We had not visited DisneyWorld for nearly five years, we decided that our stay this Christmas (2005) should include at least two visits. Top of the list with our two boys (aged 7 and 11) was Epcot. Previously we had toured the World Showcase and the boys had a great time, but they were a little young at the time to really get the best from the two Innoventions Pavilions.
This time, after a quick detour to get fastpasses for Soarin’ (even at 10.00 in the morning the queue for this was 60 minutes), we headed for Innoventions West.
The first area that we came to on entering, heading clockwise, was a new interactive exhibit where robots could be programmed to make music by hitting part of ordinary objects such as kettle drums, overhead pipes, crates etc . Four individual robots can be directed by you, through their own control panel to bang the objects rhythmically to create a constant musical beat. The boys had great fun controlling the robots and listening to the results.
When we could prise them away from the robots we made our way over to the Great American Farm, looking at the technology behind today’s farm. The best part of this area was a chance to take part in ‘The Great American Pizza Game’. Members of each team had to memorise the different states of America and what those states produced, then match two or more states/products together to win points for their team. Each member of the team had the chance to choose a state and each correct answer added a ‘topping’ to the team’s pizza. We had great fun with this and managed to draw with the other team.
Then on to Tom Morrow’s Playground, another interactive area – the part the boys enjoyed most here was jumping around the dance mat, trying to keep time with Mickey, Donald and Pluto.
The next area made the boys’ eyes light up and we let out a little groan – Video games of Tomorrow – where they had the chance to play newly released games (such as the Incredibles, and Chicken Little) and virtual games. As there was not much chance of getting the boys to move from this area for the foreseeable future, we left them to it and moved on to the Ultimate Home Theater Experience area. My other half was keen to sample this area but the boys were not too bothered about. It.
Proving how old I really was, I could recognise a lot of the ‘outdated’ technologies in TV and Radio which were demonstrated, before moving on to another room to check out the latest technologies in lighting, high-definition TV and surround sound. We then moved on to the final room, set up like a miniature cinema with plush seating, to experience a short film using all the latest technologies, which was very impressive.
It was only the rumbling tummies of our hungry boys that persuaded them to leave this pavilion and it was amazing how much time had passed and how much fun we all had in there.
There were a couple more areas that we did not have a chance to explore in Innoventions West, so it will definitely be on our return list for our next visit at Easter.
This time, after a quick detour to get fastpasses for Soarin’ (even at 10.00 in the morning the queue for this was 60 minutes), we headed for Innoventions West.
The first area that we came to on entering, heading clockwise, was a new interactive exhibit where robots could be programmed to make music by hitting part of ordinary objects such as kettle drums, overhead pipes, crates etc . Four individual robots can be directed by you, through their own control panel to bang the objects rhythmically to create a constant musical beat. The boys had great fun controlling the robots and listening to the results.
When we could prise them away from the robots we made our way over to the Great American Farm, looking at the technology behind today’s farm. The best part of this area was a chance to take part in ‘The Great American Pizza Game’. Members of each team had to memorise the different states of America and what those states produced, then match two or more states/products together to win points for their team. Each member of the team had the chance to choose a state and each correct answer added a ‘topping’ to the team’s pizza. We had great fun with this and managed to draw with the other team.
Then on to Tom Morrow’s Playground, another interactive area – the part the boys enjoyed most here was jumping around the dance mat, trying to keep time with Mickey, Donald and Pluto.
The next area made the boys’ eyes light up and we let out a little groan – Video games of Tomorrow – where they had the chance to play newly released games (such as the Incredibles, and Chicken Little) and virtual games. As there was not much chance of getting the boys to move from this area for the foreseeable future, we left them to it and moved on to the Ultimate Home Theater Experience area. My other half was keen to sample this area but the boys were not too bothered about. It.
Proving how old I really was, I could recognise a lot of the ‘outdated’ technologies in TV and Radio which were demonstrated, before moving on to another room to check out the latest technologies in lighting, high-definition TV and surround sound. We then moved on to the final room, set up like a miniature cinema with plush seating, to experience a short film using all the latest technologies, which was very impressive.
It was only the rumbling tummies of our hungry boys that persuaded them to leave this pavilion and it was amazing how much time had passed and how much fun we all had in there.
There were a couple more areas that we did not have a chance to explore in Innoventions West, so it will definitely be on our return list for our next visit at Easter.