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The Seas with Details & Things

At The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Epcot Guests are invited to come down to the shore and dive in to discover a whole new world. The journey starts outside the pavilion, where waves crash upon the rocks and a flock of seagulls squawk, "Mine. Mine. Mine."

Around the corner, the queue winds down Coral Caves Beach past dunes and tall grasses. Along the way are all sorts of fun graphics that not only help set the scene, but refer to characters and elements from the Disney-Pixar film Finding Nemo... as well as foreshadow moments from the ride ahead.

The name Darla on the sign below refers, of course, to Dr. Sherman's niece in the film, but you also have to love the pun: "No Reef Funds"

Closer to the seashore is a lifeguard station labeled "5A" (perhaps a reference to the fact that Finding Nemo was Pixar's 5th feature film?), and just beyond is the ocean. The queue then "dives" right in, as Guests pass rusted railings and schools of animated fish on their way toward an adventure with a certain clownfish.

An interesting detail to note... The logo below, seen a couple of times in the queue for The Seas with Nemo & Friends, identifies the same fictional organization that operates the marine research ventures on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland: Nautical Exploration & Marine Observation (N.E.M.O. for short).

Flashback: CommuniCore

The attraction we know today as Innoventions traces its roots back to the opening of Epcot. The semi-circular buildings in the heart of Future World were originally home to CommuniCore. Similar to Innoventions, CommuniCore was a place where the park's operating participants could showcase their latest innovations or dive deeper into a subject than could be accomplished in the ride-through attractions.

Short for Community Core, CommuniCore featured hands-on exhibits, information centers, and minor attractions. The photo above (all photos ©Disney) looks across the Sperry Epcot Computer Central toward the American Express TravelPort, where one could preview exciting vacation destinations around the world. Among the highlights of Computer Central were a Build a Roller Coaster terminal (using simple computer graphics, you could then "ride" your creation) and SMRT-1 (below), a little purple robot who played simple question and answer games with Epcot Guests using an early form of speech recognition.

Along the back wall of Epcot Computer Central was a long ramp which led up to the second-floor entrance for the Astuter Computer Review (later called Backstage Magic). In this show, Guests peered down into the large, computer-filled room which operated all of EPCOT Center. With a little Disney magic, our host (later hostess Julie) would appear to shrink down and walk across the tops of the computer cabinets, explaining how everything worked. The show was fascinating in its day. Of course in 2009, everything done in that room could probably be accomplished with a MacBook Pro.

At the nearby Energy Exchange, presented by Exxon, Guests could stand alongside an enormous piece of oil shale or crank away on a handle to see just how much human energy would be needed just to illuminate a few lightbulbs:

Across the way in CommuniCore West could be found FutureCom, presented by Bell System (later by AT&T). The visual icon of FutureCom was the Fountain of Information (below), an ever-moving sculpture of modern media, representing the constant flow of information and entertainment available in 1982 (notice the laser discs; CDs weren't publicly available until after EPCOT Center opened, and DVDs were still more than a decade away).

Elsewhere in FutureCom, Guests could try their hand at managing AT&T's "complex" telephone network (below; mobile phones were still limited to episodes of "Star Trek"). The area also featured a number of interactive games using touch screen technology. Touch screens were put into use throughout CommuniCore, as well as with the World Key Information terminals located at several points around EPCOT Center. Every time I use my iPhone at Epcot, I think about my own first experience with touch screens in that very park and how amazing it is that I can now carry one in my pocket. We really are living in the future!

The guidebook page below (from 1987) details the original locations of these and other CommuniCore features. At the Electronic Forum, Guests responded to a series of questions using buttons on the arms of the theater seats (American Idol Experience anyone?) and could see the poll results in a matter of minutes. In the early 90s, Electronic Forum also served as a voting location for the Person of the Century poll, an initiative sponsored by Disney but abandoned a few years later when it looked like Walt Disney himself was receiving an overwhelming majority of votes. While a good argument could be made for Walt Disney as one of the most significant individuals of the 20th century, announcing him as the Person of the Century might have appeared self-serving. In 1999, the Electronic Forum and Centorium gift shop were merged to form Mouse Gear.

The Stargate Restaurant and Beverage Base became Electric Umbrella. Across the way the Sunrise Terrace Restaurant was converted to Pizza & Pasta for a while, but is today the spot for FountainView Terrace and the Epcot Character Spot.

The space labeled Robot Show below has housed a number of short-lived experiences. In the first year of EPCOT Center's operation, the building was graced with a billboard for the TRON Arcade, a feature which was never added. After the Robot Show closed, the Walt Disney Imagineering Labs were located here, offering Guests an opportunity to test drive an Aladdin virtual reality attraction (eventually added to DisneyQuest). The front side of the space now is home to Club Cool (a recent update on Ice Station Cool) where international Coca-Cola products can be sampled. On the back side, the most recent tenant has been the Epcot 25th anniversary exhibit.

Most notable among the features of CommuniCore was EPCOT Outreach and the Teacher's Center, where Guests and visiting educators could pick up all sorts of additional information about the subjects presented within the park - although information about the park itself proved to be one of the most sought-after topics.

