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Innoventions
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Innoventions Signage Epcot

INTRODUCTION

Innoventions opened in 1994 in the area formerly known as Communicore. Communicore was the home of Epcot Computer Central and the World Key Information System.

Disney has partnered with a variety of vendors to present the latest in cutting edge technology at Innoventions. Innoventions is located on both sides of the center of Future World. At one time, the sections were divided into Innoventions West and Innoventions East, but those names seem to have disappeard. Designed to create the effect of traveling along a highway, each area is numbered with a sign similar to those seen along U.S. Interstates.


ATTRACTIONS

IBM E-Post Card at Epcot's InnoventionsINNOVENTIONS "WEST"
Located on the side with the Land, Living Seas and Imagination

#1: ThinkPlace is presented by IBM

Central to this exhibit is the IBM Think*a*ma*jig, a large, multi-player video game where guests work together to build a machine and then compete with each other for treasure. This area is also home to the popular IBM Internet Postcards, which allow you to take a picture of the family and send it via email to the folks back home. E-postcards are available in English, Spanish, German, French and Japanese.

 

 

#2 - Slap Stick Studios presented by Velcro

Play the "What's Your Problem" game and learn how velcro can help solve your problems.

 

#3: The Great American Farm
(currently scheduled to close at the end of 2008)

Learn about the science and technology that goes into today's farm. A "bug tunnel" allows small children to crawl around, play a game of Hide and Grow Seek, or enjoy the Great American Pizza game! The Great American Pizza Game (bench seating no backs) is wonderful for youngsters as they learn about what foods and products are grown and manufactured across the United States.

 

#4: Rockin' Robots

Take a turn as the conductor of one of four robots to create beautiful music. Use the touch screen to direct Robatic arms to play music. Sounds include: metal chimes, gongs, organ pipes, wooden crates and car horns.

#5: Segway Central - The Segway™ Human Transporter (HT) is a personal, short-distance transportation device using the advanced technology of tilt sensors, gyroscopes and microprocessors. Cast Members are on hand to demonstrate and answer questions. You can also see Cast Members on the Segway throughout Future World. Two Segway Tours are available to guests.

 

 

#6 Where's the Fire? - Highly Recommended for families! There is an interactive game house where teams search to find the fire hazards in their "home." Each side of the house has six rooms for you to explore using special "flashlights." The other neat part of this exhibit is the Play It Safe Maze. Children learn how to exit their home in case of fire, learn about safe places and more. Parents participate, too! The maze is geared for children under 5. Those older will appreciate the interactive game house. You can even get your photo taken alongside the 30-foot fire truck! This is the largest Fire Prevention exhibit currently in the United States and is presented by Liberty Mutual. Where's the Fire? is located in Innoventions West.

Don't overlook this one! A Cast Member told AllEars® that Walt Disney World had received a guest letter stating that their daughter was at a sleepover a few months after her trip and was able to get her and her friends out of a burning house safely.

 

#7 Video Games of Tomorrow presented by Disney Interactive - This area features a variety of video games including "Finding Nemo, Kingdom Hearts II, Chicken Little, Cars, and the ESPM X Games" and much more. Kids as well as adults will find something to amuse themselves here.

 

INNOVENTIONS EAST
Located on the side with the Test Track and Mission Space

 

#8 - Waste Management unveiled its new sponsored exhibit, Don't Waste It!, a 4,000-square foot exhibit that entertains and educations about the trash disposal process, with a special ribbon cutting ceremony February 19, 2008. The interactive games include how to recycle, reduce and reuse "trash" and a personal "trash" profile.

 

 

 


#9: Storm Struck - Opens August 2008

#10: Fantastic Plastics Works - Fantastic Plastic Works is sponsored by the Society of Plastics Industry, Inc. Three areas to explore include the "Magic of Plastics," "Design Studio," and "Manufacture and Create Zone." The Design Studio allows you to virtually design a plastic robot that will compete in a foot race.

