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 these problems in mind, Exxon and Disney agreed that the pavilion needed a new attraction, with Exxon asking that 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 Universe of Energy 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 expansive Primeval Diorama) as the original Universe of Energy attraction, 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 2021, 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.