More Closures at Innoventions (including Sum of All Thrills)

[AngiTN]

I won't miss either attraction, didn't enjoy them much, only did each once. Don't get the appeal of a virtual rollercoaster at all
But I do hate to see both those Innovention buildings basically empty.
I find it hard to believe they intend to just add them to the long list of buildings never in use.

 

[only hope]

I agree with an above poster. Disney doesn't need sponsors for the rides; they can afford to run them. They are taking away so many things I liked. At this rate I'll never get a pass again, unless they bring back SWW.

 

[HollVoll]

My husband and middle son adored SOAT. They are so sad. It closes 9 days before our next trip.

 

[dreiwhit]

It's a shame the parks aren't run by a multibillion dollar company who could afford to operate two low staff attractions. It's amazing Carowinds is able to function without sponsors for everything.

Disney is nickle and diming everything - the bean counters have taken over. Use corporate sponsors for short term exhibits, not long term rides or attractions.

 

[UnderTheRialto]

My 5yo just discovered this ride last week and loved "using math and science"
to design his own Rollercoaster and fighter jet path. I'm disappointed.

 

[tony67]

seems like innoventions is turning into an abandon strip mall - maybe not that bad - but still seems like between Epcot and DHS they have a lot on nerve raising prices

 

[Belleandtinker]

What is actually left?

 

[AngiTN]

What is actually left?

Just that Glidden (I think is the sponsor) Color thing, as far as I know.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I won't miss either attraction, didn't enjoy them much, only did each once. Don't get the appeal of a virtual rollercoaster at all
But I do hate to see both those Innovention buildings basically empty.
I find it hard to believe they intend to just add them to the long list of buildings never in use.

The appeal is in the ability to design the coaster yourself. I have motion sickness issues, so I didn't ride, but my husband and I designed a coaster together a few years ago. He rode it and said it was a lot of fun. I know he'll miss this attraction.

 

[Wackdawg]

With this closure it just makes total sense now to put a real good and appropriate attraction in there. They should totally put COP from tomorrowland in there. It would flow well being adjacent to SE and kind of fits with a retro feel to EPCOT and what it once was. Plus it would open up that space in tomorrowland for a new attraction.

 

[pigletto]

They've just got to have a plan for these buildings. The neglect of Epcot is getting to be ridiculous.

 

[OB1]

Hopefully Disney is gearing up for a big refurb on the Innoventions buildings. That is a lot of real estate to leave empty - or fill with a few character meet & greets. With the Body, top floor of Imagination, and both Innoventions, there is a lot of space to fill. We just have to hope we are not waiting for 5 years to see some improvements.

 

[tex2328]

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Disney is letting these sponsorships expire with the intent of reimagining innoventions. With the rumors of UOE getting rethemed around guardians it seems like they're trying to give a much needed facelift to future world.

 

[FortForever]

To be completely honest, I'm surprised these have been around as long as they were. Not that SOAT isn't good ... it is. Just that there is nobody ever over there. I have personally never seen a line or crowd in that building. True, I have never been to WDW during busy times, but still yet, it is odd to have any building practically deserted at Disney World.

Clearly, a re-vamp is needed. Just hope it doesn't turn into yet another empty Epcot building.

 

[helenb]

From Touring Plans:

http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/08/15/stormstruck-and-sum-of-all-thrills-leaving-innoventions/

Big changes have been happening at Epcot’s Innoventions lately with many attractions closing. Now, two more attractions are closing in Innoventions East – The Sum of All Thrills and StormStruck. The two attractions will be closed as of September 14 due to their sponsorship agreements ending.

The Sum of All Thrills which was sponsored by Raytheon was a simulator that allowed guests to utilize math skills to create a thrill ride. Guests would then be able to put their creation to the test courtesy of a Kuka arm.

Storm Struck, which was presented by FLASH, educates Guests on how to prevent storm damage around the home.

With these two closures, this means that the only attraction remaining open in Innoventions East will be the relatively new Colortopia by Glidden, which opened in November of last year.

Disney has said that plans for Innoventions are going to be shared at a later date.

 

[CAS239]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/more-closures-at-innoventions-including-sum-of-all-thrills.3536162/

 

[Praying Colonel]

I really enjoyed SOAT and will miss it. EP can't afford to lose attractions. For some reason once an attraction has a sponsor WDW will usually close it once the sponsorship ends. The guest experience suffers but I'm sure it makes sense to some bean counter, and that's all that matters these days.

 

[BrianL]

Well, they're no big loss in my book but again we have announced closures with no replacements announced. I am betting that they want to turn the space into something completely different, but the timing of these announcements is terrible. It makes all the fans lament the loss of soemthing rather than be excited about something new on the way.

 

[miamimi]

My 5yo just discovered this ride last week and loved "using math and science"
to design his own Rollercoaster and fighter jet path. I'm disappointed.

That's the reason I thought SOAT was great, it was great at showing kids that math is essential to design a coaster. I'm sorry that edutainment is becoming a thing of the past.

How many kids were motivated to study math and physics after designing their own coaster?