The Universe of Energy was a pavilion on the eastern side of Future World (now World Discovery) at Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. One of Epcot's opening day attractions in 1982, it explored the world of energy through four large-format film presentations and a slow-moving dark ride through a jungle diorama filled with audio-animatronic dinosaurs. In 1996, it was re-themed to Ellen's Energy Adventure, starring Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The Universe of Energy pavilion was sponsored by ExxonMobil (formerly Exxon) for most of its lifetime from 1982 through 2004. After years of dwindling popularity, it closed permanently on August 13, 2017 and was replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, which reused its show building.
Universe of Energy (1982–1996)
The original Universe of Energy pavilion was itself an innovation in energy technology, as its roof was covered with 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, rather than riding along conventional ride tracks. The attraction featured numerous films on the subject of energy, and a ride through a primeval diorama with audio-animatronic dinosaurs.
Pre-show The original pre-show had an eight-minute live-action film about the various forms of energy found in nature, and traced the history of how humankind had harnessed these energy forms. Known as the Kinetic Mosaic, the film was designed 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 25-by-four array. The flip screens rotated under computer control and were synchronized to the film projected onto their surfaces by five synchronized projectors. Each flip screen had 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 3D-appearing images. At the pre-show's conclusion, the song Energy (You Make The World Go ‘Round) was played.
Theatre one film On entering the theatre, guests were seated in one of six sections. The seating area rotated 180 degrees to the right to face three large movie screens for the first film: a four-minute traditionally-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 the left to face a curtain, which lifted to reveal a primeval diorama. The entire seating area moved into the diorama, separating into six multi-passenger vehicles that took guests on a seven-minute journey populated by numerous animatronic dinosaurs and other animals, including a pair of Edaphosaurus resting in a grove; a fight between two Arthropleura; a family of Brontosaurus in a swamp (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 lunged out of a tidal pool at guests; and numerous Pteranodon perched on top of an erupting volcano with flowing lava and a realistic "volcano" smell. More animals could be seen in the jungle, including giant dragonflies and snails.
Theatre II film Leaving the diorama, the vehicles entered the EPCOT Energy Information Center, where they reassembled into their original theatre seating formation. Here, guests viewed a 12-minute live-action film, on three giant wrap-around screens, that took them on an in-depth look at current and future energy resources around the world.
Theatre I finale film At the film's conclusion, the screens raised and the entire seating area traveled into Theatre I and rotated back into its starting position, facing the audience towards a large cylindrical screen. There, guests viewed a final two-minute animated film that was reflected off of mirrored walls in the theatre. It depicted an ever-evolving landscape of colorful, laser-like imagery of the various ways humankind has benefited from harnessing energy, accompanied by an upbeat song titled Universe of Energy.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
