Retro Magic: Universe of Energy

Feel the flow, here we go,
through the Universe of Energy.
Feel it grow, see it glow,
it’s the Universe of Energy.

Universe of Energy was once the showcase of EPCOT Center, boasting the largest computer-generated film of its time. Crowds lined up to get a seat for this marvel. Today, it’s a lighthearted attraction with Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Phrases like “boring,” “extremely long,” and “best place to nap” are often thrown around to describe it. The renamed Ellen’s Energy Adventure is now the place you want to get out of the Florida sun and take a 40-minute break. So what happened to this ride? Let’s take a look back at the history of the Universe of Energy.

Design Concept:

The original design was influenced by the 1964 World’s Fair that had an exhibit featured traveling theater cars. In 1978, Imagineers debuted the very first plans for the Energy Pavilion. The attraction kept most of its design from 1978, but today’s concept is very different from what was originally imagined. WED Enterprises wanted to make a “Sun Catcher” showpiece for the Pavilion. This structure would have used the energy from the rooftop photovoltaic cells to demonstrate the force of solar power. The original ride idea did not include long moving theater cars like the current incarnation. Rather, it featured a series of short train rides and walk through areas.

The location of the pavilion has always remained the same. WED studied the path of the Orlando sun for over a year before deciding on the building’s location. In order to harness the full potential of solar energy, the pavilion needed to face south at a 30-degree tilt. This was to ensure that the 2,156 panels with 80,000 photovoltaic solar cells would capture enough energy to power the ride vehicles through the primeval diorama. Each cell could capture about 70 kilowatts of power. In turn, this energy had to be converted to AC power which would recharge the theater car batteries. The vehicles carried 8 lead batteries onboard and power was transferred via an electromagnetic field.

 

Besides being functional, the pavilion needed to look aesthetically pleasing as well. It also needed to convey a concept of energy. The Imagineers decided on a square building with a sloping roof that would showcase the photovoltaic roof. Red, orange and yellow colors signified the kinetic energy of the earth. The Energy Pavilion was one of the biggest buildings on EPCOT property, measuring at 400 feet across its widest part and 290 feet from the front to back. Under the 60 foot roof, there were approximately 105,000 square feet of attraction space. The outside was landscaped with various plants and dinosaur topiaries giving a nod to the primeval world that waited inside.

 

The Energy Pavilion featured a VIP lounge to the right of the entrance. The lounge had an upstairs area where guests could view the primeval diorama.

 

The Attraction:

Eventually, WDI narrowed down the concept to include a ride-through a primeval forest and feature film. Since the pavilion was sponsored by Exxon, the focus shifted from a solar energy concept to a more fossil fuel energy driven attraction. Theater cars would travel through the entire building from theater to the diorama and back to the main theater again.

 

The final concept had the attraction divided into several parts: The Pre-Show, Theater I, Primeval World, Theater II, and the return to Theater I.

Preshow:

Czech filmmaker, Emile Radok, designed what was called a “kinetic mosaic.” Narrated by Vic Perrin, the film was presented on a 14 by 90-foot screen with 100 black and white turning prisms. Images were synchronized on the screen through a computer and 5 different projectors were used to give the film a 3D effect. The film touched upon the fact that energy was never created or destroyed, but has existed through many different forms. These forms included water, fire, coal, and wind. The show concluded with the song, “Energy (You Make the World Go ‘Round)”

 

 

Theater I:

Guests moved into one of the six theater cars. Each one could hold 97 passengers. This “traveling theater” would remain the ride vehicle for the guests to travel into the universe of energy. The cars sat on a turntable-like device and were capable of moving around 180 degrees (courtesy of a bed of air). Here, another film was viewed on a 157 by 32-foot screen, making this the world’s largest multi-plane and animated projected film at that time. The 4-minute animated presentation (narrated by Peter Thomas) introduced guests to the origins of coal, oil, and fossil fuels. The audience learned that all of today’s energy was the result of the plant and sea life that had decomposed over the millennia. The film slowly faded from right to left. The curtains slowly rose, a wall would lower into the floor, and each vehicle broke apart to form a train. Guests moved into the next phase of the attraction called the Primeval World.

