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3. Campfires were a relatively recent innovation

Fire

According to the script, controlled fire was first used about seven hundred and fifty thousand  years ago – which may have been a good guesstimate when it was made.  In 2012, however, researchers discovered new evidence in South Africa's Wonderwerk Cave that suggests it’s been at least a million years since our pre-human ancestors first started using fire for cooking.

While fire was first used by pre-humans, human beings as we know them (homo sapiens) didn’t emerge until about 200,000 years ago.  So setting the “dawn of the human age” at the same time as the first use of fire isn’t exactly accurate…  though it does look cool.

4. The changing energy landscape

Hoover Dam

As we move into the description of alternative energy, we’re definitely behind the times.  There’s no mention whatever of climate change or of the significant advances made in solar energy.  And, while it may not be a popular thing to mention, the Hoover Dam is now producing just a fraction of the energy it did back in the day…  as a result of a climate-related drought in California.

On a positive note, Bill tells us that only about 10% of the world’s energy comes from renewable sources.  That may well have been true in 1996.  But according to the International Energy Agency, “In 2012, the world relied on renewable sources for around 13.2% of its total primary energy supply, and in 2013 renewables accounted for almost 22% of global electricity generation, a 5% increase from 2012.”

Bill tells Ellen that we have only about 60 years worth of natural gas available. But that estimate was made in the pre-fracking years.  Today, estimates vary from 100 years (Energy Information Administration) to over 200 years’ (International Energy Agency) worth of recoverable gas sources.  Of course, those sources may not pan out completely, but either way that’s a lot more than 60.

Bill tells Ellen that most of our fossil fuels will come from offshore locations in the future.  While that may still have a grain of truth, he doesn’t mention the huge shale beds which we’re presently tapping for natural gas.

Meanwhile, a fellow called Elon Musk has entered the scene.  Musk has changed a great deal about how we think -- with a special emphasis on solar power, clean-running electric cars (the Tesla), superfast trains, and even space travel. Should he get a nod?

Even if we only ask for a quickie remake of the very end of the script -- leaving the dinosaurs and ice age critters as inaccurate as always -- it would be worth Disney's time.  There's just so much more to say about energy today than there was 20 years ago.  And while not everything is good news, at least there a few positive messages to share!

 
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Comments

I had a 15 year gap in Disney visits. I kept telling my husband how great the Universe of Energy was and how much he was going to enjoy it. He was a mining engineer. I was heart sick at how dumb down and stupid it was.

Normally I will defend everything Disney, from movie to TV to merch to park, but this...... Without a doubt, THIS is the worst ride in any Disney park. It's too long, too dull and hideously out of date. The fact that people deliberately use this ride to take a nap should tell you something.

This has to go

I think this just perfectly sums up Disneys inexcusable neglect of EPCOT

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