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===Original Development===The show that would eventually become Ellen's Energy Adventure was originally developed as a new attraction for Exxon's Universe of Energy pavilion. Although the Universe of Energy had initially been popular with guestsat its onset, by 1996 attendance in the pavilion had dropped substantially. Furthermore, the information presented in the attraction was dated, and guests began to complain that the ride's tone was too serious <ref name= "book"> Pedersen, R.A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print </ref>. With this in mind, Exxon and Disney agreed that a new attraction was necessary, with Exxon asking that the attraction be ready in time for the pavilion’s 15th anniversary in 1997 <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=619 </ref>. In order to rejuvenate the pavilion, Disney pitched the idea of Ellen’s Energy Crisis, a show that would still teach guests about energy, but would do so with a lighter, more comedic tone. Using the same ride format (including the Primeval Diorama) as the Universe of Energy, Ellen’s Energy Crisis would feature comedienne Ellen DeGeneres as the attraction's host. Disney estimated that the change from the Universe of Energy to Ellen’s Energy Crisis would take five months, and with this in mind the attraction closed on January 20, 1996 <ref name= "Martin"/>.

After Moving into the Universe of Energy closed changes were made to the attraction's infrastructure in order to accommodate Ellen’s Energy Crisis. In the preshow theaterPrimeval Diorama, the rotating Radok screens storm effects were taken out toned down and replaced by five standard screens a significant amount of vegetation was added <ref name= "Martin"/>. InitiallyAt this time, Disney had planned on reusing the Radok screens, as Bill Nye the Science Guy dinosaurs’ skin color was to show Degeneres a also changed based on new scientific findings <ref name= "kinetic energy mosaicMartin"/>. As far as the attraction continued to develop howeverdinosaurs themselves, this idea the Ornithomimus who was scrapped and the screens were removed. Also once drowning in the first theatera mud pit, the gold curtains was relocated and reprogrammed so that rose were removed and replaced by stationary black curtains. Furthermore, the mirror walls which were used to reflect and multiply the images of the theater’s three rear screens (giving the attraction's finale a seemingly endless scope) were removed and replaced it now squirted guests with sound insulation water <ref name= "Martin"/>. More substantiallyAn Ellen DeGeneres Audio Animatronic also replaced a fish eating Pteranodon, as part of and the Elasmosarus' programming was changed so that it now attacked Ellen's Energy Crisis the first theater got a completely new film , as well as a new audio system opposed to attacking guests <ref name= "Martin"/>. Like the first theaterFinally, the second theater also got a new film, which used quaking rock effect and the wave pool effect were both new footage as well as recycled footage from the original attraction deactivated <ref name= "Martin"/>.

The Universe of Energy/Ellen's Energy Crisis hybrid presented its own unique set of problems. Without the Radok screens, the first preshow film did not achieve the effects that were initially intended. In the Primeval Diorama, the storm effects dinosaurs had their new colors, though the audio tracks for Ellen's Energy Crisis were toned down and a significant amount of vegetation was added <ref name= "Martin"/>muted. At this timeFurthermore, the dinosaurs’ skin color Ellen Audio Animatronic that was also changed based on new scientific findings installed in the Diorama was deactivated and hidden from guest's view behind a boulder <ref name= "Martin"/>. As far as In the dinosaurs themselvesattraction's second theater, the Ornithomimus who was once drowning in a mud pit, was relocated monitors and reprogrammed so maps that it now squirted guests with water the ride narration referred to had already been removed <ref name= "Martin"/>. An Ellen DeGeneres Audio Animatronic also replaced a fish eating PteranodonTo fix this, and the Elasmosarus' programming a new narration was changed so installed that it now attacked Ellen as opposed made the attraction seem more current, while also omitting the references to guests the removed props<ref name="Martin"/>. Finally, due to the quaking rock effect and fact that the wave pool effect were both deactivated mirror walls had been removed from the third theater, the attraction lost its grand finale <ref name="Martin"/>.

Although initially planned for a Summer 1996 opening, delays in Burbank with After operating throughout the filming and editing schedule for Ellen’s Energy Crisissummer, led Disney to realize that the attraction would not be ready on time <ref name= "book"/>. With the World of Motion already closed for refurbishment during the busy peak seasonSeptember 1, Disney decided that they would temporarily reopen 1996 the original Universe of Energy attraction, albeit it with Ellen’s Energy Crisis’ infrastructure finally closed for good <ref name= "Martin"/>. This meant that beginning in June 1996 an attraction that was a combination of the original Universe of Energy , and the incomplete Ellen's on September 15th Ellen’s Energy Crisis ran in the Universe of Energy pavilion had its first soft opening <ref name= "Martinbook"/>. Without the Radok screensA few weeks later, the first preshow film did not achieve the effects that were intended. In the Primeval DioramaOn October 1, 1996, the dinosaurs had their new colors and the audio tracks for Ellenattraction's name was changed to Ellen’s Energy Crisis were muted. FurthermoreAdventure, the Ellen Audio Animatronic that was installed in the Diorama was deactivated and hidden from guest's view behind a boulder <ref name= "Martin"/>. In the attraction's second theater, the monitors and maps that the ride narration referred to had already been removed its official Grand Opening<ref name= "Martinbook"/>. To fix this, a new narration was installed that made On hand for the festivities were attraction seem more current, while also omitting the references to stars Alex Trebeck and Bill Nye the removed propsScience Guy <ref name= "MartinProgress"> http:/>/progresscityusa. Finally, due to the fact that the mirror walls had been removed from the third theater, the attraction lost its grand finale com/energy/rehab.htm </ref name= "Martin"/>.

After operating throughout the summer, on September 1, 1996 the Universe of Energy attraction finally closed for good <ref name= "Martin"/>, and on September 15th Ellen’s Energy Crisis soft opened for guests <ref name= "book"/>. A few weeks later, On October 1, 1996, the attractions name was changed to Ellen’s Energy Adventure, and the attraction had its official opening<ref name= "book"/>. On hand for the festivities were attraction stars Alex Trebeck and Bill Nye the Science Guy <ref name= "Progress"> http://progresscityusa.com/energy/rehab.htm </ref>. Since Ellen's Energy Adventure opened very few changes have occurred. In 2001, Exxon and Mobil merged, and thus ExxonMobil became the sponsor of Ellen’s Energy Adventure <ref name= "Martin"/>. This sponsorship was short-lived however, because in 2004 the company chose not to renew <ref name= "book"/>. More recently, in 2009 the attractions ride and sound system was upgraded <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/ellens-energy-adventure/news/20nov2008-ellen's-energy-adventure-refurbishment-in-2009.htm </ref>. On July 15, 2017, Disney announced that Ellen's Energy Adventure (and the Universe of Energy pavilion as a whole) would be closing on August 13, 2017 to make way for a new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction <ref> http://themeparkuniversity.com/disney/universe-energy-closing-august-13th-2017/ </ref>.