Ellen's Energy Adventure?

[MikeTaylorSound]

If I preferred to Park Hop, I would have a dinner reservation at a different pavilion every night. The food is that good.

On topic: skip Ellen's Snooze Cruise if you're pressed for time.

 

[morningstar]

Off topic but I love your avatar!

I also wanted to add that the other thing that narks me about last time we rode was they were still letting people into the pre show area once the pre show had already started. I mean, when we went in it was about half way through. I know it's out of date but I love the preshow! And it sort of sets the precedent for the entire attraction. For a first timer, it wouldn't have made any sense.

I think that's okay and I would recommend that to the OP if they allow it. Here is all you need to know to understand the main show and post-show:

Spoiler

Ellen is ignorant about science so Bill Nye time travels her back to the mesozoic to teach her about it.

 

[ToyStorygirl]

Okay... now I really am driving myself crazy lol!

@ToyStorygirl I remember you saying that you spend half a day at the World Showcase... I just made the mistake of playing with the World Showcase in Touring Plans, and what I'm getting back is saying that I wouldn't get to everything in six hours, which I figure should count as a half a day... is that accurate? Should we realistically be trying to get to every. single. thing. at World Showcase? I had envisioned that as being more of a "casually strolling around the pavilions and taking in whatever we see fit" kinda thing lol... now I'm rethinking. DH is somewhat of a history buff, so he might get into the World Showcase more than I'm anticipating.

Thoughts anyone? I just didn't want to start another thread because I figured this is a somewhat similar topic already: time management at Epcot lol.

FYI, we have ADR's at Coral Reef for 8:15 Wednesday night. I guess we could, conceivably, get there an hour or two so early so get some of it in when we finish at HS earlier in the day... we will just want to go back to the hotel and freshen up for dinner first. Between the half day or so that I have planned Wednesday, maybe a little free time before dinner Thursday, and pretty much all evening Friday, is this enough time for Epcot? Or should I try to move something else around to make more time?

Hello! I go round the World showcase slowly and it takes me about 3 hours if you don't include stopping for lunch and gorging on the over priced English chocolate to get me my fix from home!

I don't do every country in that I don't go to every attraction they have or every shop in each one but that's probably because I've seen it several times. I think for a newbie 4 hours plus lunch is probably realistic

 

[FettFan]

Just don't tell that to the Disney animators who did The Rite of Spring from Fantasia where this is a tribute to... And the Same scene is at Disneyland on the Train.

Given their current grave conditions, I don't think they would listen.

 

[Tim Lohr]

I'm working on laying out my rough sketch of what we'll do each day on our trip, and I happened to stumble on the information that Ellen's Energy Adventure is a whopping 45 minutes (according to WDW website). That seems like a LONG time to be on one ride lol.

I searched around here, and the most recent thread I could find was 2008, so I figure a new thread is warranted. Given Epcot's current lineup, if you were just planning to go for a few hours one morning and leave after lunch (we have ADR's at BoG that evening and will likely want to go back to the room and shower before dinner), would this ride be worth it for two 31-year-olds? I read where people said this ride is great for escaping the heat for a nice, air-conditioned break lol... but what about beyond that?

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but because it is a 45 minute ride it only runs a few times a day and the start times vary. You'll have to check which times the show runs the day you going to fit it in with you ADR and other plans

 

[cw1982]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but because it is a 45 minute ride it only runs a few times a day and the start times vary. You'll have to check which times the show runs the day you going to fit it in with you ADR and other plans

Thanks. The WDW website doesn't list this as a show and does not give a schedule of any kind for when it runs, so I'll just play it by ear and make it work (if we decide to do so lol). Still great information to have though!

 

[cw1982]

If I preferred to Park Hop, I would have a dinner reservation at a different pavilion every night. The food is that good.

On topic: skip Ellen's Snooze Cruise if you're pressed for time.

Lol... Snooze Cruise!

Any recommendations for the dining at the pavilions?

 

[cw1982]

Hello! I go round the World showcase slowly and it takes me about 3 hours if you don't include stopping for lunch and gorging on the over priced English chocolate to get me my fix from home!

I don't do every country in that I don't go to every attraction they have or every shop in each one but that's probably because I've seen it several times. I think for a newbie 4 hours plus lunch is probably realistic

Thanks! Since you said you're the type to take your time, I figured your estimates would be safe LOL.

 

[Tim Lohr]

Thanks. The WDW website doesn't list this as a show and does not give a schedule of any kind for when it runs, so I'll just play it by ear and make it work (if we decide to do so lol). Still great information to have though!

I don't think they list in advance because they sort of play it by ear as well, because can hold close to 600 people per show, so it varies depending on how busy the park is on a given day, the time of the year, and days with Extra Magic Hours. Sometimes the it runs every 20 minutes but it can be every 30 to 45 minutes, and in the off-peak seasons they only run it 5 times a day

 

[cw1982]

I don't think they list in advance because they sort of play it by ear as well, because can hold close to 600 people per show, so it varies depending on how busy the park is on a given day, the time of the year, and days with Extra Magic Hours. Sometimes the it runs every 20 minutes but it can be every 30 to 45 minutes, and in the off-peak seasons they only run it 5 times a day

Gotcha. Makes perfect sense. Thanks

 

[KLinder7]

Lol... Snooze Cruise!

Any recommendations for the dining at the pavilions?

France was really good! The desserts and breads are top of the line.

 

[Jeff456]

One of my favourite rides, a lot of that is Nostalgia though, definitely worth at least one look!

