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A Twist in Time: Finale
Wonders of Life
sponsored by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
Since Epcot's inception, there was always a plan for a pavilion on the Human Body in Future World - and since 2007 - that plan has been dormant and absent from the promenade, replaced with a Festival Center for various special events in the park. When the announcement and plan for a rejuvenated Epcot became a reality - much research and homework was done to ensure that the imagineers had a background in the pavilions that they were dealing with - in particular the Wonders of Life due to its history.
The midway of the body and fitness fairground theme of the Wonders of Life became a dated and abandoned concept once METLife pulled its sponsorship of the pavilion - and the pavilion as a whole suffered as a result. Not only that, but during its run from 1989-2007 - its premiere attraction, Body Wars, was compared inferior to Star Tours, and garnered a reputation for causing motion sickness due to its jerky simulator motion, and claustrophobia being inside the Human Body. While during its run, the pavilion wasn't as mainstream popular compared to other Epcot Pavilions - in its decayed and transformed state - it has garnered a lot of nostalgia and love, seeing how it had been treated since its departure from the Epcot attractions lineup. Seeing the Body Wars murals covered up and all the "abandoned" videos on the internet - it needs some love and affection. Epcot needs a pavilion based on life and heath - as it was always designed to have. However, this new Wonders of Life Pavilion will not be a midway carnival of the body - and instead will be a living, breathing edutainment pavilion on human health designed as a research dome.
The new Wonders of Life Pavilion will be inspired by the research centers at college and university affiliated hospitals, and the interior will be designed as if it is a 365 days a year "open house" for guests to enter and visit the research center for themselves. With the help and assisted funding of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield - this $220 Million Dollar renovation and expansion project was plausible
Overview
From the early conception of the new pavilion, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield and WDI were motivated to change up the ambiance of the pavilion - and modernize the original 80s design.
Following the numbers on the rough original sketch from WDI above:
--1--
The front part of the pavilion would have a facelift - bringing back the DNA tower, but in a much more elaborate way. Instead of just having the DNA tower - there will be two DNA strands going through what is called "semiconservative replication"
Essentially, this new stature out front will be symbolic of the ever changing nature of life - and how we evolve and grow over time. Life is not a stationary being - it is something that is constantly changing - and this new icon is a testament to that.
Furthermore, the show building elements of the pavilion will be expanded upon - so much so that westward facing show building will be visible from the entrance. The visible aspect of the show building will be touted with a chromatic covering to look like an extension off of a hospital or other medical research facility. At night - it will glow and illuminate along with the dome aspect of the pavilion - making the pavilion as a whole more unique and prominent in Future World East. The trees that used to cover it will be trimmed and new smaller bushes and plants will be in their place so the full reveal of the pavilion can be seen as you walk up.
Concept Art for the Pavilion as seen from Future World East
--2--
An aerial perspective showing the expanded range of the new show building and the surrounding buildings of the Universe of Energy and Mission: Space. **Note that this is an early rendition - the actual blueprints have a show building extension on the right side of the building as well - as will be seen in future blueprints.
--3--
A rough look inside of the pavilion - showing the new layout and design. It is called the "Right Atrium" as a pun on words for the fact that it is an atrium - but also the right atrium as an aspect of the human heart. The "CNS" - or Central Nervous System - is a new spinal cord in the center of the building, which has an elevator system in it, taking guests from the 1st and 2nd floors.
--4--
The Pavilion - while it always had two floors + offices - will have a prominent two floors now. As you walk inside - you will enter truly on a second floor (similar to the Land Pavilion) with attractions on both the 1st and 2nd floors as will be noted below.
2nd Floor Blueprint
As you enter on the 2nd Floor of the Pavilion - you can either veer to the left or right to separate attractions, or go down the ramp/escalator to the 1st Floor. You can then meander around the pavilion, and walk across "the artery" breezeway or "the vein" breezeway - connected to the central nervous system in the center of the pavilion with the elevator taking you down to the 1st floor.
The areas of interest on the 2nd Floor are:
Intracellular - A dark ride hybrid roller coaster type attraction where you are shrunk down to a microscopic level to fix a damaged mitochondria.
Inner Life of the Cell - a 20 minute planetarium style show that illustrates the intricacies of the human cell.
1st Floor Blueprint
The areas of interest on the 1st Floor are:
The Pediatric Wing - a kid-friendly area about emotions and senses in the body
The Psychology Department - a sprawling vista of mazes, brain games, and other interactive elements.
Health and Wellness Zone - a healthy habit center complete with different aerobic and physical fitness elements.
The Synapse - a table-service restaurant themed to healthy eating.
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