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.

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," says Braverman, who previously worked on concept and design development for Epcot's Journey Into Imagination and The Living Seas. "Those movements 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's Hollywood 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."

Type - simulator ride

When to go - Visit early morning or evening.

Where to sit - the corner seats in the back row offer the bumpiest ride.

Duration - 5 mins.

Restrictions
40" height restriction.
Guests must transfer from their ECV to a wheelchair and then from the wheelchair to experience the attraction.
For safety and comfort, Guests should be in good health and free from heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this ride. Expectant mothers should not ride.

Facts/History
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.

Tips
Don't ride after eating!
If you suffer from motion sickness, ask the Cast Members when they'll be running a flight-check. This is when the movie is run without motion, and with the doors open and lights on.

Hidden Mickeys
At "Body Wars," look closely at the mural above the entrance and you'll see a Mickey profile. Some people say it looks like broccoli.

Reviews

"This ride was cool because you feel like you are really going through someones bloodstream. It is a great, bumpy, simulation ride. If you don't like bumpy rides you will not like this one. I am not a big rollercoaster fan, and this is one of my favroite attractions at Epcot! You should try it." Jacob Schneider

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