 

[mergatroid]

We stay for 3 weeks each year but only do this once each visit. It's a great ride but we prefer doing it once a year to keep it fresh. I always think of it as 'old school Epcot' in a way, nice animatronics and a large scale attraction with no money spared when it was built. This has always held a lot of nostalgia for me and I can still remember as a kid first riding it and being amazed wen the seats in the 'theatre' began to turn and move through the attraction which was unexpected. I can also vividly remember the first time Mrs M rode it and how thrilled she was when the dinosaurs passed overhead and gripped my hand in excitement. Definitely worth a visit in our book.

 

[JohnD]

Energy is showing it's age. It's a 1990s Ellen Degeneres dreaming about playing Jeopardy (with an Alex Trebeck with black hair and mustache no less) and dinosaurs in-between.

As for Imagination, many young parents grew up with the original version, including Dreamfinder. The pavilion would benefit by retrofitting to the original ride. Young parents could re -live nostalgia while at the same time taking their kids on if. It would be a win- win.

 

[MikeTaylorSound]

Lol... Snooze Cruise!

Any recommendations for the dining at the pavilions?

We love the Biergarten Restaurant at the Germany Pavilion. It's buffet style in a building made to look like you're outside at night. You get a show from a band doing Germanic "standards" like Edelweiss, Ein Prosit, etc., and a nod to the Swiss Alps by playing the long horn. It's relatively quiet inside compared to the 21-25 crowd lining up at the quick service stations for souvenir mugs/beer walk.

There's enough stuff for the kids to like (home-style mac & cheese, many types of frankfurters, etc) and OMG stuff for adults like the Asparagus soup (do it), Pork Schnitzel Vienna style, Salmon Filet w/Lemon Dill cream sauce (do it), and herb-roasted potatoes. They have a large area with a meat-cutting station, too! Whatever the red sauce is... put it on something!

You could go for the dessert alone:
Apple Strudel w/Vanilla sauce
Bavarian Cheesecake
Black Forest Cake
Rote Grueze w/Vanilla sauce [eat this last, very rich and you'll want the taste to last!]

It's expensive if you don't have the dining plan or have kids, since they are not discounted ($21.95 per person + $13 for a liter of beer + tip). It's worth it. The experience, the variety of flavors, and the food coma/nap you'll have afterwards is perfect for taking in the American Adventure show just past Italy.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I'm working on laying out my rough sketch of what we'll do each day on our trip, and I happened to stumble on the information that Ellen's Energy Adventure is a whopping 45 minutes (according to WDW website). That seems like a LONG time to be on one ride lol.

I searched around here, and the most recent thread I could find was 2008, so I figure a new thread is warranted. Given Epcot's current lineup, if you were just planning to go for a few hours one morning and leave after lunch (we have ADR's at BoG that evening and will likely want to go back to the room and shower before dinner), would this ride be worth it for two 31-year-olds? I read where people said this ride is great for escaping the heat for a nice, air-conditioned break lol... but what about beyond that?

I would not head back to your room to shower between, not unless it was a case of you staying in an Epcot resort and walking back. You could waste A LOT of time doing that. I'd understand it more for someplace like Yachtmans, but for BOG? Trust me, everyone will be hot and sweaty. You could throw a change of clothes in a backpack and some washcloths, and use the handicapped stall to wipe down. Many of them have sinks. So instead of having an hour each way (once to your room and once to MK) plus however long it takes you to shower, you'd have an hour over to MK from Epcot.

As far as Ellen's Energy Adventure, maybe if you get caught in a thunderstorm and need to wait it out. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it. It's no a must do, especially if you are short on time.

 

[cw1982]

Lol... tell DH that! I don't think he understands what a waste that would be. I went with the time they had because I figured we'd just hop on the monorail and head that way. Maybe I'll convince him that we really don't need to go back to the room first.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Lol... tell DH that! I don't think he understands what a waste that would be. I went wwith the time they had because I figured we'd just hop on the monorail and head that way. Maybe I'll convince him that we really don't need to go back to the room first.

Just tell him that it's an hour each way getting back to the room. Because if you get stuck waiting there for a bus, it could very likely be an hour each way. Plus if you're in MK in the evening, you'll get hot a sweaty again and then have to take another shower!

Tell him that a Disney veteran who has been over 40 times says it's a very BAD idea.

 

[cw1982]

Yeah I'll worry about that the day of. I can always make him drive to Epcot that morning if he insists that we need to come back to the room. At least then we won't be waiting for the bus.

 

[cw1982]

Just tell him that it's an hour each way getting back to the room. Because if you get stuck waiting there for a bus, it could very likely be an hour each way. Plus if you're in MK in the evening, you'll get hot a sweaty again and then have to take another shower!

Tell him that a Disney veteran who has been over 40 times says it's a very BAD idea.

Yeah... I wanted to type more earlier but was responding from my phone lol.

Hopefully I can talk him into just hopping on the monorail and going straight to MK from Epcot! I don't think we'll be as messy after being at Epcot all morning as we would if we had been at, say, MK or HS anyway... or for that matter, even AK. Then we would have more time at FW...

I'm also kinda hoping I can talk him into hitting up a few rides after dinner or staying long enough to watch some fireworks before we head back to the room. Our ADR's are for 6:05 (I'm trying to snag a later time, but I'm certainly not giving up what I have just because I wish it was an hour or two later!), and Touring Plans has that day listed as a 5 at both Epcot and MK, so it would be pretty much the best of both worlds as far as making the most of that day on our trip.

I hadn't even thought of the idea of going back to the room before dinner for that particular ADR until he said something about it... sigh... lol.