Universe of Energy

The Universe of Energy was a pavilion located on the eastern side of Future World at Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. One of Epcot's opening day attractions in 1982, the attraction explored the world of energy through a combination of four separate large-format film presentations and a slow-moving dark ride through a diorama filled with audio-animatronic dinosaurs. In 1996, the show was updated as Ellen's Energy Adventure, starring Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye.
The Universe of Energy pavilion was previously sponsored by ExxonMobil (formerly Exxon) from 1982 through 2004. After years of dwindling popularity, the attraction closed permanently on August 13, 2017, being replaced with that will reuse the Universe of Energy's show building.
Universe of Energy (1982–1996).
The original "Universe of Energy" pavilion itself was an innovation in energy technology, as the entire roof was covered in 80,000 photovoltaic solar cells that partially powered the ride vehicles. Visitors were transported through the pavilion in large battery-powered "traveling theatre cars" that followed guide-wires embedded in the floor as opposed to riding along conventional ride tracks. The original attraction featured numerous films that presented information on the subject of energy in a serious fashion as well as a ride through a primeval diorama complete with audio-animatronic dinosaurs.
Pre-show.
The original pre-show featured an eight-minute live-action film presentation about the various forms of energy found in nature and traced the history of how mankind harnessed these different forms of energy for his use. This unique film presentation was known as the "Kinetic Mosaic" and was invented by Czech film director Emil Radok. The mosaic screen consisted of 100 rotating prism-shaped flip screens (reminiscent of those on the classic game show "Concentration"), arranged in a twenty five wide by four high array. These flip screens rotated under computer control and were synchronized to the motion picture that was projected onto their surface via five synchronized motion picture projectors. Each flip screen contained three sides, with white projection surfaces on two sides and a matte black surface on the third. The combination of the film and the screens' rotation created undulating, sometimes three-dimensional-appearing images. During the conclusion of the pre-show, the song "Energy (You Make The World Go ‘Round)" was played.
Theatre I film.
Upon entering the theatre, guests were seated in one of six sections. The seating area rotated 180 degrees to face three large movie screens for the first film: a four-minute hand-animated film that depicted the beginnings of life on earth and the formation of fossil fuels.
Primeval diorama.
At the conclusion of the film, the seating area rotated 90 degrees to face a curtain, which then raised to reveal a primeval diorama. The entire seating area moved into the diorama where it then broke apart into six multi-passenger vehicles that took guests on a seven-minute journey through the diorama, which was populated by numerous animatronic dinosaurs including an "Edaphosaurus" and two "Arthropleura" fighting and a family of "Brontosaurus" in a swamp (complete with realistic "swampy" smell), a "Stegosaurus" fighting an "Allosaurus" on an overhead cliff, several "Trachodon" bathing beneath a waterfall, a number of "Ornithomimus" watching helplessly as one of their own sank into a boiling tar pit, an "Elasmosaurus" that lashed out of a tidal pool at guests, and numerous "Pteranodon" that were perched around an erupting volcano (complete with flowing lava and realistic "volcano" smell). There were other animals that could be found in the jungle, including dragonflies and snails.
Theatre II film.
Leaving the diorama, the vehicles entered the "EPCOT Energy Information Center" where they reassembled back into their original theatre seating formation. Here, guests viewed a twelve-minute live-action film on three giant wrap around screens that took them on an in-depth look at various current and future energy resources around the world.
Theatre I finale film.
At the conclusion of the film, the screens raised and the entire seating area traveled beneath them into Theatre I and rotated back into its starting position facing the audience towards a large cylindrical-shaped screen. There, guests viewed a final two-minute computer-animated film that was reflected off of mirrored walls within the theatre. The film depicted an ever-evolving landscape of colorful, laser-like imagery of the various ways mankind has benefited from harnessing energy for his use and was accompanied by an upbeat song entitled "Universe of Energy".
Summer 1996 Version.
The Summer of 1996 saw many changes come to Future World East. World of Motion closed in January in preparation for its conversion into Test Track, and Horizons was not operating consistently due to alleged structural issues with the pavilion. The updated films for the attraction were behind schedule, meaning that Future World East would only have the Wonders of Life pavilion open for the peak summer season. To address the issue, Epcot made the decision to reopen Universe of Energy while the remodel was in progress.
This temporary version of the show featured the original 1982 films, but most of the effects were missing. Most notably, the Kinetic Mosaic screen from the original pre-show had been removed resulting in the film being projected onto static screens, losing the shape-shifting effect of the film. Also removed were the maps and television monitors on the wall in the "Epcot Energy Information Center" in Theatre II, having already been replaced by the KNRG radio tower backdrop for the new show. For this scene, a new narration played that covered much of the same information as the original narration minus any mention of the maps and monitors. In Theatre I, the mirrors on the walls had already been removed by this point, resulting in a much less dramatic version of the finale film.
