How does Universe of Energy manage to remain open?

[Texas84]

Nothing like it on a hot day. Nothing.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

 

[WDWFan_Boston]

They got rid of Wonders of life which had so much potential, many more attractions and was appealing to all ages, they shut down Horizons which never had a line but somehow Universe of Energy at the state its in is left untouched and as far as I know open all year around. That attractions is worse and probably more vacant then the 2 combined. Thats a great hunk of space to install 4 space simulators or to make into an events pavilion.

Please, no! Not ANOTHER events pavilion!

 

[Gabe1]

I rode UoE in April and it had a packed lobby waiting to go in. When there is little to do that happens. My case it was pouring and a fine place to avoid the soaking rain.

Horizon's was designed well. It was a great people eater, our whole family fit in a unit. So rarely did it have a line, not that it was unpopular, it was efficient. That goes back to the days when Disney knew how to build people eaters well, now we are stuck with designs like Toy that was not designed to gobble guests. The new era of Imagineering. Oy.

 

[Master Yoda]

I rode UoE in April and it had a packed lobby waiting to go in. When there is little to do that happens. My case it was pouring and a fine place to avoid the soaking rain.

Horizon's was designed well. It was a great people eater, our whole family fit in a unit. So rarely did it have a line, not that it was unpopular, it was efficient. That goes back to the days when Disney knew how to build people eaters well, now we are stuck with designs like Toy that was not designed to gobble guests. The new era of Imagineering. Oy.

Horizons and WoM were both great at eating people, but they were not inexpensive to maintain. All of those animatronic sets are expensive to maintain properly. That would not have been much of a problem if they were pulling attendance numbers anywhere near their capacity, but that was not the case. The general public became bored with both of them and simply stopped going riding them.

When that happens something has to change. Disney went with the thrill ride option in both cases as that is what tends to pull people into the parks.

Just be glad that it was not possible to fit a roller coaster inside of SSE because that would be gone as well if it were.

 

[Chef Mickey]

It is a shame that everything has to be tied to a current TV personality, movie, or celebrity host. The old Universe of Energy was just a badass ride with incredible lighting, detail, and ambiance. I hate the move toward thrills, interactivty, and/or themed attraction.

Disney, for the love of God, please keep some stand alone rides that are just really interesting, fun, and original.

That said, I'm glad the UoE still exists in its current state because Ellen is just a nuisance to a generally classic ride. The dinosaur scenes are still some of the best examples of imagineering in all of Disney.

All new rides seem to be ruined with a cheap draw like Ellen, Donald in old River of Time in Mexico, Test Track, ruined by interactive fluff, the Seas with Nemo and Friends, etc etc etc.

The traditionalists like myself will always lose. The days of Dream Flight, World of Motion, Horizons, etc are gone. Everything has to be tied to a recognizable movie or personality. So sad.

Thankfully, Spaceship Earth remains relatively intact as just a great ride, not yet ruined by cheap theming.

 

[Susan Savia]

Our family loves the Universe of Energy and usually catch it several times when were in the parks.
I would be afraid if it was to be changed, it would be ruined just like they've done to other attractions....
Spaceship Earth, Imagination, etc.

 

[ScoutN]

Just be glad that it was not possible to fit a roller coaster inside of SSE because that would be gone as well if it were.

Europa begs to differ.

 

[psukardi]

That ride is meant for naps or to take a break on a really hot day. It should never go away.

 

[englanddg]

That ride is meant for naps or to take a break on a really hot day. It should never go away.

Or, you could pick a burger up from Electric Umbrella and take it on the ride and tell the kids that it's really the T-Rex restaurant.

This would save you a few bucks.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

no sponsor + no guests = closed pavilion.

Could disney have prevented this? Sure, but it seems like they were content to rent it out for private functions and use it for special events.

Master Yoda, your points are well taken!

AKK

 

[FitzherbertFreak]

It's all because of Bill Nye...

 

[FitzherbertFreak]

We have to have somewhere to take a 20 minute nap.

Actually, we have somewhere to take a 45 minute nap.

 

[jimbo mack]

I actually like this ride. It's good to have rides where you can just sit back and take a bit of time out

 

[luv]

Another fan! I think it's a good ride. I suppose that Bill Nye and Willard Scott might be dated, but it's still a good ride. IMO.

 

[KeithVH]

Get rid of Nye and put in Beakman? Oh, and Lester, gotta have Lester. I would definitely ride that one.

Then again, I'm not sure why the hate for Nye. He's actually a very good mechanical engineer and his delivery isn't bad. Maybe Michio Kaku? Most people don't know who he is. There are others but all have a serious visibility/awareness deficit. God knows, if they make it character based, it'll be the beginning of FW's final chapter. The ride's message is good, why not just update it?

Face it, the real problem is that this ride IS educational. 'muricans just don't grok that. People don't want to face reality like that on vacation. The days of everyone REALLY appreciating Mr. Wizard are long gone. No attention span and caring more about the next iPhone release than the whole energy concept. Sadly, it's gonna bite everyone is the fasnarsus sooner rather than later.

 

[LucyK]

I like Ellen's Energy Adventure, it's one of my favorite at EPCOT. Sure it's long and most people nap through it but I enjoy the themeing, the message and I love Ellen's quirk sense of humor.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Another fan! I think it's a good ride. I suppose that Bill Nye and Willard Scott might be dated, but it's still a good ride. IMO.

Did you mean Bill Nye and Alex Trebek? I don't recall Willard Scott in it at all. Maybe, I'm just missing a segment in my brain and I have forgotten.

 

[Clamman73]

Did you mean Bill Nye and Alex Trebek? I don't recall Willard Scott in it at all. Maybe, I'm just missing a segment in my brain and I have forgotten.

The film at the end???

 

[Goofyernmost]

The film at the end???

???? still don't remember ???? Could be!