another thread there were talks that Disney may dismantle the Carousel of Progress in the MK...why not move it here and open a whole new pavillion based around the future of progress and technology in the spirit of Epcot? They could update the COP and bring a whole new generation of viewers into the wonder all of us old-heads experienced the first time we saw the COP.

Maybe I have missed discussions to this end and I appologize if this is a re-post.:hammer:

 

[TLS]

I don't know the reason, and I feel like you....they should so SOMETHING there.

It was closed when I was there in '06 (we spent like 3 full days in Epcot!). It is so well hidden, you really could have missed it if your didn't know it was there. I forget if it was even on the park map or not?

I'm pretty sure it was open last month when I was there, but I was only able to spend a couple hours there and wanted to show my family as many good E-ticket rides in the shortest time (so obviously, Body Wars was out).

B-Town huh? I'm not far from ya.

 

[marni1971]

Okay..

Wonders lost sponsorship when Metroploitan Life pulled out. It continued for a while with no sponsor, went seasonal to save costs, then closed.

The main pavilion space was available for special events and private hirings, like Odyssey and World Showplace. The greenery was allowed to hide much of the pavilion since it is now technically not a guest area, unlike when it was open each day and clearly visible.

Cranium Command was removed and the space sealed. Body Wars was stripped of useful parts and the simulators used to test new technology for a forthcoming attraction elsewhere. They are still used each day to cycle through the mechanics.

As of now events has control for the rest of the year. After that there are plans to reuse the showbuilding under a new theme with a new sponsor if possible.

With the park being so popular, and 2 of the parks most popular attractions next door, sadly there has been no rush to do this so far. Things are now picking up pace, especially when another Futureworld pavilion has a major rehab, changing the park balance crowd wise.

 

[krankenstein]

With the park being so popular, and 2 of the parks most popular attractions next door, sadly there has been no rush to do this so far. Things are now picking up pace, especially when another Futureworld pavilion has a major rehab, changing the park balance crowd wise.

w00t!! :sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[copcarguyp71]

It just seems like such a wasted asset! A huge building that would require minimal investment in lieu of actually building another attraction. I do not understand why Disney has overlooked this potential. Yes there are other new rides right next door but there is also the fact that this area is a dead end and the universe of energy is in need of some sort of topical revamp. I mean really, how many kids know who the heck Ellen and Bill Nye (a personal favorite of mine) are? I think that in these tough ecomonic times Disney should look inward instead of towards expansion to keep interest in the parks/attractions they have already. Just my $0.02...

 

[LongballMG]

Cc

Martin:

When did we find out that CC was removed?

I thought it was just sealed off.

 

[AnimalMagnetism]

With the park being so popular, and 2 of the parks most popular attractions next door, sadly there has been no rush to do this so far. Things are now picking up pace, especially when another Futureworld pavilion has a major rehab, changing the park balance crowd wise.

Interesting. Obviously you can't say more else you would have done, but this could mean that things are picking up pace because they'll need another attraction when this mystery one goes down for refurb (in which case I assume you mean Test Track); or you could mean that once that refurb is done, something will be needed to pull balance back towards the other side of Future World, in which case I assume you mean JII. (JII going down for refurb wouldn't exactly change the park balance crowd wise, since only about five people ride it per day at the moment.)

Either way it's good to hear that something will be done with the space. I do feel Epcot is still an attraction or two light for "average" visitors (I myself could quite happily walk around the place all day every day for the rest of my life, with it just as it is now!)

 

[raven]

I mean really, how many kids know who the heck Ellen and Bill Nye (a personal favorite of mine) are?

EPCOT has been geared toward adults for years. Only recently have they started making it kid friendly. So this really isn't anything new. It will take some time to change everything.

As for why they haven't done anything with WOL...major project priorities, lack of interest and money.

 

[DisneyGigi]

Something that I don't understand is why is Body Wars still listed in the Guides? Unofficial & Official.. We never got to experience it because the kids were too small. Anyway... when we went last year DH asked a CM if it was open because it was not listed on the map and she had no clue what he was talking about. When was the last time that it was open?

 

[PuertoRekinSam]

Martin:

When did we find out that CC was removed?

I thought it was just sealed off.

It's only sealed off. There is a lot of interior construction going on right now.