EPCOT Outreach moved around a bit over the years. At one point it was located in CommuniCore East as part of the Electronic Forum area. Later, it was moved to the present-day location of the Epcot Art of Disney shop, where it was known as the Epcot Discovery Center, and the Teacher's Center found a new home upstairs.

With the growth of the Internet in the 21st century, EPCOT Outreach's original Guest service mission became less relevant, and the location was closed. The internal research functions EPCOT Outreach provided for the Walt Disney Company have been carried on, however, with the Walt Disney World Library and Research Center, still staffed today by dedicated Cast Members who once worked in CommuniCore at Epcot.

What remained of CommuniCore was replaced by the first iteration of Innoventions in 1994. In that version, Innoventions was a far more chaotic presentation than it is today, having been inspired by consumer electronics shows. The opening of Innoventions also brought to the area the dancing fountains and colorful kinetic sculptures, designed to add some motion and interest to the center of the park. The Innoventions attraction was streamlined in 1999 with the introduction of the "Road to Tomorrow" and mini-matronic host Tom Morrow 2.0. Tom has since moved on to delivering weather reports on TNN (part of the pre-show for Stitch's SuperSonic Celebration in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom), but the "Road" concept remains a part of Innoventions today.

A Crummy Commercial?

Critics often deride Innoventions as nothing more than blatant advertising, but this attraction goes right to the thematic heart of Epcot and Tomorrowland, as a place where Disney Guests can get an up close (and sometimes hands-on) look at the latest ideas coming from companies the world over.

Participant companies have been part of the Disney theme park experience since the very beginning. In the 1950s, Tomorrowland at Disneyland was dotted with fascinating exhibits of current and future technology.

The American Dairy Association Dairy Bar (above, scan taken from Disneyland the Nickel Tour) previewed a world where flying milkmen would deliver fresh milk straight to your front door. At the Kaiser Hall of Aluminum Fame, Kap the Aluminum Pig hosted a bright and shiny future, filled with new aluminum products.

The latest ideas in bathroom design were featured at the Crane Company Bathroom of Tomorrow, while Monsanto’s Hall of Chemistry used animated displays to tell the story of how chemicals contribute to modern living.

Monsanto also sponsored the original House of the Future, composed almost entirely of plastics (below, image from D23). The House was a fixture at the entrance of Tomorrowland from 1957 to 1967.

Partnering with companies like these adds richness to the Disney theme parks, as well as a degree of realism and credibility to Disney’s storytelling. The tradition of Participants continues today, most notably at the Innoventions attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Recent shows within Innoventions at Epcot have included the Test the Limits Lab, presented by Underwriters Laboratories; Velcro Industries “What’s Your Problem?” game show; Liberty Mutual’s “Where’s the Fire?” attraction (above); and the T. Rowe Price "Great Piggy Bank Adventure." These exhibits change regularly to keep Innoventions new and exciting.

In Tomorrowland at Disneyland, the House of the Future has now entered the 21^st century with the Innoventions Dream Home.

For this attraction Microsoft, HP, Lifeware, and homebuilder Taylor Morrison have come together with Disney to present a vision of the future where amazing technology enhances the everyday lives of the fictional Elias family.

So the next time you’re visiting Disneyland Park in California or Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, be sure to stop in and see what’s new at Innoventions, and enjoy a link to Disney's theme park heritage that stretches all the way back to 1955.

Anaheim, Here I Come!

I apologize for the lack of updates. I'm engaged in a little impromptu family vacation, but I'll be back at it next week with more stories and details from Epcot. Meanwhile...

This just in from D23. I can't wait for September.

D23 EXPO, THE ULTIMATE DISNEY FAN EXPERIENCE, COMES TO THE ANAHEIM CONVENTION CENTER SEPT. 10-13

Four Extraordinary Days of Live Events, Interactive Pavilions and One-of-a-Kind Entertainment Celebrate the Past, Present and Future of Disney

ANAHEIM and BURBANK, Calif. – June 3, 2009 – Disney fans will be given unprecedented access to never-before-seen movies, TV shows, park experiences, collectibles and more from Sept. 10 to Sept. 13 at the Anaheim Convention Center when Disney and D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans present the first-ever D23 EXPO.

Tickets to the D23 EXPO are available beginning today at http://www.D23Expo.com. Admission includes access to all experiences and entertainment at the D23 EXPO and can be purchased for single days or for the full four days of festivities. Admission is discounted for members of D23.

“We hope this will be the ultimate event for the multitude of fans who have been so instrumental in Disney’s success,” said Disney President and CEO Bob Iger. “The D23 Expo represents the finest in Disney entertainment from across our great company and will offer a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable experience for people of all ages to enjoy.”

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle added, “The upcoming D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center will serve as an exciting opportunity to present Anaheim to the millions of Disney enthusiasts around the world. For the thousands of inaugural-year D23 Expo attendees who will visit our city in September, this will be a special and a memorable time in the birthplace of Walt Disney’s original theme park. It is a great honor for Anaheim and the Anaheim Convention Center to host this event.”

