Quest for Old Communicore (pics!)

[mousermerf]

I spent my recent trip to Epcot researching the remnants of old Communicore in the construction of the new Innoventions additions. I decided to combine some photoshop overlays and concept art comparisons with the photo update of the new construction.

Starting off, to end any debate, the curved windows on the second floor in Guest Relations were indeed the ones that were in Communicore.

And here's the concept art that concurs.. They used to be quite close to SMRT-1.

The vantage point of the concept art is essentially looking to the left once you entered old Communicore from the main entrance.

Here's the other side of Guest Relations, not showing any helpful structures to identify it's location - apparently they just built a false wall.

Now into Innoventions, where there is work to remove a false wall that was built when Communicore became innoventions.

It's right where Forests of the Future meets Fantastic Plastics (both behind tarps) and on the Forests side of the backstage hallway that exits the area between the two.

Another look..

Notice that circle in the ceiling? It's one of the old false skylights that Communicore had. I drew it in so you can see it better. Also, helped define the Plastics wall shape (it's at an angle and overlaps some) and pointed out the beam that runs along the support posts inside the building - that terminates in the Plastics wall at an odd angle, showing that it too is a fake wall added later.

And another view..

more arrows showing the posts/columns and circles (the posts run in 2 lines down the entire length of the main curved walkway through old Communicore with the circle skylioghts inbetween). Also the old beam that ran along them at the roof.

Here's a better look at the roof in general..

You can definitely see the arc of columns once they're highlighted.

 

[fyn]

The pictures aren't showing up for me. Does anyone else see them?

 

[mousermerf]

I tried to match the shape of the beam ontop to the concept art in the Epcot gallery with no luck. Couldn't find a match in East or West. I think it's hard because it shows both floors whereas the building now only has 1 floor.

Anywho, one more shot before I go into major research mode.. Here's the doorway that leads out to Energy between Plastics and the House of the Future. Note the mirror panels above it - those same style panels can be seen behind some of the refurb walls at Forests and also in Innoventions West near the Disney Visa meet/greet.

Exterior of those doors..

Here's the overhead shot from when Communicore was alive, from the Epcot gallery.

Guest Relations has moved to the other side of the "nub" that sticks out into the plaza, the main entrance had been closed and landscape around, while the corner of the building was lobbed off to make the new Innoventions entrance. Here's Guest relations showing it's locations by the "nub"

It took me a while to figure out those circles on top of the building in the overhead shot are not the same as the ones that are inside the building as skylights. There are 11 skylights in the southern two buildings (seens in Mouse gear below) and roughly 10 (estimated) in the Innoventions buildings.

I counted 8 in innoventions east, and then by flipping the southern building on top of it in photoshop I was able to see about how big they were and abou how many extra the southern had opposed to the northern building.

Number 8 (blue) is where the wall is being cut into.

And then overlaying Marni's map with the Innoventions map onto it reveals it's right where it should be..

Suggesting that Backstage Magic still is unused, hiding behidn where Fantastic Plastics was. All that being said - you can also see that the Art of Disney added onto Commincore northwest was not part of the original building. Some people have said it took over an old part of the building, which cant be true unless West had a major expansion before Communicore closed.

Finale note - new Spaceship Earth model in the Epcot gallery. It has the triangles as facets rather then painted on. I guess the painted ball goes back to DHS for One Man's Dream now.

 

[brkgnews]

Excellent sleuthing, merf.

Finale note - new Spaceship Earth model in the Epcot gallery. It has the triangles as facets rather then painted on. I guess the painted ball goes back to DHS for One Man's Dream now.

Kinda mixed on this one... I really like the fact that the new model is more architecturally correct... but the "flat" one was painted by John Hench. At least it's (presumably) back at OMD.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

I can see the pictures.

Merf why aren't you filming SSE with your camera when you're at Epcot

There is also the row of circular ceiling lights and hallway itself in Innoventions East Souther Corridor that now is Mouse Gear. The hallway is now the checkout and misc merchandise area for Mouse Gears. There is also a circular room and ceiling in the southern part of Mouse Gears that was the electronic forum.

Innoventions West's northern corridor also has a disguised section of circular ceiling lights.

 

[lilredfoxie]

awesome work,

one place im looking for is the supposed area where you can see the old Backstage magic theather, I think its behind something

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

Though not Communicore related, I think some of the original orange wall panneling in the main entrance for World of Motion is still there, now painted white.

The curved walls of the queue room for World of Motion is also there, though the chrome panneling is gone. I think some of the chrome panneling from TransCenter is still part of Inside Track, where the new GM cars are shown.

There are also light stains on the exterior walls of Innoventions where the old Communicore Signs used to be.

