Wonders of Life 
FLIGHT SIMULATOR THRILL RIDE ALONG WITH SHOWS AND ACTIVITIES ALL CELEBRATING HUMAN LIFE
Wonders of Life attraction features Body Wars, Cranium Command, and Fitness Fairgrounds, The Making of Me, Frontiers of Medicine, Sensory Funhouse, and more!
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Wonders of Life, presented by MetLife, featuring "Body Wars" flight-simulator thrill ride and a variety of shows and activities celebrating human life. The DNA Tower at the entrance to Epcot Wonders of Life pavilion is 5.5 billion times actual size -- just the right size for a human 6 million miles tall.A 100,000 square-foot attraction at Epcot taking a serious and amusing look at health, fitness and modern lifestyles.
Attractions:
Body Wars -- A thrill ride through the human body, accomplished by means of flight-simulator technology.
Cranium Command -- A humorous theater show in which the audience helps to “pilot” the brain of an adolescent boy. This light-hearted look at how our bodies work includes many popular actors from stage and screen, including George Wendt, Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, Charles Grodin, Jon Lovitz and Bobcat Goldthwait.
Fitness Fairgrounds:
“The Making of Me” -- Where the miraculous process of pregnancy and birth is seen through the eyes of an adult traveling through time from his own conception to birth.
Frontiers of Medicine -- Presenting exhibits on leading-edge developments in medicine and the health sciences.
Sensory Funhouse -- Featuring interactive exhibits that baffle the senses.
Coaches Corner -- Where guests get tips from top professionals in golf, tennis and baseball. Instant replay allows Walt Disney World guests to compare their videotaped stroke with that of a professional athlete.
Goofy about Health -- A multi-screen video presentation in which Goofy comes to terms with good health habits.
Met Lifestyle Revue -- Answer the computer’s questions about your work, diet, exercise and sleep patterns and find out just how you rate.
The Anacomical Players -- An improvisational theater troupe performs skits dealing with the lighter side of life and health.
Wondercyles -- Video-enhanced exercise bikes that allow guests to enjoy a light workout using tomorrow’s exercise technology.

A spectacular thrill ride through the human body propels Walt Disney World guests beyond the pounding chambers of the heart as they race against time in "Body Wars," an action-packed adventure at Wonders of Life at Epcot.
"Body Wars" combines the physical sensation of a roller coaster with special-effects film techniques on this fantastic journey aboard a "miniaturized" medical body probe.
Set beneath the gleaming Wonders of Life gold dome in Future World, the breath-taking ride is one of many life-and-health related attractions presented by MetLife in the colorful, 100,000-square-foot pavilion.
Excitement builds steadily as guests traverse a tunnel-like corridor enroute to the "Body Wars" launch site, where scientists are "miniaturized" to the size of a single cell and beamed inside the human body. The probe’s captain -- ex-fighter pilot Jack Braddock -- prepares to set out on a seemingly routine medical mission. The crew of civilian observers accompanying him is comprised of Walt Disney World guests. Their objective is to rendezvous with Dr. Cynthia Lair, an immunologist who also has been miniaturized and beamed inside a patient to study the body’s response to a splinter lodged beneath the skin. Soon, however, the voyage evolves into a high-speed race against time when Lair is swept from the splinter site into the rush of the blood-stream.
Beyond the pounding chambers of the subject’s heart and on through the lungs’ gale-force winds, the ship rides the body’s current in an effort to rescue Dr. Lair. Even after she’s safely on board, excitement builds as the ship loses power and heads toward the brain in search of emergency power and escape.
Created by Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) -- the design and engineering division of the Walt Disney Co. -- and Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), the adventure leaves guests with the sensation that they have traveled through a real human body. ILM, the motion picture effects group established by George Lucas, created the Academy Award-winning visual effects of "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
The film is directed by Leonard Nimoy, known worldwide for his portrayal of Mr. Spock in the "Star Trek" television series and films and as director of "Star Trek IV" and the Touchstone comedy hit, "Three Men and a Baby."
"Even though ‘Body Wars’ is the shortest film I’ve ever directed, it presented a new set of challenges," says Nimoy. "We had to take into account that the film will be shown inside a moving theater -- the simulator. So, in order to intensify the sense of motion, we built a set that actually moves, and rocked it during filming to match the pitching and rolling of the simulator."
Through the uncanny use of models, computer graphics and stunning photographic techniques, images of the heart, lungs and brain envelop guests as their body probe careens, dives, and rocks its way through the bloodstream.
The result is a "fantastic vision of the body -- a very dramatic and beautiful place that’s anatomically accurate," says Braverman, WDI veteran and show producer for the Wonders of Life pavilion. "It’s a unique new perspective on the wonders of life. Our goal is to show people what a wondrous realm the human body is."
Forty passengers can ride in each of the four 26-ton moving theaters -- actually simulators resembling those used in pilot training -- which provide the sensation of fast movement. All the excitement of a thrill ride is created by combining this movement with the 70mm motion picture footage projected inside the simulator.
"You’re watching a movie, but you’re in a capsule that’s being moved about with incredible forces and speed," says Braverman, who previously worked on concept and design development for Epcot’s Journey Into Imagination and The Living Seas. "You’re getting G-forces that tell your inner ear that you’re pitching, rolling and rapidly accelerating. When these motions are synchronized to the visuals, the illusion is extremely convincing."
Filming a dramatic chase on location inside the body proved to be a real challenge, says Scott Hennesy, show writer for "Body Wars." "But what better team could you imagine than Disney’s own Imagineers, together with the premier wizards of movie special effects, Industrial Light and Magic," Hennesy adds.
Based on designs and story ideas from the Imagineers and Industrial Light and Magic, technicians at ILM built extremely detailed sets that re-create the world within the human body.
