Attraction of the Day...Universe of Energy

[Sansaarai]

Todays attraction........

Universe of Energy!

I thought I would choose an attraction that really doesn't get talked about a lot on the boards.

What do you like about it?
What don't you like about it?
Noticed something about the attraction recently?
Have a funny or weird story?

I believe the new version of UoE is far superior to the original. Its very entertaining. The old version was a little longwinded and boring in some spots. It was a great surprise in seeing the new version after being absent for 8 years from the parks. All in all a nice entertaining ride with great AA dinosaurs.

The only thing I miss is the old theme song.

"Energy you make the world go round"

 

[dwldzm9]

I really do like this ride, because it really holds to the original EPCOT idea of learning something while you ride. I also agree that the new version was definitely needed. I remember as a child wanting to ride for the dinosaurs, but then being bored to death during the movie. My only wish now is that they could figure out how to get rid of the awful sulfur smell eminating from the dino scenes... IT'S RANK FOLKS!!!

 

[Sansaarai]

I believe the sulfur smell is there on purpose.

 

[DisJosh]

Yes...the sulfur smell is on purpose. aparently thats what the arth smelled like back then.

I've always loved this attraction. The update it received w/ Bill Nye and Ellen was great if you ask me. Bill Nye is just COOL! And Ellens dry humour just works for the attraction.

One of my favorite stories about this ride is when I went on it for the first time and it got stuck. It was stuck in the last part in the theater...before it was updated. The lights were turned on and we were escorted out a side door. I always thought that was pretty cool.

 

[njchris65]

This is one of my favorites because I've always loved Dinosaurs ever since I can remember. Ellen is very funny and Bill Nye is great too.

I remember being very disappointed the year they were refurbishing it to the new version. I stood in front of it rolling on the ground crying and screaming and... oh wait.. that didn't happen.. but I was a bit disappointed. :lookaroun

 

[Lance]

Both versions are horrible.............it doesn't get talked about because some people group it with Body Wars as the worse in Epcot.

Ellen's Energy Adventure is DEFINATELY a one and done, only need to experience it once.

 

[DisJosh]

Originally posted by Lance
Both versions are horrible.............it doesn't get talked about because some people group it with Body Wars as the worse in Epcot.

Ellen's Energy Adventure is DEFINATELY a one and done, only need to experience it once.

Ummmm big surprise to me! It's never been a "one and done" for me and never will be. I think you're in the minority on this one.:veryconfu

 

[Sansaarai]

Everybody is intitled to their opinion. Lance why dont you like it? You never gave a reason. I'm curious why you dont like it.

 

[Lance]

I enjoy everything in Epcot except Ellen and Body Wars.

Why don't I like it, in 96 or whenever they updated, they hyped it like crazy.............it was the NEW attraction. I went on the damn thing and it was the same thing with Ellen and Bill on a screen behind plants??? Way to go, ONE AND DONE! NEXT!

Ya, my reasoning is weak, I just dislike the damn thing, hey I almost always buy Exxon, so there, I like something in the Universe of Energy.

 

[dwldzm9]

I totally disagree about the universe of energy, but some folks require rides with more "action" and less "talk". Personal opinion, and I respect.

However I totally AGREE with disliking Body Wars. This stems from my over dislike of simulation rides. I mean, yes, there is themeing in the queue and on the ride, but let's face it: there are simulator rides in MALLS!!! No, they don't have ride films that are as developed, but they are the same basic thing.

If you call something a RIDE, it should actually GO somewhere!!

Keep in mind - this is all coming from a HUGE Star Wars fan who even admits to disliking Star Tours - unfortunately, I am not quite creative enough to come up with a Star Wars ride that doesn't involve some kind of simulation - space is just too vast. I've just got my fingers crossed that Mission:Space will change my mind (and I think it will)

 

[SilentRascal]

I have mixed feelings about this attraction. While I agree that it needed a major refurb, I disagree with what was and wasn't refurbed. For one thing, the addition of the disgusting Ellen Degenerate makes for a rather idiotic show, with nothing the least bit amusing. "Ooh, let's pretend I'm on Jeopardy".....please, give me a break. Also, the part with the dinosaurs themselves was hardly touched at all....with the exception of adding an animatronic Ellen to one scene. The entire dino-ride part of the pavilion needs the major rehab now. This pavilion still has need for significant work.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I think the ride is really well done and a very good idea especially for the younger ones. However trans-Atlantic humour has always been a mixed bag, and im affraid I miss the appeal of Ellen. All the comedic talent of an ironing board.

 

[DisJosh]

Originally posted by Lance
I enjoy everything in Epcot except Ellen and Body Wars.

