Wonders of Life - DOA ?!

[Robo]

We were happy to hear that WOL would be open during our recent trip.

The first thing we did when we got to Epcot was head over to see Cranium Command.
As we approached the pavilion, I saw nobody else at all.
There was a CM who was walking down the sidewalk from the building, and another came out who was mildly scolding her by saying, "How can you attract any guests if you don't stand down where they can see you?"

The Cranium Command show ran fine, but there were only 8 guests in that performance (Thu 11/30/06, 11am).
The rest of the pavilion was virtually DEAD (vacant), and we were headed for a lunch ADR at Le Cellier, so we had to scoot.

Next Epcot FW visit was Fri 12/08/06, 2pm.
We walked right into Cranium Command with 6 other guests.

After, I wanted to see "Making of Me" and while waiting I tried the "sensory tests" (hot and cold tubes). The COLD was working, but the HOT was not... bad show.

Went into "Making of Me" (love that little film) and was so happy to see it again. BUT... the "DIALOGUE channel" (that's the audio track that contains all the SPEAKING PARTS of the movie) was very LOW in volume. It was hard to hear the actors speaking as they were muffled by the music and sound effects on the other audio channels. VERY bad show!

As we exited, I walked around to tell the CM at the loading doors to tell maintenance that the "dialogue channel" was too low.
I did not get much response from him (probably didn't know what a "dialogue channel" was, but the maintenance CM would know).
I should have explained it to the CM further, but I was a bit PEAVED that there was a such a BASIC problem like that in the first place.

I did see a couple of guests sitting and watching the show in the "Sport Goofy" theater, but I never saw a single guest wander into Body Wars either time I was there.

Very depressing to see that nice pavilion in disrepair and empty.
I know that as Christmas approaches, there will be a FEW more guests that wander in, but, if the attendance I witnessed is any indication, Disney will have no reason to ever open this pavilion again.

Too bad.

 

[hniki234]

I hate to hear this. I would best that most people don't realize that it has reopened. They should have CMs directing people there. I didn't even think about stopping by on my last trip because I knew that it was closed on my trips before that. I'll definitely be stopping by this trip!

 

[makinorlando]

It has been open so little since DD and I moved here, I totally forgot about it the other day when we were there. The only thing I remember about it the one time we were in there was the Body Wars made me feel icky - just like all the other simulators! I will have to make a note for next visit.

 

[schmitty]

I didnt notice any problems with Making of Me or the coils when I was there.

 

[PlainJane]

When I got back from my trip was when I found out that the pavillion was open. I don't think there is anyone in there because like me they had no idea it was open. I would have loved to see Cranium Command again

 

[safetymom]

There was a CM standing at the bottom of the ramp when we went on Friday. We wondered because he was standing there if it was open or not. No signage or anything to indicate it is open.

We did Cranium Command. They told us before we went in that one of the two eyes wasn't working. Then when we were standing there they came out and said they fixed the problem. Well they didn't and only one of the eyes worked.

There was about 15 people when we went on Friday morning. It's a shame that more people aren't visiting that pavilion.

 

[northie]

When we were there last week the board at the front of the park listed Body Wars as CLOSED. We walked over there anyway and it and all the attractions were open and the pavilion was virtually empty. Sad. As we were leaving I heard one woman ask her hubby "How did you even know this was open?" He said "I read it on the net". I knew it sure wasn't from Disney letting you know it was open, because they didn't. If I hadn't read it here I never even would have gone back there!

Sara

 

[Fire14]

I hate to hear this. I would best that most people don't realize that it has reopened. They should have CMs directing people there. I didn't even think about stopping by on my last trip because I knew that it was closed on my trips before that. I'll definitely be stopping by this trip!

I totally agree on Guests not realizing it's open, I just happened to notice fountain going and people going up that way as I was wishing that it was open so I could ride body wars again. I wouldn't have never thought to wander back that way if I had not noticed activity up that way.