But CC, and at least 1 Simulator are still in the building.

The screens are looking beat though, and our good friend Buzy looks creepy, just sitting there, watching with his head slighty cocked to the side. He reminds me of Andy in Toy Story 2 during Woody's nightmare

 

[marni1971]

My mistake then. Silly me....

*whistles*

Guides - official and unofficial - are only as good as the info they have. Birnbaum for example is still using photos 5 or more years old.

 

[MAGICFLOP]

Seems like there is a WOL thread every 10 days now. More work has been done on threads than on the WOL itself.:ROFLOL:

WOL is scheduled to open in conjunction with the grand opening of the 5th gate, says a reliable boat captain.:drevil:

 

[kingslyZISSOU]

I don't understand why WOL is such a mystery to people. within the last ten years there has been 3 new E tickets opened; Test track, Mission space, and Soarin. They just did a major rehab on Space ship earth, and The living seas. Why would they add another Major attraction to the same park when many average Disney vacationers still haven't been on them. (not to mention wol is right next to test track, and mission space.)

The reason new attractions are added are to get us to spend money to go to that particular park. I don't think they would really make any return if they opened something new right now, when theres at other attractions that are still new to many guests.

I would give it a good 8 years or so before we see anything new in WOL. As much as I would love to see something there, I just don't think it would be a good move for Disney.

 

[Phonedave]

Something that I don't understand is why is Body Wars still listed in the Guides? Unofficial & Official.. We never got to experience it because the kids were too small. Anyway... when we went last year DH asked a CM if it was open because it was not listed on the map and she had no clue what he was talking about. When was the last time that it was open?

Thats funny. My kids (6 and 9) were in there during Flower and Garden and I had been talking about what used to be in there. My 9 year old went up and asked a CM why Body Wars was closed, and then started to explain the ride. He was very confused as to how a 9 year old was going on and on about a ride he really knew nothing about.


-dave

 

[MiklCraw4d]

As of now events has control for the rest of the year. After that there are plans to reuse the showbuilding under a new theme with a new sponsor if possible.

With the park being so popular, and 2 of the parks most popular attractions next door, sadly there has been no rush to do this so far. Things are now picking up pace, especially when another Futureworld pavilion has a major rehab, changing the park balance crowd wise.

I'm bumping the thread to see if there's been any movement on this - are there any plans for this space aside from event usage?

I'm assuming nothing has been greenlit, of course, but I'm wondering if they're actively working on new concepts for an actual attraction here.

 

[marni1971]

Plans - quite a few. Greenlit - nope.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Okay..

Wonders lost sponsorship when Metroploitan Life pulled out. It continued for a while with no sponsor, went seasonal to save costs, then closed.

The main pavilion space was available for special events and private hirings, like Odyssey and World Showplace. The greenery was allowed to hide much of the pavilion since it is now technically not a guest area, unlike when it was open each day and clearly visible.

Cranium Command was removed and the space sealed. Body Wars was stripped of useful parts and the simulators used to test new technology for a forthcoming attraction elsewhere. They are still used each day to cycle through the mechanics.

As of now events has control for the rest of the year. After that there are plans to reuse the showbuilding under a new theme with a new sponsor if possible.

With the park being so popular, and 2 of the parks most popular attractions next door, sadly there has been no rush to do this so far. Things are now picking up pace, especially when another Futureworld pavilion has a major rehab, changing the park balance crowd wise.

*chokes on coffee*

WOAH-I know your post is a few months old but WOW...You had never hinted at this before!Anything else we can know?:lookaroun

 

[Enigma]

Well theres rumors that the body wars area was being used to do testing for Star Tours and a new attraction for one of the international parks. The big rehab hes refering to is Imagination I think but the signs don't point for imagination to close this year.

 

[burninup4nick]

Im miss WoL...
I loved the fitness fairgrounds...they were so much fun....
and I was too young and too scared to do Body Wars when it was open (I did it once and was pretty scared) but I really wish I could experience it now that Im old enough to enjoy it....

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Well theres rumors that the body wars area was being used to do testing for Star Tours and a new attraction for one of the international parks. The big rehab hes refering to is Imagination I think but the signs don't point for imagination to close this year.

Right...Signs of that has slowed down a bit...Is that what he was talking about?