Changes
/* Pavilion History */
Throughout the first 14 years of its existence, the Universe of Energy pavilion did not see any major modifications. This changed however on January 20, 1996 when the pavilion closed for a major 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= "Martin2"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?p=619 </ref>. Furthermore, the information given in the pavilion was becoming dated, and guests began to complain about the overly serious tone of the attraction <ref name= "book"/>. In line with the rest of Future World pavilions, Exxon wanted the Universe of Energy to get a new attraction in time for the pavilion’s 15th anniversary in 1997. In contrast to the original attraction’s scientific tone, Disney hoped to rejuvenate the pavilion by giving it a lighter and more comedic tone, while still keeping the original attraction’s basic structure (including the Primeval Diorama) <ref name= "book"/> <ref name= "Martin2"/>. In order to do this, Imagineers pitched a new attraction titled 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 on ABC, which Disney was in the processes of buying <ref name= "Martin2"/>.
Although originally scheduled as a 5 month refurbishment, problems with the filming and editing of the new attraction’s films led Disney to conclude that the Ellen’s Energy Crisis would not be ready for the summer of 1996 <ref name= "Martin2"/>. Due to the fact that the [[World of Motion]] was already closed in order to convert the pavilion to [[Test Track]], it was decided that the Universe of Energy would reopen for the busy summer season using the old films, albeit with the new infrastructure which had already been installedref installed <ref name= "Martin2"/> . With many of the attraction’s original components unusable or removed altogether (as in the case of the breathtaking Radok screens in the first theater), a hybrid version of the original Universe of Energy and the unfinished Ellen’s Energy Crisis opened on June 1, 1996 <ref name= "Martin2"/>.
After staying open through the peak season, the Universe of 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 films, although it retained the Primeval Diorama. Hosted by Ellen Degeneres and starring Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jamie Lee Curtis, Ellen's Energy Adventure followed the story of Ellen, as she learns about the history and future of energy <ref name= "Martin2"/>. Besides installing the new attraction, the 1996 refurbishment also changed the exterior of the pavilion. As opposed to the red, orange and yellow colors scheme that the exterior originally had, the pavilion was given new rainbow colors <ref name= "energy"> http://progresscityusa.com/energy/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= "energy"/>.
Since the opening of Ellen’s Energy Adventure in 1996, 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 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>, and thus all references 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 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 <ref> http://progresscityusa.com/2009/03/31/these-are-a-few-of-your-faces/ </ref> <ref name= "book"/>.
