Innoventions at Epcot

By James | Last updated August 18, 2023

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Beyond Spaceship Earth in Future World are the two crescent shaped glass fronted pavilions — Innoventions East to the left and Innoventions West to the right (as you enter the park). Between them on Innoventions Plaza is the Innovention Fountains.

Innoventions were designed as an every changing showcase for tomorrow’s technologies that will affect our everyday lives in the fields of science, communication, transport and medicine

Originally the pavilions were known as CommuniCore but they were re-imagined as Innoventions on September 29, 1994. The word “Innoventions” is an amalgamation of “innovation” and “invention”.

Innoventions presents a series of sponsored hands-on exhibits where you are entertained and can interact and play with current and future technologies like a virtual reality headset, the latest home entertainment systems and personal global communications.

Over the years Innoventions has showcased many advanced technologies but in recent years, Innoventions has been largely empty. However on July 2017 Disney announced at the annual D23 Expo that they have big plans for Future World.

A “blue sky” concept drawing was shown of the front of Epcot. In the artwork, both Innovention buildings were gone along with MouseGear, Fountain View (Starbucks), Club Cool (Coca-Cola), Electric Umbrella and the Innovention Fountains, replaced by a lot of green space and new fountains in the World Showcase Lagoon. no timescales have been announced for when work might start.

Currently there are just three attractions in the Innoventions East pavilion and the Epcot Character Spot in the West pavilion. The rest of the space is either shuttered or houses gift shops, restaurants and cafes.

Colortopia – presented by Glidden

Colortopia is sponsored by Glidden, the paint company and it opened in Innoventions East on November 13, 2015.

There are three immersive zones. The first, the “Power of Color Theater” uses virbrant colours combined with harmonious music to explore the psychology of colour during a 30 minute presentation.

The second zone is the “The Color Lab” with two interactive stations. Color Mix ‘n Match allows you to see what happens when you mix primary colours red, blue and green together and Spinning Spectrums demonstrates colour blending and perception as the coloured disks spin faster and faster.

The final zone is “Color Our World” where you can experiment with a magic paint brush and a colour palette to create an amazing digital scene.

There is also an accompanying Colortopia mobile app available for both iOS and Android.

The SpectacuLAB

A new interactive fun science show that appeals to all age groups called “The SpectacuLAB” opened at Innoventions East in Epcot on November 12, 2017.

The SpectacuLAB is sponsored by Murata, a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic components and presented by Science from Scientists, a nonprofit organisation that helps improve Science, Technology, Math and Engineering (STEM) literacy in schools.

Two scientists from Science from Scientists are joined each day by an eager Disney intern “Frankie” as they work through a series of experiments to demonstrate the basic principles of science and show how these scientific principles have inspired today’s technologies. There is also plenty of opportunities for audience participation from the kids.

Amongst the experiments you are likely to see, you will learn about:

  • playing ultrasonic sensor drums simply by waving your hand
  • pressure as one of the scientists breaks a concrete block over another scientist whilst they are lying on a bed of nails
  • measuring force using accelerometer sensors
  • changing the colours of barometric pressure cubes just by raising or lowering them

The SpectacuLAB joins Colortopia and Take a Nanooze Break in the Innoventions East pavilion. The show takes place five times a day at 10:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Take a Nanooze Break

Take a Nanooze Break is sponsored by Cornell University and the National Science Foundation and opened in Innoventions East in 2010. It gives guests an introduction to nanotechnology via interactive displays.

Innovention Fountains

The Innovention Fountains shoots water up to 150 ft in the air. Every 15 minutes, the fountain performs an amazing water ballet, all set to music. It makes a great place to sit down and take a rest when you are starting to fade.

During the holiday season around Christmas and the New Year, the music changes to Christmas carols.

Segway Tours

For a time, Epcot offered guests a tour using the amazing SegwayTM Human Transporter (HT). The Segway is a two-wheeled, giro-stabilised one-person transportation system that will travel at up to 12.5 mph for a distance of up to 24 miles on a single charge.

The “Around the World at Epcot” was a two hour guided tour through the World Showcase before it opened. Tours started at 8:30 and 9:30 am each day and cost $80 per person. You received training on how to ride the Segway before you embarked on the tour.

The “Simply Segway” option was a one hour product overview, training and indoor riding experience at Epcot’s Innoventions area. The ride experience started at 12:30 and 1:45 pm each day (except Tuesdays) and cost $45 per person.

Class sizes were limited to 10 guests and you had to be 16 or over. You also required a normal Epcot admission ticket.

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