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[AmandaSparks730]

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



The Sum of All Thrills - presented by Raytheon - On October 14, 2009, a new attraction opened in Innoventions East at Epcot (near Electric Umbrella). "Sum of all Thrills," and it promises to be a real crowd pleaser.




"Sum of all Thrills" allows guests to custom-design their own roller coaster, bobsled, or jet plane experience, then ride it. Some of you might remember a similar attraction at Disney Quest called CyberSpace Mountain, but I can assure you, this is far more elaborate. Before riding, you might want to check out the warning sign and the test chairs to make sure you'll fit.

Once your design is complete, you give it a name (like Winter Avalanche) and then a cast member directs you to a second floor boarding area. Here you are asked to take EVERYTHING out of your pockets and store them in a free locker (key locked). Attached to a significantly impressive robot arm are two seats. After you're seated, the cast member lowers a large apparatus over your head. While doing so you are told that there is an emergency stop button located between you. If at any time the ride becomes too intense, you can slap your hand down on this knob and the ride will immediately stop.

For more information, read our comprehensive Blog: The Sum of All Thrills!




Waste Management unveiled its new sponsored exhibit, Don't Waste It!, a 4,000-square foot exhibit that entertains and educates 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.









StormStruck - Opened August 2008 - Experience the power of a weather event complete with wind, rain and lightening. Learn how best to prepare your home against potential weather damage. Kids can build a Storm Safety Kit. Everyone can participate in the "Weather Safe" Kiosks.

There is a warning sign outside of the theater: "StormStruck is a simulation of a severe weather event that takes place in a dark theater and includes loud and unexpected noises. This attraction may be frightening to children."

Pick up your 3D glasses and enter into a very small theater with 3 rows (seating for approximately 35 persons). There are computer monitor screens in front of you (see photo on the above right).

Parents USE CAUTION before bringing your children into the theater.This is a VERY loud and VERY in your face virtual reality show in a very small theater. It is quite realistic. There are many special effects including feeling the wind and rain. After the 3D movie there are questions on a monitor in front of you to test your knowledge of home protection techniques.

The House of Innoventions CLOSING SOON 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!

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!

Environmentality Corner - learn how you can protect and preserve the environment. An interactive paper-making station allows children of all ages to learn something new.


Kidcot - Kim Possible teaches you about the chemistry of cooking and what makes your foods "fluffy, pop or fiz". Pick up and decorate a Fun Stop Lanyard.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Clicky clicky

 

[DisneyRockstar]

That awkward moment when you make a milkshake and no one comes to the yard

 

[AmandaSparks730]

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.

The 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.)

 

[DisGirlAllie]

La la la la

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION


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.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION

This really isn't an attraction, more a showcase for Coca-Cola and it's products. There are some hands on areas where you can make your own souvenir bottle or build a cup (all for a price).

Smart Watermelon - China
The Chinese name for watermelon, his-kua [pronounced she-gua] means melon from the west, which introduced it to china nearly 1200 years ago. Today, the Chinese produce 40% of the world's watermelon crop and consume millions of watermelons each summer.

Kinley Lemon - Israel
Invading Mongols were probably the first to introduce lemonade to the Middle East. Historical records from the 12th century reveal that a drink made of lemons, water and honey was popular among Genghis Khan's thirsty warriors.

Lychee Mello - Thailand
This unique beverage is very popular in its home country of Thailand. It contains the essence of lychee, a very sweet and juicy grape-like fruit.

Vegitabeta - Japan
The Japanese have long recognized the importance of beverages for both nutrition and health benefits. In modern Japan, this interest in healthy consumption finds its ultimate expression in "health" vending machines that dispense vitamin drinks like Vegitabeta.

Fanta Kolita - Costa Rica
The sweet quality of this fruity flavor from Costa Rica makes it very popular with children of all ages.

Mezzo Mix - Germany
The best known German beverage is beer. Germans often mix their beer with other beverages to weaken the alcohol content and enhance the flavor. Mixing flavors has also become popular in non-alcoholic beverages like Mezzo Mix.

Beverly - Italy
Drinking an aperitif before dinner to stimulate the appetite is a traditional part of Italian refreshment culture. Beverly, with its bitter flavor, is a popular non-alcoholic aperitif.





Krest Ginger Ale - Mozambique
Ginger has long been used as a medicinal herb throughout Africa so it is not surprising that ginger ale is a popular drink in Mozambique. It is also popular in shebeens, informal bars where it is used as a mixer.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

La dee da

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

"Journey with us now to the dawn of recorded time..."

You can't miss it! The shimmering geosphere that houses Spaceship Earth is visible from the road before you even get to the parking lot. Spaceship Earth is the story of communications throughout the ages -- where we have been and where we are going. It is the Icon of Epcot, towering 180 feet above the park.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

La dee da dee da

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Simply having a wonderful Christmas time

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION



Spaceship Earth - Learn about the history of communications from cavemen to future centuries. The voice of Academy® Award-winning, English actress Dame Judy Dench guides you through this gentle 16-minute ride.

As you journey though the superb Audio-Animatronic scenes, your seats eventually rotate to reveal a glorious star-filled night sky. You continue your trip backwards passing through the future.

The attraction was totally redone in 2007. The scenery was cleaned up, repainted and lots of new audio-anamatornics as well as scenes were added. The new audio-animatronics are amazing, very realistic and really brought each area to life. (Deb's Review of the current Spaceship Earth.)

Some scene highlights include: the New Kingdom of Egypt where the papyrus was invented, 9th century BC Phoenicians invent the alphabet, Renaissance in Italy, the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, Ancient Greece, Dark Ages and Destruction of Rome, the Age of Enlightenment, and the invention of the printing press. As your journey comes to an end, the narrator notes: "We all share the common bonds of hope and sorrows and dreams and joys."

