What exactly is Innovations East & West in Epcot?

[NicholeB630]

Hi we are taking our kids DD almost 6 and DS 2.5 in December and we plan on doing Epcot the afternoon/evening we get there and one other full day. I have looked at the Disney site and attractions and I still cant figure out exactly what all is at Innovations East & West? Are these things we must see, are there things my kids will actually enjoy? Are they typically really crowded. I am thinking I will schedule FP+ to get Space ship earth for around the time I plan on getting to epcot and then TT later that evening before we have dinner. Just trying to figure out what all we can fit in that night.

 

[Kimosabe]

Innoventions is something that we pretty much skipped the first couple of times we took our kids, and I never really felt like we missed much. We have since made it a point to explore a bit more, just to see what we had been missing, and our kids actually enjoy going in there...but if we skipped it again, I seriously doubt they would miss it.

There are some scientific experiment sort of things....a banking game (built around a piggy bank...your six-year old would enjoy it)...a create-your-own-coaster area/Sum of All Thrills (check the age/height requirement on that, but if tall enough, I would imagine your six-year old might also have a good time creating her own ride and then riding it in the simulator). There are some video games (not sure of their purpose other than to let parents rest!) and a fake house that has something to do with fire safety.

If I have missed anything that is really great, I would love for another poster to let me know. Right now, it's mainly a place where we go to get our "free" Disney Visa cardholder photo made.

In summary (and in my personal/humble opinion), Innoventions is one of the prime examples of the continuing decline of Future World in EPCOT. Hoping that the Imagineer recently tapped to put EPCOT back in the direction of its original intent can get in there and do some good things relatively soon.

 

[hpsalb]

As PP mentioned, it is interactive indoor areas. We've done it before and we've skipped it. At 2.5 and 6, your kids would probably enjoy it. If you need time to move around or want to be indoors during the afternoon heat, I would suggest checking it out.

DS was 2.5 last year and didn't get into it, but mostly because he was in a bit of a bad mood when we went through that area. There was a huge fire truck that the kids could play on and other kids his age loved it.

 

[TNDisneyNut]

It definitely isn't the greatest thing at Disney; however, it is great to get in from the heat and if it's raining. We often go in the middle of the day just to cool off and sit for a while, then wander around the exhibits and go back to park commando style! The exhibits are interesting but not fantastic.

 

[NicholeB630]

Good to know!! I won't stress about it then and if we have extra time than do it.

 

[pigletgirl]

It seems like a good place for little ones to run around where it's cool.

 

[MandiC]

My girls liked the video games, in fact we actually had a hard time getting them to leave. We also enjoyed Sum of All Thrills but overall, it isn't a *have to do* kind of thing. We went for the Visa cardholders photo but never ended up getting it because the meet and greet didn't start until 1pm...well we did FutureWorld mornings and World Showcase in the afternoon/evenings so that just didn't work for us.