Difference between revisions of "Universe of Energy"

From The Mickey Wiki: Your Walt Disney World Encyclopedia!
Jump to: navigation, search
(Current Attractions)
Line 25: Line 25:
 
==Current Attractions==
 
==Current Attractions==
  
'''Ellen's Energy Adventure'''- This 45 minute attraction shows guests the history of energy, beggining with the Big Bang and  concluding with the present. The attraction stars Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye, Alex Trebeck and Jamie Lee Curtis.  
+
'''[[Ellen's Energy Adventure]]'''- This 45 minute attraction shows guests the history of energy, beggining with the Big Bang and  concluding with the present. The attraction stars Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye, Alex Trebeck and Jamie Lee Curtis.
  
 
==Former Attractions==
 
==Former Attractions==

Revision as of 15:15, 5 April 2012

The Universe of Energy is a pavilion located in Epcot

Universe of Energy
Universeofenergy.jpg
The current exterior of the Universe of Energy pavilion.
Epcot
Land Future World
Theme Energy
Opening date October 1, 1982
Hosted by Ellen DeGeneres
Number of Attractions 1
Sponsored by Exxon (1982-2003)
ExxonMobile (2003-2004)

Pavilion History

The Universe of Energy pavilion opened with the rest of EPCOT Center in on October 1, 1982. The pavilion was sponsored by Exxon, and it focused on the various energies that humans use, and how they have evolved over time. The entire roof of the Universe of Energy Pavilion was covered with 80,000 photovoltaic solar cells (solar panels) which helped to power the Universe of Energy attraction located inside. Although the attraction was the only one in the pavilion, it was the longest attraction in all of Epcot. The Universe of Energy consisted of three separate parts. When guests entered the pavilion, they sat down and watched a preshow. The film was a four minute animated feature, which showed guests the beginning of Earth, and how fossil fuels were created. After the film ended, the theater itself broke up into six ride vehicles which took guests through a primeval diorama. The tour of the diorama took approximately seven minutes, during which guests came face to face with various Audio Anamatronic dinosaurs. Following the tour, the ride vehicles reassembled in the EPCOT Energy Information Center (another theater). Here, guests saw a live action film which depicted the current energy sources, and even some ways energy could be used in the future. After the film had ended, guests returned to the original theater where they watched one final movie. The last movie played the pavilions theme song "Universe of Energy".

The pavilion remained the same until 1996, when Exxon decided to update the attraction. The attraction reopened as Ellen's Energy Crisis (although the name was quickly changed to Ellen's Energy Adventure) and though it now stared comedian Ellen DeGeneres, the basic structure of the attraction remained the same. After entering the pavilion guests stand and and watch a live action film. The film shows Ellen DeGeneres dreaming that she is on Jeopardy! The only category that she knows nothing about is energy. After the film has ended guests enter the first theater. Here, guests are seated into their ride vehicles, and they watch another short film. This film is hosted by Bill Nye the Science Guy, who takes guests (and Ellen) back to the Big Bang. He then shows them this history of Earth, from the Big Bang to prehistoric times. After the second film has ended, the dark ride portion of the attraction begins. The theater once again breaks up into six different ride vehicles, which take guests through the primeval diorama.

After traveling through the diorama, guests enter another theater, where the ride vehicles reassemble. Here, they watch a 12 minute live action movie, in which Bill Nye and Ellen take a look at the various forms of energy around the world. At the conclusion of the film, guests are taken back to the first theater, where guests watch a two minute conclusion of Ellen's Jeopardy dream. When the pavilion re-opened, it was given a new rainbow color scheme, replacing the red, orange and yellow one that it previously had.

In 2003, the signage in the Universe of Energy were changed to reflect Exxon's new name (ExxonMobile). However these changes were short lived, because in 2004 ExxonMobile dropped their sponsorship of the pavilion. In 2009, the pavilion was returned to it's original color scheme of red, orange, and yellow.

Current Attractions

Ellen's Energy Adventure- This 45 minute attraction shows guests the history of energy, beggining with the Big Bang and concluding with the present. The attraction stars Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye, Alex Trebeck and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Former Attractions

Universe of Energy- The Universe of Energy was a combination of a movie and a dark ride. The attraction showed guests the history of energy, focusing on fossil fuels. The Universe of Energy opened in 1982 and closed in 1996.

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • Before 1996, when guests exiting the pavilion they were often given a free comic book. The comic had an energy theme and stared Mickey and Minnie.
  • The topiaries located outside the Universe of Energy were shipped to Epcot from New York's Rockefeller Center.
  • There are roughly two acres of solar panels located on the roof of the Universe of Energy pavilion.

References

http://allears.net/tp/ep/e_energy.htm

http://www.lostepcot.com/universeofenergy.html

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/epfw-energy.htm