Ten time Emmy®-award winning composer Bruce Broughton conducted a 63-piece orchestra and 24-voice choir for a new musical score for Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World Resort. For the musical score, each scene was infused with musical styles and instruments appropriate to the time period, which was not an easy task according to Walt Disney Imagineering senior show producer Bob Zalk. “To have that score transition smoothly as vehicles travel from one time period to the next is extremely difficult,” he said. “The first time we rode through the attraction accompanied by that music, we were amazed.”

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Voilalalala

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

The geosphere is 165 feet in diameter and weighs 16 million pounds. It encompasses 2.2 million cubic feet of space and has an outside surface diameter of 150,000 square feet. It is covered by 11,324 triangular panels and held aloft by 6 support legs that are sunk over 100 feet into the ground.

Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury and a host of other consultants and advisors worked with the Disney Imagineers to develop Spaceship Earth.

The hieroglyphics on the walls in the ancient Egyptian scene of the attraction are authentic recreations of actual hieroglyphics. The words being dictated by the Pharaoh were taken from an actual letter sent by a pharaoh to one of his agents.

The page of the Bible that Johann Gutenberg is examining is an exact replica of a page of the Gutenberg Bible on display in the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA.

Spaceship Earth underwent a rehab in 1994. At that time, Jeremy Irons replaced Walter Cronkite as the narrator. Also the ending was changed, more audio animatronics were added, and the song, Tomorrow's Child, was replaced with an instrumental musical ending.

If Spaceship Earth were a golf ball, the golfer would need to be one mile tall!

Spaceship Earth is made out of alucabond, a carbon - aluminum compound, which is easily cleaned and can withstand the Florida climate.

Spaceship Earth is actually 2 spheres, one inside the other. The outer shell houses the inner core and ride system.

Spaceship Earth has a unique gutter system so that guests passing by do not have rain dumped on them. The panels were developed to suck in the water as it hits them and in turn it replenishes the water around the World Showcase Lagoon.

For the Millennium Celebration, a special structure was attached to Spaceship Earth, Mickey's Hand holding up the 2000. Subsequently, he word EPCOT replaced the 2000 on Spaceship Earth. At 257 feet tall, the Millennium 2000 Icon was the tallest point at Walt Disney World Resort, besting the 199 feet of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney-MGM Studios.

Mickey's gloved hand, the wand and the "2000" logo weighed nearly 50 tons. The steel frame that supported the icon weighed 250 tons. Each number in the "2000" logo was 36 feet tall. Those numbers are covered with more than 250,000 reflective eye-catchers.

In 1988, the Epcot Daredevil Circus Spectacular was performed 4 times a day in Future World. As part of the act, two Space Cyclists would race toward Spaceship Earth on a high wire! The Rodriguez Family performed trapeze acts around the sphere also!

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Personally, I've never had any interest in this place, but this photo sure is beautiful!

 

[DisGirlAllie]

And then POP! goes my heart

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

Test Track, a partnership between Disney Imagineering and General Motors Engineering, was one of the most anticipated rides in WDW's history.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Next person who pronounces it as Or-leens or Or-lee-anne's Imma slap. It's New Or-lynns!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION

Test Track Queue Area - The entire queue area resembles an industrial testing laboratory filled with actual test equipment and vehicle components. The automotive tests performed on cars and trucks are illustrated in the Quality Zone, highlighting GM automotive technology, and the Safety Zone, displaying GM safety innovations and practices. Simulations include brake, wheel, suspension, airbag, seat belt and windshield tests.

Throughout the inner cue area there are lots of Snap-On Tools and GM test machines available for viewing. There are also TV monitors with short movies on testing cars and vehicles. You will wind and wind and wind through the building.

The queue area is LOUD! There are bangs, clangs, clanks, screeches -- whatever noises you could imagine in a testing laboratory for cars.

Pre-Show - Once you are through the turnstiles you will enter a standing pre-show area for about 2-3 minutes. During that time, you will be introduced to the "testing" procedures, have a look at the ride vehicle and have explained a little about what you will experience.



Test Track -- Once you finally arrive at the loading zone you will be instructed to move to a row and then board the six-passenger Test Track vehicle. The longest and fastest Walt Disney World attraction provides you a sneak peek inside the world of automobile testing. Passengers in each "test" vehicle experience a firsthand look at how GM cars and trucks are tested before being brought to market.

Hill Climb Test - The "test" schedule begins with a tire-squealing, engine-roaring, three-story ascent.




Suspension Test - Passengers descend to the second level over a series of harsh variable road surfaces.

Brake Test - Two passes through a circular setup of traffic cones shows how a wildly-out-of-control skid can become a manageable steer with ABS brakes. Rolling to a stop, guests view an instant replay of themselves performing both tests from a bird's-eye view.

Environmental Chamber Test - Vehicles are exposed to extreme heat, bone-chilling cold and a "corrosive" mist sprayed by industrial robots in a series of enclosed environmental chambers. (NOTE: You are misted in the cold and corrosive chambers but do not get "wet".) Temperature difference between hot and cold rooms -100 degrees!

Ride Handling Test - Exiting from the chambers, vehicles accelerate quickly up a switchback "mountain road" to a dark tunnel full of surprises.



Barrier Test - Guests feel what it's like to be a crash-test dummy during this attention-grabbing, high-speed sequence.





High-Speed Test - Outside the building, vehicles scream around a steeply-banked loop turning them back toward the 50-degree banked curve hugging the building's massive circumference. Heading back inside, each vehicle is tested on the thermal imager, a device allowing guests to see the areas of heat generated on the vehicle -- and guests -- during testing. Maximum Speed - 65mph!

 

[DisGirlAllie]

Coronado-ado