Changes

A An Energy pavilion which focused on energy was included in many one of the concepts that was agreed upon early in EPCOT Center designs's development. Initially, the pavilion’s focus was on solar energy, with plans for a large solar energy "collector" to be located in the building's center, around which a complex attraction that would feature unguided cars and a walkthrough portion would be constructed <ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?s=Universe+of+Energy </ref>. Eventually however , this design was deemed too complicated and the plans were scratched <ref name= "Martin"/>. When early on Exxon signed on to be the pavilion’s sponsor, the Energy pavilion’s scope was broadened so that it included all forms of energy, with a special focus on fossil fuels<ref name= "Martin"/>. Taking some inspiration from the 1964 World's Fair, the new plans for the Energy pavilion called for moving theater vehicles which could hold many a large amount of guests <ref name= "Martin"/>. By 1978, the plans also called for guests to travel back in time to view the dinosaurs, while also subsequently learning about of the power and energy that wind, lightening, water, heat and the sun could create <ref name= "Martin"/>. Furthermore, by 1978 , the Energy pavilion's shape began to take its final form <ref name= "Martin"/>.

The Universe of Energy (as the pavilion was eventually named) was the first of Future World's pavilions to reach its final design. Of note, is the fact that throughout the development of EPCOT Center, the Energy pavilion never changed locations, despite the fact that many of the other Future World pavilions were being constantly moved around <ref name= "Martin"/> . The reason for this, was that plans for the pavilion always called for solar panels to be used in some capacity (initially as part of the solar energy collector and then later as a part of the pavilions pavilion's roof). In order to maximize the amount of the sun that the panels would receive, the Energy pavilion needed to be in the location that it was eventually constructed <ref name= "book"> Pedersen, R.A. The EPCOT Explorer's Encyclopedia:. United States: Epcyclopedia, 2011. Print. </ref>. By 1979, the pavilion's final shape was decided. During the Energy pavilion's development there were only minor changes to the building's exterior of the pavilion. A 1981 model of the pavilion shows that at one time Imagineers planned on giving the pavilion a blue color scheme <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/04/01/energy-a-few-of-its-faces/ </ref>. Furthermore, pre-construction concept art had featured showed a number of shallow lagoons that were to be located in Future World East, much like those that were eventually constructed in Future World West. In the Energy pavilions final design however, a fountain was constructed outside of the building in lieu of shallow lagoons <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/06/19/epcot-origins-a-model-future-1978/ </ref>. [[Image:Energyexterior2.jpg|thumb|400px|The Universe of Energy as it appeared from 1982-1996. The original color scheme returned in 2009.]]Construction began on the Energy pavilion in 1979/1980 <ref name= "Martin"/>. The pavilion featured 105,000 ft of show area, as well as 2,156 solar panels <ref name= "book"/>. Construction on the Universe of Energy was completed on time, and the pavilion opened with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982. When completed, the Universe of Energy pavilion housed an attraction (also called Universe of Energy) that featured four films and a dark ride <ref name= "Martin"/>. Guests entered the pavilion and watched a preshow film before moving into a large theater. When seated, visitors watched a second film, before the theater itself broke up into six dark ride vehicles. In the dark ride portion of the attraction (known as the Primeval Diorama), guests traveled back to the time of dinosaurs to get a better idea of where fossil fuel energy came from<ref name= "Martin"/>. After traveling through the Primeval Diorama, the ride vehicles reassembled and guests watched another film and then a grand finale. After exiting the attraction, guests could explore a few Exxon exhibits before leaving the pavilion <ref> http://www.lostepcot.com/universeofenergy.html </ref>.

