Changes

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 been popular with guests at 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 these problems in mind, Exxon and Disney agreed that the pavilion needed a new attraction was necessary, with Exxon asking that the attraction it 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 In order to rejuvenate the Universe of Energy closedpavilion, changes were made to Disney pitched the attraction's infrastructure in order to accommodate idea of Ellen’s Energy Crisis. In the preshow theater, the rotating Radok screens were taken out and replaced by five standard screens <ref name= "Martin"/>. Initially, Disney had planned on reusing the Radok screens, as Bill Nye the Science Guy was to a show DeGeneres a "kinetic that would still teach guests about energy mosaic". As the attraction continued to develop however, this idea was scrapped and the screens were removed. Also in the first theaterbut would do so with a lighter, the gold curtains were removed and replaced by stationary black curtainsmore comedic tone. Furthermore, the mirror walls which were used to reflect and multiply the images of Using the theater’s three rear screens same ride format (giving including the attraction's finale a seemingly endless scopeexpansive Primeval Diorama) were removed and replaced with sound insulation <ref name= "Martin"/>. More substantially, as part the original Universe of Energy attraction, Ellen’s Energy Crisis would feature comedienne EllenDeGeneres as the attraction's Energy Crisis, the first theater got a completely new film as well as a new audio system <ref name= "Martin"/>host. Like Disney estimated that the first theater, change from the second theater also got a new filmUniverse of Energy to Ellen’s Energy Crisis would take five months, which combined new footage and with recycled footage from this in mind the original attraction closed on January 20, 1996 <ref name= "Martin"/>.

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