PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 9/12/16 (Hatbox Ghost, Innoventions Closures, New Merchandise, ETC.)

Our latest photo report brings us to Epcot, just days before the Food and Wine Festival takes over for its longest run in park history. Crowds are light now, but things are just starting to heat up…

Immediate Boarding

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Soarin’ Around the World was posted at a 5 minute wait, so I decided to time it…

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We edned up walking straight into the pre-show, a total wait of 3 minutes and 45 seconds. Crowds were light most of the weekend, but should pick-up very soon.

ImageWorks

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If you haven’t heard about the floor in Imageworks, check out my post from over the weekend.

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A new open edition Princess mystery pin collection is available.

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Around the World

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Is it art?

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Loving this bottle opener available at the Germany pavilion.

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A fairly new Germany t-shirt.

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Looks like America has a new booth for the Food and Wine Festival.

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Morocco does as well, noticeably nicer than the predecessor,

A Chip Off The Old Mug

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With the success of the ceramic Chip mug, there is now a plastic version for children.

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A new series of bags featuring Mickey and Minnie can be found around the resort.

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Monsters University Hat

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Over the last year, I have noticed a lot of guests wearing the MU hat from Monsters University. I guess Disney noticed this too, because it is now available just about everywhere…

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La Cantina Says Adios to Breakfast

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La Cantina de San Angel has discontinued the recently introduced breakfast service as the Mexico pavilion no longer opens at 9am along with Norway. Lunch service here now begins at 10am.

Obsolete Innoventions

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The Sum of All Thrills inside Innoventions will close on Tuesday.

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Stormstruck in Innoventions is also closing on Tuesday. Colortopia will be the only existing exhibit as of next week (and that weird Nanooze thing I guess).

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This and That

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A new Frozen shirt available at the exit of Frozen Ever After.

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Alberta Bound is back playing the Mills Stage in Canada for a limited time.

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Some Cutter spray could be found alongside the bug repellent lotion at some kiosks around the park.

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Some new Disney Boutique shirts available inside MouseGear.

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Hatbox Ghost Jim Shore Statue

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On October 1st, Jim Shore will release a Hatbox Ghost statue at Disney Parks. Guests can pre-order this now online.

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Brandon Struve’s 10/14/09 Epcot Photo Report (featuring The Sum of All Thrills)

WDWNT Reporter Brandon Struve took a special trip to Epcot this morning to check out “The Sum of All Thrills”, a new Innoventions exhibit sponsored by Raytheon that we first told you about earlier this year:

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“The Sum of All Thrills” opened inside of Innoventions East/Blue earlier today

Read More about Brandon Struve’s 10/14/09 Epcot Photo Report (featuring The Sum of All Thrills)

Innoventions “Adds” an Exhibit in 2009

It seems that a new math themed exhibit is coming to the “new” Innoventions at Epcot in the Fall of 2009:

Raytheon Company plans to unveil an interactive, math-based experience called “The Sum of All Thrills” at INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The exhibit, set to open fall 2009, will engage children through a fun and educational experience that helps instill a lifelong passion for math, science and technology.

“The Sum of All Thrills” will be a core component of Raytheon’s MathMovesU program, an initiative designed to engage middle school students in math and science, and help create the next generation of innovators for the U.S. It will be located in the INNOVENTIONS pavilion at Epcot, a unique area of the park that contains 100,000 square feet of interactive, hands-on exhibits that allow visitors to celebrate the inspiration and innovation that improve their lives and expand their horizons.

“Raytheon is working to foster young students’ interest and success in math and science, two of the primary fundamentals on which American competitiveness has been built,” said William H. Swanson, Raytheon Company Chairman and CEO and 2009 MATHCOUNTS honorary chairman. “Raytheon shares The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to innovation and education through imagination. We’re proud to offer INNOVENTIONS visitors a unique experience that combines all of these attributes and that seeks to unlock the math and science potential within every student.”

In addition to the experience at INNOVENTIONS, Raytheon will be supporting another 2009 initiative at the Walt Disney World Resort – the 2009 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition. Taking place May 7-10, 2009, at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, the competition is the culmination of an enrichment and coaching program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement in every U.S. state and territory. Raytheon is the title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition for the next three years, through 2011.

About MathMovesU

Since its inception in 2005 to help spur interest in math and science, Raytheon’s MathMovesU program has touched the lives of more than 700,000 students, teachers and parents. Through interactive learning programs, contests, live events, scholarships, tutoring programs and more, MathMovesU engages and inspires students. Core components of the program include:

  • An innovative approach to engaging students in math and science through a partnership with the Kraft family and The New England Patriots at The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon
  • www.mathmovesu.com, a virtual space to educate and entertain middle school students through games and activities that showcase the math behind students’ favorite pastimes
  • A scholarship and grants program that awards $1 million annually to students, teachers and schools.

More information may be found at www.raytheon.com/stewardship/mmu/.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

About INNOVENTIONS at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort

INNOVENTIONS is located in the heart of Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Creativity and imagination abound as guests celebrate inspiration and the innovations that improve their lives and expand their horizons. Hands-on, interactive exhibits allow children and adults to be immersed into ideas that inform, entertain and inspire – conquer the most dangerous house in America, find solutions to “sticky” problems, experience the most cutting edge products at the “House of the Future,” protect the environment from the daily waste we create, and push the limits of everyday products as we make the world a safer place.