Opening on October 30, 1989, inside the Wonders of Life Pavilion at EPCOT Center, The Making of Me was a 15-minute film starring Martin Short that tackled the topic of human reproduction with a blend of humor, animation, and gentle storytelling. The film was directed and written by Glenn Gordon Caron, best known for creating Moonlighting, and featured music by Bruce Broughton, whose work also appeared in Ellen’s Energy Adventure and other Disney attractions.
Guests entered the theater through a modest queue tucked toward the back of the pavilion, where a parental advisory sign gently warned that the subject matter might not be suitable for all children. Once inside, the show began with Martin Short narrating his own “origin story,” tracing the lives of his fictional parents from childhood to marriage, and eventually to his birth. The film used live-action sequences, animated segments, and microscopic imagery—including footage from Lennart Nilsson’s “Miracle of Life”—to explain fertilization, fetal development, and childbirth.
One of the film’s most memorable moments involved Short pointing to a baby in a hospital nursery and joking, “That’s my dad! Or will be.” The tone remained light throughout, even as the film addressed complex biological processes. A chalkboard in one scene read “Chapter 11: Reproductive System,” a subtle nod to the educational intent behind the attraction.
Though the film was considered a departure for Disney, producers were careful to avoid controversy. The topic of abortion was deliberately sidestepped, and the focus remained on the miracle of life rather than any political or ethical debates.
The Making of Me ran until January 1, 2007, when the Wonders of Life Pavilion officially closed. However, the theater space remained in use during seasonal festivals. From 2008 to 2018, the venue was repurposed to show Seasons of the Vine, a film originally created for Disney California Adventure, during the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. During the Flower & Garden Festival, the space was rebranded as The Garden Theater, hosting short films about horticulture and sustainability.
The original marquee for The Making of Me was briefly visible again in 2008, though the film itself was no longer shown. As of 2025, the theater has been fully decommissioned, and the space is used intermittently for festival programming and corporate previews. Props from the Wonders of Life era—including signage and seating—were quietly removed or stored backstage, with no formal tribute to the film or its unique place in EPCOT history.