Among the centerpiece events of the D23 EXPO will be an extraordinary, exclusive opportunity to get early glimpses of several all-new Disney feature films. Only at the D23 EXPO will guests preview a wide range of upcoming movie events, including The Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, TRON, Toy Story 3, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Walt Disney Pictures will present these special sneak peeks in a state-of-the-art cinema built especially for the D23 EXPO.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts will take D23 EXPO guests behind the scenes to explore the rich legacy and exciting future of Disney’s theme parks and vacation destinations worldwide. Highlights will include a special look at what’s being imagineered for the future of Disney’s California Adventure, a peek behind closed doors at the amazing new technologies defining today’s and tomorrow’s Disney theme park experience, and the opportunity to meet and hear from the Imagineers, Cast Members and key Disney Parks and Resorts executives who create lasting memories for millions every year.

In many different ways, the D23 EXPO will explore the history and heritage of Walt Disney and the company he founded more than 80 years ago. The D23 EXPO will be home to the 2009 Disney Legends Awards – a 22-year tradition that pays tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to Disney entertainment. This year’s recipients will be honored at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12, marking the first time the prestigious event has been held off Disney property.

In an extraordinary exhibition designed specifically for the D23 EXPO, an incredible collection of classic and contemporary Disney props, artifacts and costumes will be accessible to the public for the first time ever. “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” brings together such amazing pieces as the fully restored, 11-foot model of the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; the stunning, jewel-encrusted book used in the opening moments of Sleeping Beauty; and other rare surprises from throughout Disney’s history. Ranging from the original Mickey Mouse Club and the musical classic Mary Poppins to recent hits like Pirates of the Caribbean and High School Musical, the “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” is a never-before-experienced exhibit that’s a D23 EXPO exclusive.

The D23 EXPO spotlight will also shine on Disney Channel's brightest stars in a can't miss-special event. There will also be an ESPN Sports Lounge, live broadcasts from Radio Disney, and a preview of ABC's new fall primetime shows, details of which will be announced in the coming weeks at www.D23Expo.com.

For Disney fans who want to take home part of the magic, Disney Consumer Products will offer myriad opportunities to do just that. Only at the D23 EXPO will guests be able to walk through the eight-room “Disney Dream Home,” celebrate the holidays Disney-style, see fine art created before their eyes, learn about Disney Fairy Tale Weddings, experience Disney couture fashion shows, meet and hear from the authors of a dazzling array of Disney books, prepare for trick-or-treating with the latest Disney Store Halloween costumes, and more ... all under one roof.

The D23 EXPO also will be home to the “Disney Dream Store,” where guests will find exclusive D23 EXPO merchandise and collectibles; the Disney pin-trading headquarters; and much more, including the chance to build your own Mouse ears.

Showcasing Disney’s appeal to fans of every generation, the D23 EXPO has created a multi-layered experience: Avid Disney enthusiasts can attend dozens of specially created panels and celebrity-speaker events, details of which will be announced over the next several weeks. Younger Disney fans, meanwhile, will be able to experience special interactive play areas, meet their favorite Radio Disney DJs broadcasting live, watch “Princess makeover” demonstrations from the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique, and have fun in the Baby Einstein play area. Together, families can enjoy the Disney Crafts Center and learn about Disney-themed scrapbooking.

The D23 Collectors’ Forum will present a wide range of options for collectors to show and sell their Disney memorabilia, and those interested in exhibiting can visitwww.D23Expo.com for more information.

Fans also will be able to view and even take part in the first-ever Disney Fan Art Gallery, which will include the finalists in the Donald Duck 75th Anniversary Portrait Contest, as well as a one-of-a-kind fan art show. Full details and contest rules can be found at www.D23Expo.com or www.disney.com/D23.

All activities at the D23 EXPO are included in single- and four-day admissions, including the “50 and Fabulous Film Festival,” which honors three classic Disney movies that are celebrating their golden anniversaries this year. Sleeping Beauty, The Shaggy Dog and Darby O’Gill and the Little People, all originally released in 1959, will be presented on the big screen, one movie each evening, for Disney fans of all ages to enjoy together. Also featured at the D23 EXPO will be a special screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ upcoming Tinker Bell: Lost Treasure, along with an in-depth exploration of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Diamond Edition, which will be released this fall by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Tickets to the D23 EXPO, which go on sale today, are $37 for a one-day adult admission and $27 for children 3-12. To experience every bit of entertainment and excitement at the D23 EXPO, four-day passes are also available at $111 for adults and $81 for children. Members of D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans will receive a discount on up to four same-day admissions, as well as early entry to each day of the D23 EXPO for themselves and their guests.

Special vacation packages are available at the D23 EXPO website, from both the Walt Disney Travel Company (including Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations, D23 EXPO tickets and theme park admission), and the Anaheim Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, which is offering a limited number of area hotel rooms at special rates to those attending the D23 EXPO.

Many more details about the entertainment, events and special guests that will be part of the first-ever D23 EXPO will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can keep up with all of the announcements by visiting www.D23EXPO.com, as well as by following “Disney D23” at Twitter and on Facebook.