Innoventions at EPCOT: A History of Tech Pavilions

After an extensive overhaul, the area formerly known as CommuniCore, located behind Spaceship Earth, was reimagined as Innoventions in 1994. Split into two distinct pavilions—East and West—Innoventions showcased sponsored exhibits themed around technology, health, safety, and science, offering guests hands-on experiences with cutting-edge ideas.

Over the years, Innoventions evolved through multiple phases. In 1999, as part of EPCOT’s Millennium Celebration, the pavilion was rebranded as Innoventions: The Road to Tomorrow. By late 2007, the subtitle was dropped during another renovation, and the exhibits continued to rotate as sponsors and technologies changed.

At the end of April 2015, Innoventions West closed permanently, leaving many fans wondering what would become of the space. In September 2019, Innoventions East followed suit, and by November 2019, demolition began on the West pavilion as part of EPCOT’s most ambitious redesign since its opening.

Here’s a curated list of notable exhibits that once filled these pavilions:

Innoventions East

The Sum of All Thrills – Design and ride your own roller coaster
StormStruck – Learn about weather safety and storm preparedness
Habit Heroes – Interactive health and wellness exhibit
Take a Nano Ride! – Explore nanotechnology
Don’t Waste It! – Waste management and recycling education
Environmentality Corner – Sustainability and conservation tips
Colortopia – Sponsored by Glidden, explore the science and psychology of color
The Great Piggy Bank Adventure – Financial literacy game by T. Rowe Price
Velcro® Exhibit – Discover the science behind hook-and-loop fasteners
Test the Limits Lab – Safety testing demonstrations
THINK Exhibit – IBM’s interactive look at innovation and data