#11: The House of Innoventions is a short (15 minute) walking tour of the House of Tomorrow! During your tour of the "smart home", you'll see a multitude of products that will help enhance and improve our lives. Using one small electronic pad, everything in your home from the coffee maker to the outside lights can be programmed and turned on or off. The House of Innoventions is updated many times throughout the year to reflect the newest technology. Recent additions include Home Automated Living (HAL), a system which allows you to control everything in your home via voice commands, new products from Kitchenaid and Whirlpool, and the LaScala Bathing and Entertaining Center from Jacuzzi, a whirlpool bath with surround sound and a 43-inch plasma high-definition television monitor. The Whirl washer and dryer duet can accommodate 22 bath size towels at one time!

#12: Under Rehab

 

#13: Test the Limits Lab - The "Test the Limits Lab" sponsored by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is designed to be an interactive, kid-powered test lab. The exhibit's six kiosks allow Epcot visitors to get a hands-on feel for how UL annually tests the safety of more than 18,000 products. Be sure to see the Fireman's hat "crush" test as well as the Impact Lab's Slam the Door exhibit!

Epcot Attractions At A Glance

DINING
Club Cool Club Cool is the place to go to cool down and sip a free beverage or two. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, this "exhibit" situated near Innoventions West, offers free samples of soft drinks from around the world, as well as Coca-Cola merchandise.

The Electric Umbrella, located in Innoventions East, serves lunch and dinner. Menu items include burgers, chicken, and salads. Be sure to check out the tables on the second level for a peaceful break away from the crowds.

Fountain View, located in the Innovations West area, is an Edy's Ice Cream Shop serving shakes, floats, scoops and sundaes! There is one flavor of No-Sugar Added Ice Cream. Sit outside to enjoy the Fountain show.

Epcot Restaurants At A Glance
Menus From Around the World
Vegetarian and Other Special Diets

 

ENTERTAINMENT

The Disney Imagineers are masters at taking a few simple elements, such as light, water and sound, and creating beautiful "attractions." Their expertise is obvious in the Innovention Fountain located in Innoventions Plaza in Epcot's Future World. The elaborate display, designed by imagineer Mark Fuller, is based on a 180' x 120' oval. Computer-controlled pumps send 29,000 gallons of water per minute cascading down its tiered walls. More than 108,000 gallons of water swirl throughout the fountain.

The fountain "performs" throughout the day every 15 minutes to a random selection of music. For a spectacular view, stand at the end of the fountain facing Spaceship Earth after dark when the fountain is lit.

During the month of December, when all of the "World" has been transformed by thousands of holiday decorations, the fountain also takes on a new dimension. The music changes to holiday music and the fountain is synchronized perfectly with the twinkling Lights of Winter Archway.

For more information on Epcot Live Entertainment, visit Steve Soares WDW Entertainment Website. 

 

TOURING TIPS

Innoventions is a popular place for teens and some in that age group feel its their favorite part of Epcot. Recently some new exhibits are geared more towards families, like "Where the Fire?".

The IBM exhibit in Innoventions West features E-mail postcards from Epcot. Cameras in small booths take your photo, then allow you to e-mail the photo postcard to family and friends back home. Remember to bring your e-mail address book with you and be sure to include your own e-mail address so you get a copy, too. You have several backgrounds to choose from and are not able to write any text.

Innoventions is a good place to head if it starts raining or is very hot. Of course, others will have the same idea but there is so much to look at and interact with that there is enough room for everyone.

In the evening, be sure to look down at your feet! There are fiber optics in the concrete that light up at night in the immediate area of Innoventions.

Club Cool is often crowded (especially in hot weather) and navigating in a wheelchair may be difficult.

In the area behind Club Cool is a hallway featuring large photographs of various inventions by Walt Disney and the Disney Company. Hanging from the ceiling in this hallway are large banners featuring the words "Creation", "Collaboration", "Perspiration", and "Inspiration" -- values Walt held close in his business ventures. Back in the Communicore days, this area was an exhibit called Expo Robotics, which was later used as Imagineering Labs.

For a nice break, sit on the patio of the Fountain View and watch the fountain (and the people).


KIDS AND CHARACTERS


Character Spot
- You can meet Disney Characters here all day long! Meet and Greet with regulars like Mickey, Minnie, and Chip & Dale, plus you just never know who might stop by for a visit!