Project Tomorrow once again uses the large showroom space like Earth Station did, though the old 1982 rear projector screens are still covered by the 1994 Global Neighborhood screens, and the original 1982 Earth Station ceiling is gone, now a mechanical shell of lights and other equipment used for Project Tomorrow.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

It's good to see that they are giving attention to the Gallery, beyond just letting it sit or closing it. I am pretty sure those printed materials are new to the exhibit. I don't believe they were in that case, as the previous model took up most of that space.

It's a shame what they've done to CommuniCore, isn't it? This is a subject near and dear to my heart, as I worked at Innoventions, standing there most of the time thinking about how much nicer the place was back then. I find it particularly annoying how much Guest area is now all backstage, like the upstairs area for Centorium. And what is the point of having walls seperate the Electric Umbrella from the rest of the pavilion? It sure seems like they go out of their way to make sure you don't have a pleasant experience at Innoventions.

 

[jakeman]

I by no means mean this as snarky or trollish, but what is the point of this?

Are there rumors of expanding Innoventions or bringing back unused areas of Communicore?

Or is this sluething for sluething sake?

Any answer is fine, I was just curious if there was a rumor I missed somewhere.

Either way, impressive job Merf.

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

They're knocking down and getting rid of the fantastic plastics and I think the forest exhibit as well. This will make exhibit space open all the way to the area that held the old viewing room for backstage magic, which still has much of the original equipment inside it, including the large model of EPCOT Center. (Too bad they couldn't have put that on display in the 25th exhibit)

Anyway, no word if the new showroom space will expand into this old area, or even into the old backstage magic room itself, which uses much less computers and other things it did in 1982, and is also a storage area and God only knows what else.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Finale note - new Spaceship Earth model in the Epcot gallery. It has the triangles as facets rather then painted on. I guess the painted ball goes back to DHS for One Man's Dream now.

If this is true I hope this will still be there at the end of Sept/October..

 

[kcnole]

Kinda mixed on this one... I really like the fact that the new model is more architecturally correct... but the "flat" one was painted by John Hench. At least it's (presumably) back at OMD.

Does anyone have the picture of this model? I don't think I've seen the painted SSE before.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

This will make exhibit space open all the way to the area that held the old viewing room for backstage magic, which still has much of the original equipment inside it, including the large model of EPCOT Center. (Too bad they couldn't have put that on display in the 25th exhibit)

Anyway, no word if the new showroom space will expand into this old area, or even into the old backstage magic room itself, which uses much less computers and other things it did in 1982, and is also a storage area and God only knows what else.

The Plastics area already takes up the physical space of the viewing area for Backstage Magic, and goes all the way up to the large glass windows for the show. I highly doubt that they will circumvent Computer Central for exhibit space.

Does anyone have the picture of this model? I don't think I've seen the painted SSE before.

Well, I don't have a picture, but it's the model that was in One Man's Dream up until the end of September, and presumably back there now.

 

[bingie]

The space upstairs, above the old plastic works (where they currently have the GR CM for dining reservations and training for FW) what was there before??

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

The space upstairs, above the old plastic works (where they currently have the GR CM for dining reservations and training for FW) what was there before??

I am reasonably sure that has always been office space, because that is with the old V.I.P. lounge. It is also possible that it might have been part of the queue/pre-show area for Astuter Computer Revue/Backstage Magic.

 

[cpeterstx]

Thanks Merf. :wave: I always enjoy your Epcot history posts. Brings back great memories!!

 

[TinkerBell9988]

Does anyone have the picture of this model? I don't think I've seen the painted SSE before.

Here you go... taken on Oct. 1, 2007:

 

[TinkerBell9988]

Though not Communicore related, I think some of the original orange wall panneling in the main entrance for World of Motion is still there, now painted white.

The curved walls of the queue room for World of Motion is also there, though the chrome panneling is gone. I think some of the chrome panneling from TransCenter is still part of Inside Track, where the new GM cars are shown.

Where is this, exactly? The entrance to TT? I'm a WoM fanatic, so this little blurb intrigued me... :lookaroun :animwink:

 

[Jerm]

Here's the overhead shot from when Communicore was alive, from the Epcot gallery.

So wait!!! There was water in that area before they paved over it?

I by no means mean this as snarky or trollish, but what is the point of this?

Are there rumors of expanding Innoventions or bringing back unused areas of Communicore?

Or is this sluething for sluething sake?

Any answer is fine, I was just curious if there was a rumor I missed somewhere.

Either way, impressive job Merf.

This really should be in the other area, but it is just us Disney geeks trying to put pieces of a puzzle together.

 

[tirian]

Remember when the Character Spot first opened at Epcot? The characters essentially stood around in the old Communicore hallway around Pasta Piazza. If anyone has pictures with them, you should be able to see some old Communicore carpet.

That said, there is an abandoned hallway behind the Visa Photo location (across from "Where's the Fire?"), but it's full of lockers now.