Birt Family Focus

Wonders of Life Pavilion -- 6/11/02

Howdy folks- today we visit the Wonders of Life Pavilion. There are a lot of things to do here, so this article will probably be kind of long. Hope you don't mind.

Wonders of Life is next to World of Energy- sort of. It's up a big hill to the right of Energy. You can see the big DNA strand from the walkway before you get there, and it's golden dome glints in the sun. Be sure to stop and have a peek in the little stream and pond near the entrance- there are usually baby ducklings frolicking there.

Inside there is a multitude of things to do and see. The largest attraction is Body Wars. This is a motion simulator ride that takes you in a miniature submarine through the human blood stream and explains the functions of may parts of the body. It is extremely informative and fun, but tends to cause more nausea than other motion simulators. All that blood and guts, I guess. ;-) Your captain on this voyage is Tim Matheson. Even though the film is getting a bit old, I still enjoy it, if only to pretend I am actually sitting in the same room with one of my favorite actors. If anyone of you is old enough to remember the film Fantastic Voyage- this is the Disney version.

The next attraction is, IMO, the best one in the place- Cranium Command. Here you are placed inside a 12 year old boy's brain. I discovered that the brain doesn't work like I thought it did. There is an army in there instead of neurons! Actually, it isn't designed to show brain function per se, but to get you into the head of a 12 year old and see what effect his daily decisions (and our own) can make on the body systems' ability to function. This little gem is hilarious and you will recognize a BUNCH of faces playing the parts of various organs. Buzzy, the animatronic brain pilot, is a hoot as well. Don't miss this.

The Making of Me- this is a little film starring Martin Short in which the question of where babies come from is gently answered. They are completely accurate but leave the more.....private details to be discussed with mom and dad, by simply showing HIS mom and dad in bed together, WITH PJ's on, kissing, then fading out. Short describes it as becoming "very , very close together". It is very sweet and I had both my kids watch it from the time they were both old enough to talk. I think it made that particular subject much easier for me to handle. Of course, you must decide for yourselves whether to allow your children to see it, but rest assured it is tasteful, sweet, and talks about conception only in the context of marriage, and then pretty broadly.

Last is the Fitness Fairgrounds which is a collection of hands on displays explaining how different systems and such work in our bodies. I understand they have added a skit with Doctor Tom (?) and Male Nurse Danny to the offerings. I haven't seen this but several of my friends have and they assure me it's "da bomb". There are bikes to pedal and see how may calories you burn, a place to practice your golf swing, a sensory game, hearing games, a place with descriptions of medical advances, and my favorite- a little theatre that runs the Goofy About Fitness cartoons. Those are soooo funny!

We could literally spend hours here and I'm sure you will, too. Be sure not to miss this when you go to Epcot!