World of Motion (October 1, 1982–January 2, 1996), sponsored by General Motors, was the former tenant of the Transportation pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It was an opening day attraction at Epcot in 1982 and it closed in 1996 to make way for Test Track, a new thrill ride through a GM testing facility. Visitors would board moving Omnimover vehicles, and would be taken through scenes that were populated with Audio-Animatronic figures and some projection effects. It was a whimsical look at the history and achievements in transportation ranging from cavemen having to use foot power, the invention of the wheel, Leonardo Da Vinci's plans for gliders and flying machines, Christopher Columbus setting sail for America, and the first automobiles. Among the many gags were different attempts at inventing the wheel, a used-chariot sale, and the world's first traffic jam. The grand finale of the attraction featured Hub City, a sparkling metropolis of the future that seemed to be in perpetual motion. Riders looked into mirrors showing them in a gleaming futuristic car. At the ride's conclusion, visitors disembarked into the exciting TransCenter, an interactive area about tomorrow's vehicular transportation.

Trivia

• The prototype concept cars at the TransCenter were the most photographed spot in Walt Disney World.
• After the ride closed, several of the Audio-Animatronic characters were reused in refurbishing the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland in 1997. The sea serpent featured in the ride was shipped to Disney's California Adventure, and the horse pulling cart driver animatronic was made into Ellen for "Ellen's Energy Adventure" at the adjacent Universe of Energy pavilion.
• The theme song for this ride was a lively song, called "It's Fun to Be Free," written by X. Atencio, writer of "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" of Pirates of the Caribbean and "Grim Grinning Ghosts" of The Haunted Mansion, and Buddy Baker, another legendary Disney composer.
• Famous radio disc jockey Gary Owens provided the ride's humorous yet very informative narration.
• Chickens from the ride can now be found in the Magic Kingdom at Mickey's Toontown Fair. They are inside the barn located at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm.
• Ironically, on the final ceremonial ride of World of Motion, on January 2, 1996, it broke down. GM executives who were riding it had to climb out and walk back to the exit.

External links

• World Of Motion Memorial: A fanpage preserving the attraction's memory.

Disney parks and attractions | Omnimover attractions | Walt Disney World Resort | Epcot | World of Motion | עולם התנועה