During this period, some elements for the new show had already been installed in preparation for the new show and had to be hidden. This included the Audio-Animatronic figure of Ellen DeGeneres in the diorama. Temporary rockwork was placed in front of the figure hiding it from view. However, the "elasmosaurus" figure had already been reprogrammed for the new show, leading to the awkward result of having it lunge at rocks instead of the ride vehicles as it had originally done. There were several other changes being made to the diorama. The dinosaurs were repainted and a new soundtrack was added. One of the brontosaurus animatronics could now have the ability to sneeze water. Several effects were completely disabled, including the storm and swamp smell. The lava flow was changed to running water and the fog effects inside the volcano were changed to mist and flashing lights.
This version of the show only ran from June 14 to September 2, 1996. The pavilion was closed again soon after peak season to add the new films for the new version of the attraction.
Ellen's Energy Adventure (1996–2017).
"Ellen's Energy Adventure" starred Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye "The Science Guy", Jamie Lee Curtis, Alex Trebek, and Johnny Gilbert. It took a light-hearted look at various energy resources, how energy was produced, the history of energy production, and the search for new energy resources. In particular it focused on the origins of fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. It also mentioned renewable sources such as solar and hydroelectric power. In 2011, "Ellen's Energy Adventure" surpassed the original "Universe of Energy" show as the longest running version of the attraction.
The second version of the show reused the traveling theater system of the original "Universe of Energy" show. The primeval diorama used essentially the same sets and Audio-Animatronic dinosaurs as the original show, although during the renovation to the "Ellen's Energy Adventure" show, all of the dinosaurs were repainted in much brighter colors, and several audio-animatronic figures were added along with an upbeat musical score to help tie it into the new film footage.
Pre-show theatre film.
The pre-show is an eight-minute film. At the beginning, Ellen DeGeneres greets the guests and welcomes them to the Universe of Energy. Ellen was watching television in the living room of her apartment complex when her neighbor Bill Nye the Science Guy comes in. She falls asleep and dreams that she was in an energy-themed version of "Jeopardy!", playing against an old college rival Judy Peterson (Curtis) and Albert Einstein (Benny Wasserman). Not knowing anything about energy, Ellen falls way behind Judy. At the end of the first round, Bill Nye steps in and offers to help teach Ellen about energy during the commercial break. Ellen has trouble answering the questions, so Bill Nye requests her to go back. While she tells him to go backstage, he tells her that they are actually going way back, like many billion years ago.
Theatre I film.
Upon entering the theatre, guests are seated in one of six sections. The seating area rotates 180 degrees to face three large movie screens above the exit doors for the first part of the film: a five-minute CGI live-action film in which Bill takes Ellen back billions of years in time to witness the Big Bang and the formation of the earth. They put on their headphones and close the door. Following a big explosion, the screens show a Milky Way galaxy, the Solar System, a volcanic biome and rocky terrain. Finally, the pair end up in a prehistoric jungle and Bill looks at his watch saying that they are set 220 million years in the past. There, he explains how fossil fuels are formed. Ellen tells the guests that they would be going with them.
Primeval diorama.
At the conclusion of the film, a curtain rises to reveal the primeval diorama. The entire seating area moves into the diorama where it then breaks apart into six multi-passenger vehicles that takes guests on a seven-minute journey through the diorama, which is populated by numerous audio-animatronic dinosaurs including an "Edaphosaurus", two "Arthropleura" fighting and a family of "Brontosaurus" in a swamp (one of whom sneezes water from its nose onto guests), a "Stegosaurus" fighting an "Allosaurus" on an overhead cliff, several "Trachodon" bathing beneath a waterfall, a number of "Ornithomimus" drinking from a pond (one of whom splashes water at guests), an Audio-Animatronic Ellen standing near a tidal pool fighting off an "Elasmosaurus" with a tree branch, and numerous "Pteranodon" perched around an erupting volcano. After November 2014, the Audio-Animatronic figure of Ellen fighting off the "Elasmosaurus" with a tree branch stopped working and was removed. It was replaced with a group of smaller "Pteranodons".
Theatre II film.
Leaving the diorama, the vehicles enter a second theatre where they reassemble back into their original theatre seating formation. After listening to a brief prehistoric broadcast from KNRG News Radio (which featured the voices of Willard Scott and Chris Berman), guests view a fourteen-minute live-action film on three giant wrap around screens in which Bill Nye takes Ellen on an in-depth look at various current and future energy resources across the United States. (Actor Michael Richards makes a brief cameo as a caveman). Ellen uses her new knowledge about energy upon returning to the Jeopardy! Studio. The game continues as a Double Jeopardy! round. Albert Einstein receives a light bulb and exits the game.
Theatre I finale.
When the vehicles return to Theater I and rotate back to their starting position, guests view a final three-minute scene in which the ladies complete the last Jeopardy! round. Ellen becomes the Jeopardy! champion with a score of $35,600. Bill Nye and the studio employees throw a party with balloons. When the show comes to a close, she tells guests to look out for the dinosaur. As Ellen says goodbye to the guests, a dinosaur roar can be heard.