Construction began on Throughout the first 14 years of its existence, the Universe of Energy pavilion in 1979 did not see any major modifications. This changed however on January 21, 1996, when the pavilion closed for refurbishment <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/energy/rehab.htm </ref>. Although the Universe of Energy had been quite popular when it opened, by the mid-1990s the pavilion’s popularity had waned <ref name= "MartinMartin2"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=619 </ref>. The Furthermore, the information given in the pavilion featured 105was becoming dated,000 ft and guests began to complain about the overly serious tone of show area, as well as 2,156 solar panels the attraction <ref name= "book"/>. Construction on the Universe of Energy was completed on time, and the pavilion opened In line with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982. When completedthe Future World pavilions, Exxon wanted the Universe of Energy pavilion housed an attraction also called Universe of Energy, that featured four films and to get a dark ridenew attraction in time for the pavilion’s 15th anniversary in 1997. Guests entered In contrast to the original attraction’s scientific tone, Disney hoped to rejuvenate the pavilion and watched by giving it a film before moving into a large theater. When seatedlighter and more comedic tone, visitors watched a second film, before while still keeping the theater itself broke up into six dark ride vehiclesoriginal attraction’s basic structure (including the Primeval Diorama) <ref name= "book"/> <ref name= "Martin2"/>. In the dark ride portion of the order to do this, Imagineers pitched a new attractiontitled Ellen’s Energy Crisis, guests traveled back to which would take the time format of dinosaurs to get a better idea of where fossil fuel energy came from. After traveling through the dinosaur scenes, the ride vehicles reassembled game show and guests watched another film and then a grand finalestar Ellen DeGeneres. After exiting At the time that the attractionas being developed, guests could explore DeGeneres had a few Exxon exhibits before exiting popular show on ABC, which Disney was in the pavilion processes of buying <ref> http:name= "Martin2"//www.lostepcot.com/universeofenergy.html </ref>.

Throughout Although originally scheduled as a five month refurbishment, problems with the first 14 years filming and editing of its existence, the Universe of new attraction’s films led Disney to conclude that the Ellen’s Energy pavilion did Crisis would not see any major modifications. This changed however on January 20, 1996 when the pavilion closed be ready for a major refurbishment <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/energy/rehab.htm </ref>. Although the Universe Summer of Energy had been quite popular when it opened, by the mid-1990s the pavilion’s popularity had waned 1996 <ref name= "Martin2"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=619 </ref>. Furthermore, Due to the information given fact that the [[World of Motion]] was already closed in order to convert the pavilion was becoming dated, and guests began to complain about [[Test Track]], it was decided that the overly serious tone Universe of Energy would reopen for the attraction busy summer season using the old films, albeit with the new infrastructure that had already been installed <ref name= "bookMartin2"/>. In line with the rest With many of Future World pavilions, Exxon wanted the Universe of Energy to get a new attraction attraction’s original components unusable or removed altogether (as in time for the pavilion’s 15th anniversary case of the breathtaking Radok screens in 1997. In contrast to the original attraction’s scientific tonefirst theater), Disney hoped to rejuvenate the pavilion by giving it a lighter and more comedic tone, while still keeping hybrid version of the original attraction’s basic structure (including Universe of Energy and the Primeval Diorama) <ref name= "book"/> <ref name= "Martin2"/>. In order to do this, Imagineers pitched a new attraction titled unfinished Ellen’s Energy Crisis, which would take the format of a game show and star Ellen DeGeneres. At the time that the attraction as being developed, DeGeneres had a popular show opened on ABCJune 1, which Disney was in the processes of buying 1996 <ref name= "Martin2"/>.

Although originally scheduled as a 5 month refurbishmentAfter staying open through the peak season, problems with the filming and editing Universe of the Energy closed for refurbishment on September 1, 1996 <ref name= "Martin2"/>. The attraction then finally reopened on September 15th as Ellen’s Energy Crisis, before being renamed Ellen’s Energy Adventure on October 1st <ref name= "book"/>. The new Ellen's Energy Adventure attraction featured four new attraction’s films led Disney to conclude that and retained the Ellen’s Primeval Diorama scene. Hosted by Ellen Degeneres and starring Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jamie Lee Curtis, Ellen's Energy Crisis would not be ready for Adventure followed the summer story of 1996 Ellen, as she learned about the history and future of energy <ref name= "Martin2"/>. Due to Besides installing the fact that new attraction, the [[World 1996 refurbishment also changed the exterior of Motion]] was already closed in order to convert the pavilion . As opposed to [[Test Track]]the red, it was decided orange and yellow colors scheme that the Universe of Energy would reopen for the busy summer season using the old filmsexterior originally had, albeit with the pavilion was given new infrastructure which had already been installedref rainbow colors <ref name= "Martin2energy"> http://progresscityusa.com/energy/rehab.htm </ref> . With many of At this time, the attraction’s original components unusable or mosaic tiles were also removed altogether (as in from the case of the breathtaking Radok screens in the first theater)exterior’s side walls. Finally, a hybrid version of the original Universe reflecting pools located on both sides of Energy and the unfinished Ellen’s Energy Crisis opened on June 1pavilion were filled in, 1996 and new dinosaur topiaries were added <ref name= "Martin2energy"/>.

