Wonders of Life in 1996

With the recent (as I write this, not as you read it) announcement of Epcot’s Wonders of Life pavilion returning as a new Play pavilion, I thought I’d see what photos I took there with my first digital camera in 1996.

Not much, as it turns out. But let’s take a look anyway.

I liked that the pavilion was a done — sorta like some of the “domed city” concepts Walt Disney had for E.P.C.O.T. Outside was the large monument representing a DNA strand. And, at the time, it was sponsored by MetLife.

Wonders of Life pavilion on August 29, 1996.

Inside, I thought it looked more like a colorful mall food court.

Inside Wonders of Life on August 29, 1996.

There wasn’t much in this pavilion — some movies and live entertainment, plus the movie/animatronic Cranium Command and motion simulator Body Wars.

Inside Wonders of Life on August 29, 1996.

Body Wars was directed by Leonard “Spock” Nimoy. It used the same ride system as Star Tours. In the early years, there were many issues with people getting sick on the ride due to the fluid motion of the simulator. It never bothered me like that, but I did not find it as fun as the Star Tours space race. Since many folks don’t seem to comment on this these days, I assume Disney must have toned it down, much like they did with Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland.

Body Wars on August 29, 1996.

And those were the only photos I took of Wonders of Life during my first visit to Walt Disney World with a digital camera.

Until next time…