Why don't I like it, in 96 or whenever they updated, they hyped it like crazy.............it was the NEW attraction. I went on the damn thing and it was the same thing with Ellen and Bill on a screen behind plants??? Way to go, ONE AND DONE! NEXT!

Ya, my reasoning is weak, I just dislike the damn thing, hey I almost always buy Exxon, so there, I like something in the Universe of Energy.

Ahhhhhh I see where you're coming from Lance but for me it's still far from a "one and done".

I'm sure if I had went that year I would have felt the same...

I'm still bitter because Test Track was supposed to be openned on one of my trips but it wasn't! :lol:

 

[dwldzm9]

DisJosh,

Tell me about it!!! I went TWICE while TT was to be open, only to be turned away both times. This probably didn't help my attitude toward the ride that replaced my beloved World of Motion....

 

[Grim Grinner]

I've got a really weird bunch of mixed feelings about this ride. First off, the update with Ellen is much more entertaining than the old version. When I went on the older version as a kid, I continually squirmed in my seat like an impatient puppy, eager as heck to see the dinosaurs.

The video is the beginning is funny and there are a lot or wierd subtle adult humor references in it. Or... maybe my group is just plain sick in the head. First off you see Ellen on a couch with a cat on her lap. That alone is funny in a freudian way, but then add the position of its waving tail and you have some serious laugh-heavy moments.

There are a lot of veiled Ellen jabs that worked really well "I'm Ellen the.... I'm just Ellen."

The movie works- the in-ride audio of Ellen works. However the ugly animatronic just was plain bad. It looked like they had yanked the beard hairs off of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean mugs and placed in on its head.... Laughable in a sad sorta way... but this was probably not intended.

Overall my mixed feelings strike when you realize that the entire ride will eat up close to an hour of precious Disney time. How many of you out there have missed parades or checkpoints during that course of this single ride. UOE is one of the last rides to harken back to the classic Epcot, and despite its weirdness, would want to have it around for the future when I have children.

 

[DCA Fan]

Universe of Energy is really fun, I like Ellen as the host, she does a great job. "For those of you coming in...YOU'RE LATE!!!"

Also, the ride vehicles are cool, large moving platforms pretty much...great ride.

 

[Bairstow]

I like current Universe of Lesbians much more than the old attraction. The old series of films was incredibly dry and boring, and woe be unto any unsuscpecting guest who sat down for what they thought was an exciting ride and soon found themselves stuck with a lap bar in a half-hour documentery-______-Exxon commercial. If ever there was an attraction that gave the Hall of Presidents a run for the "Best Attraction to Take an Air-Conditioned Nap On" this was it. Even the dinosaurs were rather lame, looking only slightly better than the animatronic shows that used to tour the nation's children's musuems and shopping malls. With the upgrade you have show that is much more entertaining, not to mention congruent with current scientific thought. Good riddance to that awful song too, which was an irritatingly heartfelt love ballad to the word "energy". The only part of the old attraction I miss is the kinetic screen in the preshow room. Not the film that was played on the screen, mind you, only the screen itself. It's a cool concept I wish Disney would explore further.


Oh, for those of you who can't get enough of that sulfury dino smell, go to your local K-Mart or ________'s Sporting Goods and pick up a Crossman-brand (not Daisy) red-dot sight. This is a small electronic gunsight for a paintball or BB gun, and should cost no more than $14. The thing smells EXACTLY like the dinosaur room in the Universe.

 

[Bairstow]

Hmmm... apparently our friendly local censor software doesn't like the Latin word for "with" nor the abbreviation of the name "Richard".

 

[Maria]

Universe of Energy is one of my family´s favorite ones, and my mom and I never miss it.
I like it because I actually learned something with it from the first time I rode it being a kid, and I think that was the idea of Epcot, learn while being entertained :animwink:
From the previous version of it, I honestly don´t recall much now but I do remember we didn´t like Ellen when we saw it again, specially seeing her awful animatronic among our favorite scene: the dinosaurs! We love the smell there! Not because it is a nice smell, but because it adds a lot to the themeing! well done!
After many times riding it, I got used to Ellen and her jokes and I enjoy them now... the animatronic still bothers me though...
I also think that the "triangle" screen in the preshow was very cool and should have stayed. Sure, the preshow is funnier now, but the other screen alone, was worth the wait.

Amazes me to see a whole movie theater moving and to know that part of it is due to solar energy pannels on the roof. It´s still my favorite one in Future World. :animwink:

 

[Sansaarai]

THis is the first issue of Attraction of the day to get BOTH good and bad comments!