After staying open through Since the peak seasonopening of Ellen’s Energy Adventure in 1996, the Universe of Energy closed for refurbishment on pavilion has seen relatively few changes. In September 1of 2001, 1996 a new sign was added outside of the pavilion to reflect the fact that Exxon and Mobil had merged, and become joint sponsors of the pavilion <ref name= "Martin2energy"/>. The attraction then finally reopened on September 15th as Ellen’s Energy CrisisAt this time, before being renamed Ellen’s all references to the company both outside and within the Universe of Energy Adventure on October 1st were updated to reflect this change <ref name= "book"/>. The new Ellen's Energy Adventure attraction featured four new films, although it retained In 2004 however ExxonMobil chose not to renew their sponsorship of the Primeval Dioramapavilion <ref> https://www. Hosted by Ellen Degeneres and starring Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jamie Lee Curtismouseplanet.com/10610/Remembering_the_Magic_Universe_of_Energy_Pavilion </ref>, Ellen's Energy Adventure followed the story of Ellen, as she learns about the history and future of energy thus all references to the company were removed <ref name= "Martin2book"/>. Besides installing Perhaps the new attractionmost significant post-1996 change came in 2009, when the 1996 refurbishment also changed the exterior dinosaur topiaries located outside of the pavilionwere removed <ref name= "book"/>. As opposed to the redAt this time, orange and yellow colors scheme that the pavilion’s original exterior originally hadcolor pallet was also returned, although the pavilion was given new rainbow colors mosaic tiles did not <ref name= "energy"> http://progresscityusa.com/energy2009/03/31/these-are-a-few-of-your-faces/rehab.htm </ref>. At this time, the mosaic tiles were also removed from the exterior’s side walls. Furthermore, the reflecting pools located on both sides of the pavilion were filled in, and new dinosaur topiaries were added <ref name= "energybook"/>.

Since the opening of Ellen’s Energy Adventure in 1996On July 15, 2017, Disney announced that the Universe of Energy Pavilion has seen relatively few changes. In September of 2001, a new sign was added outside of the pavilion to reflect the fact that Exxon (and Mobil merged, and became joint sponsors of the pavilion <ref name= "energy"/>. At this time, all references to the company both outside and within the Universe of Ellen's Energy were updated to reflect this change <ref name= "book"/>. In 2004 however ExxonMobil chose not to renew their sponsorship of the pavilion <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/10610/Remembering_the_Magic_Universe_of_Energy_Pavilion </ref>Adventure attraction) would be closing on August 13, and thus all references 2017 to the company were removed <ref name= "book"/>. Perhaps the most significant post-1996 change came in 2009, when the dinosaur topiaries and the located outside make way for a new Guardians of the pavilion billboard (which had been added in 1996) were removed <ref name= "book"/>. At this time, the pavilion’s original exterior color pallet was also returned, although the mosaic tiles did not Galaxy attraction <ref> http://progresscityusathemeparkuniversity.com/2009disney/03/31/theseuniverse-areenergy-aclosing-fewaugust-of13th-your-faces2017/ </ref> <ref name= "book"/>.

==Current Attractions== '''[[Ellen's On September 30, 2021, Disney announced that the former Universe of Energy Adventure]]'''- This 45 minute attraction shows guests pavilion would be rechristened the history "Wonders of Xandar" when Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind opens in 2022 <ref> https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/guardians-of energy- beginning with the Big Bang and concluding with potential future sources -galaxy/news/30sep2021-disney-announces-that-epcots-guardians-of energy-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-will-open-in-2022. The attraction stars comedienne Ellen DeGenereshtm </ref>.

*There are roughly two acres of solar panels located on the roof of the Universe of Energy pavilion. The energy harvested from these panels gives the attraction vehicles located inside the pavilion about 15% of their power <ref> http://www.lostepcot.com/universeofenergy.html </ref>..  *Just inside the Universe of Energy pavilion, there is a tile mosaic which is meant to represent the sun and its rays. If guests look closely they can see one blue tile, which is meant to represent the view of Earth from the sun <ref> http://www.mainstgazette.com/2008/10/you-make-world-go-round.html </ref>.