Universe of Energy – and its sole attraction, Ellen’s Energy Adventure – represented a step in Epcot’s evolution… one of the first pieces of a gradual shift between the storied, grand, stoic dark rides of old and the more modern, character-infused park we’re meeting today.

Image: Disney

In some ways, you could list Ellen’s Energy Adventure as one of the first times Epcot played host to “modern,” “current,” recognizable characters… even if those characters were well-known actors playing themselves. It was the first break in the shell of timelessness that had protected the park since opening.

But that also meant that, via the school of hard knocks, Disney was destined to find out some tough truths about Ellen’s Energy Adventure, and Universe of Energy as a whole… Here are just a few chips away that might’ve helped lead to the attraction’s upcoming eventual demise.

Lesson 1: Characters limit life

At least for our purposes, consider the elements of an attraction that tether it to a certain era. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing! Fantasyland dark rides that betray their 1955 opening are all the sweeter for it; remnants of Tomorrowland’s ‘70s stylized architecture are fan favorites; STAR TOURS was distinctly of the ‘80s, but beloved because of it.

But especially when you involve real, identifiable figures in an attraction, you indivisibly tie it to an era and a personality. Disney’s first real foray into this (Michael Eisner’s Lost Legend: Captain EO) is a great example. The attraction proudly banked on and revolved around one figure: Michael Jackson, and Jackson’s rough public life in the ‘90s doomed it even before its outdated '80s style could.

Image: Disney

Luckily, neither Ellen Degeneres nor Bill Nye (nor certainly Alex Trebek!) faced a significant scandal in their decades-long careers, but by being physically present and represented in the ride, their presence tied Universe of Energy to the mid-‘90s.

In other words, the Ellen we meet in the pre-show is, very identifiably, not the Ellen we see on her hit talk show today. She looks, sounds, acts, and dresses like Ellen who starred in her eponymous sitcom two decades ago. Similarly, Bill Nye is his Disney-helmed Bill Nye the Science Guy self, not the 60-year old Bill who’s reemerged as a prominent pro-science figure today via the more adult-oriented Bill Nye Saves the World on Netflix.

Again, while it’s miraculous and spectacular that both are still relevant and identifiable to audiences more than two decades after the ride’s premier, their real life counterparts betray just how old Ellen’s Energy Adventure was… So let’s see… if this ride is twenty years old… and yet, Epcot is ostensibly meant to showcase the future… How could Ellen’s Energy Adventure be giving us the best (or at the very least, the most current and scientific) understanding of energy?

Lesson 2: As times change, audiences change

The most damning and regrettable lesson Universe of Energy taught us is one we’re embarrassed to even have to bring up… It was long. Really, really long.

In EPCOT Center’s early days, Universe of Energy was simply the most spectacular of an entire lineup of epic, oversized, massively scaled dark rides through industry. But for audiences of the 21st century, Universe of Energy was an outlier for its length. Today’s guests can’t stay off their cell phones during a 20-minute theme park revue show… much less a 45-minute dark ride. Stunning as it may be and as brilliantly as it might’ve adhered to the principles of Disney’s best dark rides, Ellen’s Energy Adventure was just a commitment.

Especially in an era of FastPass+, dining reservations, and transportation scheduling, a 45-minute attraction might’ve just been too long for audiences and attention spans. Repeated, continuous warnings about the ride’s length in the queue are evidence of just how serious this problem was.

And, like it or not, as the ride’s content and stars aged, that commitment became… well… increasingly less worthwhile for many repeat visitors.

Lesson 3: Sponsorship matters

Another growing stain on Universe of Energy? Its sponsorship.

Sure, sponsorship was meant to be the lifeblood of EPCOT Center and its industrious, reality-based attractions… It was the win-win Disney needed, ensuring the attractions would be financed and continuously refreshed, all in exchanged for letting the sponsors put their message and “spin” into the ride.

But something was stirring deep in the American psyche.

Image: ManoaChild, Wikimedia Commons (license)

To audiences of mid-century America, there was a true thrill to visiting World’s Fairs and marveling at the wonders of industry; the innovations and new concepts developed by American corporations – the height of capitalism and commercialism, and a glowing example of Americana!

But now, with the New Millennium nearing, American’s attitudes toward corporations began to shift… Wealthy CEOs, golden parachutes, Wall Street executives, lobbying… Blame it on the Internet putting the wealth of human knowledge into our pockets, but gradually and unconsciously, perception shifted.

Image: Disney / ABC News

Exxon, for its part, was still reeling from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (considered the worst in history) and its slow response and cleanup efforts. All the while, Exxon was earning hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue as gas prices skyrocketed. In turn, it became clear that Exxon was financing to lobby Congress to support climate change denial, and against the scientific consensus that global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels… Not exactly EPCOT Center attitude.

People had to begin to wonder… do we really want ExxonMobil preaching to us about energy? Is the connection between energy and dinosaurs substantial enough to warrant a full dark ride on the subject? What of emerging energy sources, like solar and wind and hydroelectric… Do we even trust that ExxonMobil would give us the full story?

Of course, if you think that’s bad, you should see what happens to Epcot classics when they lose their sponsorship.

Image: Disney

In 2004, ExxonMobil dropped its 22-year-long sponsorship of the attraction. For many Epcot dark rides, that’s the end of the story. Look into another Lost Legend: Body Wars to see how a dropped sponsor often means Disney simply drops investment entirely and lets rides wither.

Luckily, Disney must’ve seen fit to continue financing the pavilion on its own, and Universe of Energy closed in 2008 for an extensive refurbishment. It re-opened on March 28, 2009 with upgraded audio systems, refreshed paint both in and on (red, orange, and yellow, harkening back to 1982) the pavilion, and updated ride operating systems. However, the show remained unchanged.

A relief… and yet, a disappointment given that the then-13-year-old overlay was already overdue for a rewrite.

Lesson 4: In staying true, sometimes you become the outlier

As years and years passed, perhaps even ardent fans could agree that Universe of Energy and Ellen’s Energy Adventure simply couldn’t last forever. That’s not a criticism! If EPCOT Center was determined to present actual content about actual areas of science and industry, it would need to change. And it was…

EPCOT Center was renamed simply Epcot, and roundabout the mid-90s, its storied and revered educational dark rides were indeed falling away… Some became character-infused family rides; some were replaced with “brainless” thrill rides only tenuously connected to the massive scientific concepts they feigned to represent; others closed entirely.

Image: FutureProbe1982, DeviantArt

Even the circular logos used to represent the pavilions were done away with, given that now many differed in style and substance... they didn't feel related anymore, so the unifying icons were dropped.

Universe of Energy was a holdout… one remaining “classic” in a ‘90s redress that – by sticking to its guns as an educational epic dark ride – actually became the exception in a park changing around it!

On the next page, we’ll analyze the end of Universe of Energy… and the future of Epcot, forever changed by what’s coming next… You may not believe the consequences. Read on…