Then they went to work, using the same computerized motion-control cameras and equipment used to film the spectacular space footage for the "Star Tours" attraction at Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and the Disney-MGM Studios in Florida.
The innovative film was produced by Tom Brodek. Tom Smith, executive producer of the hit, "Honey I Shrunk the Kids," and former five-year head of ILM, was technical adviser on the film.
To ensure the authenticity of "Body Wars," a prominent team of advisers specializing in the teaching and practice of medicine was consulted.
Director of visual effects for the project was ILM’s Dave Carson, who was fascinated with visualizing the body from the point of view of miniaturized explorers.
"It was difficult to create the illusion of a tiny body probe bouncing along in the bloodstream," Carson says. "In some scenes, we used complex computer graphics to depict thousands of blood cells. These shots only last a few seconds, but it took several very large computers running day and night for weeks to generate all the images."
Beyond "Body Wars," more adventures await guests in Wonders of Life, the eighth major pavilion in Future World. Other attractions include "Cranium Command," "The Making of Me," "Coach’s Corner," "The Anacomical Players," "Goofy About Health," the Fitness Fairgrounds and a food bar featuring guilt-free goodies.
"Wonders of Life is designed to celebrate fitness, wellness and the joy of being alive," Braverman says. "Its goal is to have the guests come away with a greater appreciation of what a marvelous machine the human body is and how they can help keep their own in good running order." Presented by MetLife this pavilion explores many aspects of life, health and medicine.  Featured is the Body Wars, a simulated and turbulent ride through the human body (very similar in nature to Disney Studios Star Tours ride).  If you get motion sickness, this ride is to be avoided.
Body Wars:
Turbulent thrill ride through the human body.
Cranium Command:
Hilarious look at the workings of a 12 year olds brain with celebrity guests.  Great for the kids and humorous for adults as well.
"The Making Of Me":
Sensitive film on the beginning of life.
AnaComical Players:
Improvisational skits.
Met Lifestyle Review:
Health Survey.
Coach's Corner:
Pro's judge your baseball, golf and tennis swings.
Frontiers of Medicine:
Research.
Wondercycles:
Exercise.
"Goofy About Health":
Animation.
Sensory Funhouse:
Test your senses.
Since Epcot's opening on October 1, 1982 a health and fitness pavilion was on the drawing boards, but since no sponsor was interested, it went unbuilt. But, on October 19, 1989 The Wonders of Life pavilion opened its doors with Met Life as its sponsor. It was the most recent pavilion to be added to Future World and guests can enjoy a multitude of activities.
Body Wars: This attraction uses the same technology that made "Star Tours" at The Disney MGM Studios possible. Here guests board flight simulators and are acting as "scientists" which will be miniaturized and placed inside a human body by way of a blood vessel in search of a splinter that has entered the body. During the ride you loose one of your fellow scientists and at the same time are loosing power and you must choose between rescuing the scientist or getting out safely. This attraction has great animation and special effects, and at the same time rocks you back and forth.
HEIGHT RESTRICTION: Guests must be at least 40" tall to ride 'Body Wars.' Children ages seven (7) and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Cranium Command: This attraction may be one of the forgotten attractions at Epcot, but it is also one of the best! Here guests are lead into a pre-show area where guests are given an introduction on what you are about to see. Next, you are lead into a 200-seat theater which appears to be a control room for a boy's brain. Buzzy, appears as an Audio-Animatronic character who has just finished his "basic training" and has the difficult job of piloting a boy's brain. With the help of General Knowledge, the right and left sides of the brain, the stomach, heart, and the adrenal glands (all voiced by well known celebrities such as George Wendt, Kevin Nealon, and Dana Carvey) Buzzy gets through one very chaotic day. Guests will be able to go through all the daily activities and witness all the havoc that is created by your average twelve year old. This attraction is a must see!
The Rest of the Pavilion: Besides the two major attractions: Cranium Command and Body Wars, there are several other activities and shows for you to experience. When you walk into the pavilion you will notice on your left hand side several exersize bikes, known as "wonder cycles." Here guests can exersize their legs by traveling through Disneyland via the television screen in front of you.
Other areas of the pavilion include the Coaches Corner where you choose your favorite sport--either baseball, tennis, or golf and get your swing analyzed by a professional via a television screen. The kids love this one!
"The Making of Me" is a comical show staring Martin Short in a short film on sex education, Disney style. "Goofy about Health" is a short film staring Goofy going from a lazy, sloppy living guy to a someone who is very health conscious.
Pure & Simple: Located on the east side of The Wonders of Life pavilion this snack food stand offers a variety of health foods.
Specialty: sandwiches, frozen yogurt, fruit juices
Serves: Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks
Price: Inexpensive
Priority Seating: N/A
Service: Counter Service
 The main attraction in the Wonders of Life Pavilion, Body Wars, is a rough simulator-type ride through the human body. The basic plot is that you are shrunk to miniscule proportions to watch a scientist remove a splinter. However, this plan changes quickly as the scientist is mistaken to be an antigen and attacked by white blood cells. Your mission: rescue the scientist! This ride is not too frightening (unless the sight of blood makes you queasy), but is one of the roughest in Walt Disney World. There are the standard pregnancy, back, and heart regulations/advisories imposed on this ride. Personally, I would add eating to these, as I would not recommend eating and riding this for a while after. The technology used in Body Wars is state of the art, but it just falls short of a great Disney ride.
Wait: Usually 45 minutes to an hour, but much shorter at night.
Restrictions: No children under 3 admitted. Children under 7 only with adult. Those with heart problems, back problems, or who are pregnant should avoid this ride.
Shippahoy.com rates Body Wars: of 5
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Cranium Command