So sorry about going missing while I had an open question. Had to take my son to his spring training camp in Indy. Yes, there are six cave dwellers in the opening of SSE.
OK, in keeping with the EPCOT theme, and going back a few years, what was the original name of the technology demonstration areas located below and behind Spaceship Earth?
And for a bonus reward (to be determined later), what current WDW attraction was pilot tested in a special area behind the character connection that used to be known as the Imagineers Lab?
Are you looking for Earth Station, where you used to make reservations, etc., or Communicore East and Communicore West? For the bonus, I would think it was the area where you designed and rode your own rollercoaster, which is like DisneyQuest.
Since it's been a couple of days, I'll go ahead and give the answer to the bonus question. It was the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. They beta tested a very, very primitive version of the 3D helmets in the Imagineers Lab. The helmets themselves were so big and heavy, they had them supported from the ceiling with heavy steel cables. Kind of funny to see now...