"Past Disney" July 2023 Exercise Challenge

[sophy1996]

Congratulations to Raya for turning 1950s Blue and to PollyannaMom, Oneanne, Elizabeth Smith, and the TEAM for turning 1960s Orange!

Hopping over to Epcot, one attraction that I never experienced but have heard a lot about is Horizons.

From WDW Magazine.com:

"Horizons essentially picks up where the Carousel of Progress, Disney’s other forward-looking attraction that shows a glimpse of the (now outdated) future, leaves off. After walking through a queue designed to look like a “FuturePort,” which is similar to an airport but with signage showcasing all of the futuristic destinations one could theoretically travel to, Guests would board their Omnimover ride vehicles."

Guests then traveled through scenes called "Looking Back at Tomorrow," "Omnisphere," "Tomorrow's Windows," and "Brava Centuri."

Horizons was open from 1983 to 1999. In 2003, Mission Space opened in the former Horizons building.

 

[sophy1996]

+205

555/1400

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I like the sound of Horizons but unfortunately never experience it. Sounds fun though

 

[Bethislucy]

adding 95 mins for Tuesday & Wednesday 430/700

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

I actually quite enjoy Mission Space, but Horizons does sound interesting. But maybe too similar to Spaceship Earth?
+25 minutes tonight on the exercise bike.
155/400

 

[sophy1996]

+25

580/1400

 

[sophy1996]

Congratulations to Bethislucy for being the first team member to turn 1970s Purple!

Next door to Horizons was the Wonders of Life Pavilion, featuring Body Wars and one of my old favorites, Cranium Command. Body Wars was a simulator ride (like Star Tours) which took guests on a tour inside the human body. Cranium Command was a comical peek into the life of a preteen boy (and perhaps an inspiration for Inside Out?), with poor inexperienced pilot Buzzy trying to direct the boy's brain and various celebrities of the day playing the boy's physical functions.

The Wonders of Life Pavilion was open from 1989 to 2007, though only on a seasonal basis from 2004 on. It was used for special events until Disney announced a few years ago it would would be replaced by another attraction, colloquially known as the Play Pavilion. That project, however, seems like it might have stalled.

Trivia question: Do you know who directed the Body Wars film?

Spoiler: Who?

Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I remember going to the Wonders of Life pavilion on our first visit to EPCOT. My husband did the body wars ride first to see if it would be ok for our daughter (aged 4) He was so motion sick after it he had to sit down for half an hour while we played with the various exhibits. I seem to remember a fitness test area with an exercise bicycle. Needless to say I didn’t risk the ride but actually I’d have likely been fine as I have done MS orange

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Another 20 minutes walking done
260/650

 

[Oneanne]

Congratulations to Bethislucy for being the first team member to turn 1970s Purple!

Next door to Horizons was the Wonders of Life Pavilion, featuring Body Wars and one of my old favorites, Cranium Command. Body Wars was a simulator ride (like Star Tours) which took guests on a tour inside the human body. Cranium Command was a comical peek into the life of a preteen boy (and perhaps an inspiration for Inside Out?), with poor inexperienced pilot Buzzy trying to direct the boy's brain and various celebrities of the day playing the boy's physical functions.

The Wonders of Life Pavilion was open from 1989 to 2007, though only on a seasonal basis from 2004 on. It was used for special events until Disney announced a few years ago it would would be replaced by another attraction, colloquially known as the Play Pavilion. That project, however, seems like it might have stalled.

Trivia question: Do you know who directed the Body Wars film?

Spoiler: Who?

Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame!

I loved Cranium Command, the boy in it looked just like my older Nephew.

 

[Oneanne]

+90 for the past two days

600/1395... 43%

 

[Bethislucy]

Adding 70 mins for today and yesterday. 500/700

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

+30 tonight. Exercise bike and yoga.
185/400

 

[PollyannaMom]

Tue-7/11 - 15
Wed-7/12 - 15
Thu-7/13 - 25
Fri-7/14 - 20

(treadmill & yoga)

300/600

 

[sophy1996]

+50

630/1400

 

[sophy1996]

Congratulations to PollyannaMom for turning 1970s Purple!

Next to Wonders of Life was the Universe of Energy pavilion. It started as an overview of energy generally -- as described by AllEars.net, "the original version of Universe of Energy was a massive, 45-minute experience that utilized film, a revolutionary ride system, animatronics, and songs." But by 1996, it was outdated. The pavilion was closed for a retheme and reopened as Ellen's Energy Adventure.

In Ellen's Energy Adventure, Alex Trebek from Jeopardy! and Bill Nye the Science Guy (with an appearance by Jamie Lee Curtis) try to teach Ellen DeGeneres about energy. The dinosaur animatronics from the original ride remained.

Ellen's Energy Adventure played for 21 years, but then closed in 2017 to make way for the first Epcot pavilion from outside Earth -- the Wonders of Xandar pavilion--for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. (It actually closed on the same day as the Great Movie Ride!). Guardians opened in 2022.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I adored Ellen’ energy adventure!
I was so sad when it closed as my family and I always welcomed that cool air conditioned break from the summer sun. I do love the new GOTG ride too so all is well .
Another 20 minutes walking done today so….
280/650

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

+15 minutes of arms/core stuff and stretching.
200/400

 

[sophy1996]

+35

665/1400

 

[sophy1996]

Congratulations to Elizabeth Smith for turning 1970s Purple!

Another attraction many fans lament the loss of is the original Journey Into Imagination ride with Figment and the Dreamfinder. The original ride was open from 1983 to 1998, then replaced in 1999 with a new version (Journey Into Your Imagination) that had hardly any Figment. Guest response was so dismal that the new ride lasted only about two years, closing in 2001. It was retooled and reopened as Journey Into Imagination With Figment in 2002.

Here's an article of Figment trivia, including that he owes his name to an episode of Magnum, P.I., and his song "One Little Spark" to the Sherman Brothers.

And here's a history of the Journey Into Imagination ride.