The idea of a pavilion devoted to health and fitness dates back to the original concept of the EPCOT Center theme park, but no corporate sponsor could be found to cover the costs. It was not until
MetLife signed on that the pavilion was finally constructed, and it featured two main attractions:
Cranium Command and
Body Wars, the first thrill ride located in EPCOT. Also featured was a theater (home to
The Making of Me), restaurant and interactive attractions that evolved around the idea of health and wellness. The Wonders of Life pavilion was officially announced on January 22, 1988, with construction beginning the following month. It opened to the general public on October 19, 1989. MetLife ended its sponsorship in June 2001, which led to the gradual decline of the pavilion. On January 4, 2004, Disney made the decision to make it seasonal operation only. It reopened when the park was projected to hit near capacity during the high spring months and Christmas season. Its most recent operational phase was November 26, 2006, through January 1, 2007. In 2007, the pavilion closed permanently, with no official reason given. While it is not operational to the public, it is still commonly used for private and corporate events. The pavilion then operated seasonally as the festival center for the
Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival and the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The pavilion hosted seminars, videos, presentations, and more. It was used as a central merchandise location during the two festivals as well. The theater that was used for The Making of Me was used for various movies and presentations during festival events. Beginning in 2007, temporary walls were placed around the existing attractions during the festival. The "Body Wars" sign was removed in 2008, replaced by a temporary Garden Town sign while the imprints from the original marquee were painted over. By 2009, significant portions of the Body Wars attraction had been removed. The "Celebrate the Joy of Life" sign was removed following in 2009, while most of the exhibits left were removed. The pavilion also received a paint job inside using mute colors such as white and light green. On September 11, 2012, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a notice of commencement with the Orange County Comptroller's office indicating the intentions for a "selective demolition" to take place at the pavilion. As of November 2014, the Body Wars ride simulators have been dismantled. The queue still exists, but most of the props and other electronics have been removed. As of 2017, the Cranium Command queue and pre-show was partially dismantled. However, the theater, including the lighting, seats, and staging area, remains intact. Buzzy, the audio-
animatronic from Cranium Command, was reported as stolen in 2018. Cast member
Patrick Spikes and his cousin Blaytin Tauton were arrested in 2019 for their connection to the theft. A documentary detailing Buzzy's disappearance titled
Stolen Kingdom was released in 2025. In February 2019, it was announced that a new interactive pavilion would be built in the dome formerly occupied by Wonders of Life. This project was a part of a larger overhaul of Epcot, which would include a redesign of the main entrance, as well as new attractions such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Many of these developments, including Play! Pavilion, were originally scheduled to open in time for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary in 2021. However, construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2023, Disney stated that they are reevaluating the concept, and removed all mention of the Play! Pavilion from park maps. The reimagining of Epcot concluded in Summer 2024 with the opening of CommuniCore Hall. As of 2025, Disney has not made any announcements regarding future plans for the former Wonders of Life pavilion. ==Attractions==