Innoventions
Contents
Pavilion History
Innoventions opened in 1994, replacing the outdated CommuniCore pavilion. Like it's predecessor, Innoventions was divided into East and West buildings, with a total area of 100,000 square feet. Disney CEO Michael Eisner had said in the early 1990's that, "People need a place to experience the new future, a permanent World's Fair where they can test and try the products are changing our world.". Innoventions in Epcot was built with this idea in mind. Like CommuniCore, Innoventions would feature technology based exhibits. However, instead of the subtle and understated tone of CommuniCore, Innoventions was more loud and bold. The pavilion featured exhibits by IBM, Sega, and General Motors (among others). Since Innoventions was at least partially inspired by a consumer electronics show, the pavilion was less organized then CommuniCore had been. Large advertisements were also more likely to be found in the more busy Innoventions.
The first major change came to Innoventions in 1997, when Innoventions West was refurbished. Many of the exibits
Exhibit History
Innoventions East (1994-1999)
Name | Opened | Closed | Notes |
General Electric | 1994 | 1999 | Expanded in 1996 |
Magic House Show | 1994 | 1995 | |
General Motors | 1994 | 1999 | New Exhibit in 1996 |
Hammacher Schlemmer | 1994 | 1997 | |
Honeywell's Comfortville | 1994 | 1996 | |
Oracle's Information Highway | 1994 | 1996 | Enlarged in 1996 |
Masco's Magic House Tour | 1994 | 1995 | |
Honeywell's House of Innoventions | 1995 | 1999 | Replaced Masco's Magic House Tour |
Mr. MIDI | June 1995 | September 1995 | |
Motorola | 1995 | 1999 | Replaced Mr. MIDI |
Disney Interactive | 1996 | 1997 | |
Family PC | 1995 | 1999 | Moved and expanded in 1997 (replaced Disney Interactive) moved back in 1998. |
Epcot Discovery Center | 1996 | 1997 | Moved from Innoventions West |
Bill Nye the Science Guy | 1998 | 1999 | Moved from Innoventions West |
Disney.com Interactive Zone powered by Gateway | 1998 | 1999 |
Innoventions East: The Road to Tomorrow (2000-Present)
Name | Opened | Closed | Sponsor | Notes |
Forests for Our Future | 1999 | 2004 | TAPPI | Renovated 2001. |
Disney.com's Internet Zone | 1999 | 2007 | Compaq (2000-?) | |
Communications Dream Forum | 1999 | 2003 | Motorola | |
The House of Innoventions | 1999 | 2009 | Panja (1999-2000) Whirhpool (2002) |
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Web Site Construction Zone | 1999 | 2001 | Go.com | |
Mission: SPACE Launch Center | 2001 | 2003 | Preview of Mission: Space | |
Future Cars | 1999 | 2001 | General Motors | |
Look into the Future | 1999 | 2001 | Moved to Innoventions West. | |
Discover the Stories Behind the Magic | 2001 | 2002 | Kiosk for the 100 Years of Magic Celebration. | |
Opportunity City | 2004 | 2008 | Kauffman Foundation | Also sponsored by Disney.com. |
Fantastic Plastics Works | 2004 | 2008 | The Society of the Plastics Industry | |
Don't Waste It | 2008 | 2011 | Waste Management Corporation | |
Kidcot | 2004/2005 | 2006 | Play area for kids. | |
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure | 2009 | 2012 | Set to close in summer 2012. | |
StormStruck | 2008 | Present | FLASH | |
Take a Nanooze Break | 2010 | Present | Cornell University | |
Environmentality Corner | 2005/2006 | Present | ||
Test the Limits Lab | 2003 | Present | Underwriters Laboratory | Renovated 2009 |
Habit Heroes | 2012 | Florida Blue | Also Sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield |
Innoventions West (1994-1999)
Name | Opened | Closed | Notes |
Epcot Discovery Center | 1994 | 1996 | Moved to Innoventions East. |
Bill Nye the Science Guy | 1994 | 1997 | Moved to Innoventions East. |
AT&T | 1994 | 1999 | Closed with rest of pavilion in 1997 but later reopened. |
Discovery Magazine | 1994 | 1997 | Updated Annually. |
Electronics | 1994 | 1995 | |
Alec Tronic | 1994 | 1997 | Moved across way in 1995. |
IBM | 1994 | 1997 | |
IBM: Solutions for a Small Planet | 1998 | 1999 | New IBM exhibit following 1997 refurbishment. |
Sega | 1994 | 1999 | Closed with rest of pavilion in 1997 but later reopened. |
Walt Disney Imagineering Labs | 1994 | 1995 | |
Silicon Graphics | 1995 | 1997 | Refurbished in 1996. |
Inspired By Vision | 1998 | 1999 | Replaced Silicon Graphics |
Enel / Infobyte VR Presentation | 1996 | 1997 | VR = virtual reality |
Aladdin's Magic Carpet VR Adventure | 1996 | 1997 | VR = virtual reality |
Innoventions Pre-Show | 1998 | 1999 | |
Lutron Ultimate Home Theater Experience | June 1999 | August 1999 |
Innoventions West: The Road to Tomorrow (2000-Present)
Name | Opened | Closed | Sponsor | Notes |
Networked Living | 1999 | 2002 | IBM | Renovated 2001. |
ThinkPlace | 2002 | 2009 | IBM | Replaced Networked Living |
Smarter Planet By IMB | 2010 | N/A | IBM | Replaced ThinkPlace |
Ultimate Home Theater Experience | 1999 | 2006 | Lutron | |
Beautiful Science | 1999 | 2007 | Monsanto | |
Video Games of Tomorrow | 1999 | 2001 | Sega | |
Medicine's New Vision | 1999 | 2002 | RSNA | |
Broadcast Connection | 1999 | 2001 | AT&T | |
Knowledge Vortex | 1999 | 2002 | Xerox | |
Look Into the Future | 2001 | 2007 | Moved from Innoventions East | |
Tom Morrow's Playground | 2001 | 2006 | ||
Video Game Playground | 2005/2006 | N/A | ||
Segway Central | 2006 | N/A | Segway | |
Rockin' Robots | 2005 | 2010 | KUKA Industrial Robots | |
Great American Farm | 2005 | 2008 | American Farm Bureau | |
Too Small to See | 2006 | 2008 | Cornell University | |
Epcot 25th Anniversary Gallery | 2007 | 2008 | ||
Slap Stick Studios / What's Your Problem | 2008 | 2011 | ||
Where's the Fire | 2004 | N/A | Liberty Mutual |
Fun Facts and Trivia
References
http://www.extinctdisney.com/EPCOT/innoe.htm
http://wdwpast.tripod.com/epcot/epcot.htm
http://www.fb.org/index.php?action=newsroom.news&year=2006&file=nr0109b.html
http://www.pressoffice.cornell.edu/releases/release.cfm?r=15639&y=2006&m=11
http://blog.touringplans.com/2006/05/04/epcot-segway-central-now-open/