 

[kaabost]

How do newbies know that it had been closed in the first place? It seems that people who don't know would just assume it was open. Is this pavillion no longer on the map?

 

[Robo]

How do newbies know that it had been closed in the first place? It seems that people who don't know would just assume it was open. Is this pavillion no longer on the map?

Hasn't been on the maps for about a year.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Maybe just from past experiences they figured it was closed so why bother looking. A sign in the fountain area or crossways would be great. It was empty as well when we went in last week.

 

[kaabost]

Ok, don't be mad...................but I sort of HOPE that they put this attraction out of its misery. It's not that I don't enjoy this area. I just think that it has become inferior to the other Epcot attractions. I'm ready for them to close it down and rebuild. Are you mad at me now?

 

[Diz whiz]

Why is it not on the map? It is still there and it is still open occasionaly so it should be on the map!

 

[LoriS]

Why is it not on the map? It is still there and it is still open occasionaly so it should be on the map!

The picture of the building is still on the map, but there is nothing saying what it is.

We were there yesterday, and I was very happy to be able to see Cranium Command and the Making of Me. As we walked through the pavillion, I said to my dh that it was really sad and depressing being in there. It was just so empty and desserted, it is such a waste. It also occured to me after we left that I didn't see any line or anyone going on Body Wars either

 

[Robo]

Why is it not on the map? It is still there and it is still open occasionaly so it should be on the map!

"Still open occasionally" is an overstatement.

It has NOT been open at all since the start of this year (2006) until the Sunday following Thanksgiving.
It will close again after New Years Day this season.

No reason to put something on the map that is only open for about 4 weeks a year.

How much could it possibly cost to operate it for the rest of the year (especially considering how tiny a staff it has right now)?

Points about "no corporate sponsorship" aside, its obvious Disney simply does not WANT to operate the pavilion.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Ok, don't be mad...................but I sort of HOPE that they put this attraction out of its misery. It's not that I don't enjoy this area. I just think that it has become inferior to the other Epcot attractions. I'm ready for them to close it down and rebuild. Are you mad at me now?

I agree.

They don't have to completely close and rebuild it, but it NEEDS a redo. The videos are very dated. Cranium Command has a great premise, but the video doesn't do it justice. The Making of Me was, well, just not good at all. We didn't do Body Wars, so I can't comment.

I was so happy to get to visit this, as I never had before. I heard great things, but it didn't live up to the hype at all.

I knew it was open because of the DIS, but it wasn't on the board or map. They did make an announcement at HISTA.

 

[Diz whiz]

"Still open occasionally" is an overstatement.

It has NOT been open at all since the start of this year (2006) until the Sunday following Thanksgiving.
It will close again after New Years Day this season.

No reason to put something on the map that is only open for about 4 weeks a year.

How much could it possibly cost to operate it for the rest of the year (especially considering how tiny a staff it has right now)?

Points about "no corporate sponsorship" aside, its obvious Disney simply does not WANT to operate the pavilion.

Then why don't they rebuild? Do like they did with Horizons, tear it down and make it into a major attraction....

 

[trypnotic]

Ok, don't be mad...................but I sort of HOPE that they put this attraction out of its misery. It's not that I don't enjoy this area. I just think that it has become inferior to the other Epcot attractions. I'm ready for them to close it down and rebuild. Are you mad at me now?

I'll agree with you on this. We were there this Saturday and the building itself is really showing its age.

 

[Robo]

I look at it like this:

Timekeeper was "open seasonally" for a long time.
It did not "CLOSE" until they announced they had a new attraction to go into its space (Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor).

So until there's a new idea for WOL bldg., it may just remain in "seasonal limbo" for awhile.

 

[picantel]

We went last weekend and it was empty then too. I think there were less than 10 of us on body wars(which was pretty lame in my opinion) and cranium command. It is definately time to put something cool in their to take some of the crowrds away from soarin and test track.