 

 

Primeval World:

At the conclusion of the first film, guests were transported back 300 million years. Fog filled the room and guests were greeted with the smell of sulfur in the air as they proceeded into this prehistoric world. In this 7 minute diorama, guests moved through the Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. The first visual of this section featured a herd of brontosauruses grazing. Off to the side, giant millipedes and an edaphosaurus lurked in the forest.

The most famous scene of the whole ride was the allosaurus and stegosaurus fight up on a cliff. Guests moved past the two battling dinosaurs as they perched precariously on a shaking rock. The terrain became rockier and the sounds of volcanoes could be heard in the distance. A family of ornithomimus watched helplessly as one of their own struggled in the boiling pit of lava.

 

The “scariest” dinosaur of the ride was the elasmosaurus, which lunged out at guests as the vehicle passed by. A group of pteranodons perched nearby as well. The serene entrance of the primeval world had been replaced by the chaotic final scene of the diorama.

 

Theater II (AKA EPCOT Energy Information Center):

Once guests left the primeval world, they moved into Theater II. The cars reformed back into their original theater design and another film was shown. The three 210 foot screens wrapped around 220 degrees of the theater. This film focused on present-day energy resources and how current demands were being met. Modern wind turbines, fusion power, and Universe of Energy’s own solar panels offered as a solution as future energy solutions. The final image of a rocket taking off concluded the film. The screens would lift into the ceiling and the theater cars moved back into the original theater.

(Return to) Theater I:

The vehicles made one more stop, this time back into their original location. The curtains lining the walls rose to reveal a wall of mirrors. The mirrors reflected laser-generated images and gave the theater the effect of 3D imagery. A two-minute laser show was presented. The show concluded with the song, “Universe of Energy.”

 

 

Guests were directed into Communicore East. They filed into Exxon’s Energy Exchange, which showcased the latest products with a nod in the future. For a while, guests were also receiving a comic book that featured Mickey Mouse and Goofy exploring the Universe of Energy. The Energy Exchange had interactive exhibits on wind and solar power, nuclear energy, oil and gas exploration, and synthetics. Many of the exhibits were hands-on, including 28 energy access touchscreens.

Epilogue:

The ride in the original form continued until January 1996 when it was re-imagined as Ellen’s Energy Adventure. It featured Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Today, most of the original special effects are all inoperable or removed due to the refurbishment. The pre and post shows were re-shot and rolled into a storyline featuring the TV show, Jeopardy. Even the most popular dinosaur scenes received a makeover. Gone were the muted colors and bubbling pit of dino-eating lava. It had been replaced by prehistoric grass, Ellen fending off the elasmosaurus, and the reptiles received a very ’90s paint job.

 

 Facts:

– Grand opening: October 1, 1982 (Opened with EPCOT Center)
– Grand re-opening: September 15, 1996 (Re-branded as Ellen’s Energy Adventure)
– Designer: WED Enterprises (Universe of Energy)
– Show Duration (Ellen’s Energy Adventure): 45 minutes (new shows every 17 minutes)
– Preshow length: 8 minutes
– Seating capacity: 1100+, six 97-passenger vehicles per show, two concurrent shows
– Number of audio-animatronics: 36
– Former Sponsor: Exxon (Universe of Energy) / ExxonMobil (Ellen’s Energy Adventure)
– Ride system: Traveling Theatre
– Track: 1/8-inch embedded guide-wire

 

Concept Art Gallery:

Sources:

AllEars, EPCOTExplorer, Universe of Energy Companion Site, Lost EPCOT, Walt Dated World, Disney and More, Mouse Planet, Extinct Disney, Widen Your World, Martin’s Video and MickeyXtreme