Reviewed:
The corporate-exhibit "attraction" at Disneyland's Tomorrowland

Let me start off by saying that Innoventions is worst when you consider the kind of show it replaced and when you consider the kinds of shows they had dreamed up as alternatives. Seen in that light, this attraction stinks even more than it does on its own merits.

But I see your point and am willing to concede it to a degree. Innoventions fares much better when viewed as a singular entity rather than within the context of the entire park.

But let's talk about the "context of the park," as you put it. This is one of my primary complaints, actually. Let me ask you first whether you think Innoventions "fits" at all in Tomorrowland.

In that regard, going from the space opera of Star Wars or the camp of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids to the mundane issue of next month's digital camera is a bit of a misstep.

I think it's a jarring transition from just about anything to Innoventions, whereas at least the other rides/shows of Disneyland all feature some element of escapism to them.

That's why I try to consider Innoventions as discrete from the rest of Tomorrowland (TL), I think they are trying to do something different with it.

I can almost convince myself to view the place as you just suggested: Separate from the park and the land. So let's weigh the place on its own merits. My answer: It still comes up short. Horribly short.

Considering that Disneyland is very much trying to balance some sort of educational value with blatant corporate propaganda, I think that Innoventions has come up with a series of exhibits that just about any tech museum would be proud to have.

Similarly, the Honeywell quiz show game is embarrassing, frankly. I pity the Cast Members (CMs) as people simply walk away in the middle of a bizarre, pointless game.

I must admit, my experiences in Innoventions have varied dramatically based on the crowds inside. If I have to wait to use anything, it isn't worth it. If there are lots of kids playing the games, they tend to get into it more than the adults, and they are fun to watch. 

Since you bring up pitying the Cast Members working Innoventions, I would like to say that almost universally they are working harder, and with less of a script, than just about anywhere else in the park. Kudos to them all.

In a way, the CMs here have to be a bit like midway barkers, luring people in to do things they don't otherwise like to do.

While I appreciate the CM spirit, this is also somehow an "anti-Disneyland" way of doing things. Whenever I do join a game or activity, it feels like I'm obligated to do things to make them happy, which annoys me. I want to stress that I blame the system here, not the actual performance of the CMs.

If anything, they could use a bit more CM supervision down in the game pit on the first floor. Too frequently I see kids running around from game to game, butting in on people playing a game (I'm not bitter about having my game of Millionaire messed up).

You mentioned earlier that the previous uses for the building provided a nice place to rest for a moment. I don't think that has been lost at all.

You mention the outer ring shows. This is the Innoventions "Family," where Sports, Home, Computer, or whatever "Zone" is given complete attention. 

I hate those shows. They are only tolerable for the wonderful Audio-Animatronic (AA) nearby, the exposed-skeleton "Tom Morrow." 

This AA’s fluid motion excites even the CM’s. One Innoventions CM, while hyping up the robot to me on my last trip there, went so far as to claim to be his sister (her last name is also apparently "Morrow"). That tells you something about the loyalty to this robot! I do have to admit, Tom Morrow makes a trip into Innoventions worthwhile. Barely.

The attraction actually gets better the less popular it is. And that is self-defeating and enough to kill the attraction. Because, even with the low attendance it has now, a peak summer crowd is enough to drown out the positives.

But getting back to your point, I agree that a busy Innoventions is just a pain and not beneficial to anyone. In such a case, you'd enter the building and promptly leave (and just why is that exit on the second floor? Yes, yes, to make sure the sponsors get their money's worth by making us visit their exhibits. It's very annoying).

I really wish we'd gotten a nice, relaxing musical revue like America Sings instead. The idea for Plectu's Fantastic Galactic Revue would have combined Country-Bear style animatronics, zany songs, and wacky otherworldly designs. That would have been so much better, alas.

Personally, I just consider it a lemon that offers at least good air-conditioning ... and maybe a few free video games. Anything more is just plain hype. Is Innoventions fun? Not really. But it's hardly a negative or a damaging attraction either. I guess in a way it’s like the shows it replaced; it too is harmless. Just not harmless fun.