There is a KIDCOT station in each of the two sections of Innoventions.

Kids will enjoy the interactive computer aspects of Innoventions.

The Cast Members in all of these areas are more than happy to answer questions not covered in the standard presentation. They are fully trained by the organizations that sponsor the area.

 

SHOPPING

MouseGear is the second largest shop on WDW property (World of Disney in the Disney Marketplace is the largest). It is themed both inside and out with working gears complete with sound effects. The shop sells clothing for kids and adults with areas specific to men and women. There is also an assortment of plush, toys, pins, key chains, magnets, luggage, hats, and all things Disney. This is one of the places at Epcot that sells a variety of Epcot-specific merchandise, something that can only be purchased within the park. Cast members at each entrance are eager to welcome guests and trade pins.

The Pin Station between Innoventions West and Innoventions East is the hotspot on property for pin trading and purchasing. Pin workshops are held daily by Cast Members. Trading occurs here throughout the day. This Pin Station tends to have the most pins on property. Limited Edition pins may also be available.

The Art of Disney store is one of four on property. Disney collectibles, animation cels, sculptures, and prints are available for purchase or enjoyment. For those on a tighter budget, postcards of some prints are also available.

Inside Club Cool is a gift shop selling Coca-Cola merchandise in several languages.

 

INTERESTING FACTS

Innoventions received a major update in 1999 in anticipation of the Millennium Celebration. The exhibits continue to change as new vendors come onboard.

The magical Innovention Courtyard fountain has been part of Epcot since opening day. As part of the opening ceremony for Epcot Center in 1982, various countries from around the world were invited to bring water from their homelands to pour into the fountain as a symbol of peace and community.

Innovention Fountains and Spaceship EarthThe original fountains were refurbished in 1993 -- with 304 nozzles and "shooters" that can propel water over 150 feet in the air. It took three months of computer programing to design the water ballets that run every 15 minutes. At night, the fountains take on another dimension as 1,068 colored lights focus on the streams of water.

Innoventions Fountain Facts:

  • 212 MicroShooters® located in the upper pool; each propels 2 gallons of water up to 80 feet in the air.

  • 40 MiniShooters® located in the lower pool; each propels 5 gallons of water up to 100 feet in the air.

  • 12 SuperShooters® located in the upper pool; each propels 50 gallons of water up to 150 feet in the air.

  • 60 Spray nozzles Air accumulators for the SuperShooters® activate with pressures of 30 PSI to 120 PSI.

  • 190,000 feet (35 miles) of electrical wire and 22,000 feet (4 miles) of conduit.

  • If all of the shooters triggered simultaneously, there would be 2,000 gallons of water in the air.

    Note that Shooter®, MicroShooter®, MiniShooter®, SuperShooter® are registered trademarks of WET Design.

Innovention Fountain Musical Selections - The selections played for the water ballets are rotated every quarter hour in no specific order. People always inquire about purchasing the sound track for the regular and holiday shows, but none have been produced.

Music List for Innoventions Fountain Regular Season Shows:

  • Selection from Disney's animated feature "Rescuers Down Under" (Soundtrack not currently available for retail sale; although you may be able to find the cassette, 2/97; video off the market 4/93.)

  • Instrumental from the "Air Battle" sequence from Surprise in the Skies, a former daytime lagoon show at Epcot (Soundtrack never produced for retail sale.)

  • Selection for a proposed Epcot show "Around the World with Mickey Mouse" (Soundtrack never produced for retail sale.)

  • Selection from the Disney live-action feature film The Rocketeer (Soundtrack may be available on CD - Try Best Buy, 2/97.)

  • "Day One" by John Tesh (Song is available on the Tour de France and Live at Red Rock Albums.)

  • "Standing in Motion" by Yanni (Song is available on the Out of Silence, In Celebration and Live at the Acropolis albums.)

  • Selection from the Disney live-action feature film Iron Will (Soundtrack was never produced for retail sale.)


    ARCHIVES

    Innoventions Cast Member HughCast Member Costumes from 2003

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