Ellen's Energy Adventure

[IndyColts]

My family (wife, 2 daughters and me) spent a wonderful week at WDW from 12/26 through 1/1. We loved POFQ, were pleasantly surprised by the prompt transportation services (the longest bus wait we had was, at most, 6 minutes, even including after late Illuminations on New Year's Eve), and dealt with large crowds to have a good time.

The only downer was our experience on the "Ellen's Energy Adventure" ride in EPCOT. On 12/30, we waited in line a few minutes, watched the 8 minute intro video, then took our seats in the moveable theater. Just as the show started, we heard someone yelling at one of the viewers to sit down. Turns out it was a CM yelling at a visitor, who was exiting the ride. Because of this, the ride was vacated, and the process to reset the ride would take an hour.

We decided to eat lunch and return. We started on the ride again, and got halfway through (past the animatronic dinosaurs), when the ride stopped again! From what we heard, someone who was back at the starting point had gotten up and walked out.

Well, now I was on a mission to finish that ride. We spent the rest of the day enjoying the park, and returned later in the evening. We sat in our seats, and I was looking over over my shoulder, just daring anyone to get up, and I'll be danged if a lady near the back didn't stand up and start down the row!! They yelled at her to sit down, and she did, and, much to our relief, we actually finished the ride to its conclusion!

So, here are my questions, and I apologize for such a long post:

1) Has anyone else experienced this? My family has been to WDW 4 times, and I have never had this happen before.

2) Why isn't there a better way to handle this situation than to evacuate the entire ride? According to the CM's, each of the 2 ride theaters hold 1,000 people, and when the person left just after the ride started, they had to evacuate around 2,000 people, and close the ride for almost 1 hour. Seems crazy to me.

Other than our Ellen troubles, though, we had a great time.

 

[jdcthree]

Wow! I can thankfully say I didn't have that experience on the ride, but we only did it once during a low crowd season.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

We rode it without incident in October. However, the first time we went to see it, they were "evacuating" the building and we were told the attraction would be down for the next hour or so. Based on your experience, I'm willing to bet someone got up and started walking around, so they shut the whole thing down that day, too.

 

[Robo]

I've ridden dozens of times.
Never this kind of issue.

Although once, we did get all the way through the pre-show but were not allowed to board the moving theater seats.
They said to come back later in the day, due to tech. difficulties.

I have READ here about what the CM's call a "jumper"...

That's a guest who attempts to exit the seats at some point during the heart of attraction.

That triggers a full-shutdown and a need to reset the whole attraction (as you said.)

 

[Robo]

Double-Double
Post-Post

LOVE the new servers!!

 

[mistydoodles]

This happened to us twice during our trip in November. The first time we were almost at the end of the ride. We were just about to find out the answer to the last Jeopardy question and the ride shuts down. While we waited to be evacuated I heard the CM's talking about someone that jumped off the ride. I couldn't believe someone would do that.

Then a few days later it happened to us again. My mother, my girls and myself decided to ride Ellen's Energy Adventure while my husband went to do Test Track. We figured since we didn't get to finish it the first time we would try to do it again. This time we didn't even get through the dinosaur area. We were in the first car and just as we entered the dinosaur area and were going around the corner it happened again. We just couldn't believe it. So we sat there for a little while waiting to be evacuated again.

My husband met us at our designated waiting area and couldn't believe we were done already. When I told him that we didn't even get to finish the ride he couldn't believe it. What could be the chances that this could happen to us twice in one week. Just crazy.

 

[PatsMom]

We've ridden Ellen many times and fortunately have never had this happen to us.

 

[ortegah]

Wow, we didn't have any problem when we got on it. Actually we didn't even know it was a moving ride so we were blown away and really impressed when it started moving! hehe

 

[sbell111]

Luckily we made it through the entire ride last week. (BTW, 'Brain Power' is the answer.)

Just before they started the ride, however, the CM member had to tell three people to sit down and twice explain that if anyone gets up that the ride will have to be evaced and reset.

I'm not surprised that many people don't listen to these statements. After all, they almost always tell you to move all the way down the row at shows and people consistently plop down in the center seats.

 

[mistydoodles]

Luckily we made it through the entire ride last week. (BTW, 'Brain Power' is the answer.)

Just before they started the ride, however, the CM member had to tell three people to sit down and twice explain that if anyone gets up that the ride will have to be evaced and reset.

I'm not surprised that many people don't listen to these statements. After all, they almost always tell you to move all the way down the row at shows and people consistently plop down in the center seats.

Thank you for the answer. We thought that was what it was.

You are exactly right about people not listening. I always shake my head when people just stop in the middle instead of moving all the way down the row even with the CM's constantly repeating it.

 

[addicted2disney]

Wow.. Never had that happen on Ellen.. but while on Carousel of Progress in November, someone got up and left through the exit door. Same thing happened. The attraction stopped, the theater wouldnt rotate to the next scene,and the CM came in and yelled at the guy. Told him that he just made the entire ride stop working. We didnt have to evacuate, but we did have to sit through the same scene twice.

 

[sbell111]

You are exactly right about people not listening. I always shake my head when people just stop in the middle instead of moving all the way down the row even with the CM's constantly repeating it.

One of my funniest park experiences was at Universal. The cast member came down the row (scootching by other guests) to make some people move down and fill in all the seats. It was hilarious.

 

[Sandy321]

WOW -

Ellen's Adventure is our nap ride - our take a break ride it is a 45 min ride - and its a great break from the heat - and its never full, so we get a row and conk out while dd enjoys the ride!!

 

[scammermom]

How long is this?
According to the program, it said 45 minutes so we didn't do it this past visit. But may on another visit.

 

[hildarumpole]

2) Why isn't there a better way to handle this situation than to evacuate the entire ride? According to the CM's, each of the 2 ride theaters hold 1,000 people, and when the person left just after the ride started, they had to evacuate around 2,000 people, and close the ride for almost 1 hour. Seems crazy to me.

There should be a better way to handle that situation, especially on a ride as long as Ellen. I'd be kind of mad if a ride had to be evacuated just because some thoughtless jerk decided he'd had enough and walked off in the middle. Unfortunately, no matter how many announcements are made and signs are posted, there will be a few people who refuse to pay attention or feel entitled to ignore them. Maybe CMs could ride along and if they see someone stand up during the ride, tackle them back into their seat.

 

[mistydoodles]

There should be a better way to handle that situation, especially on a ride as long as Ellen. I'd be kind of mad if a ride had to be evacuated just because some thoughtless jerk decided he'd had enough and walked off in the middle. Unfortunately, no matter how many announcements are made and signs are posted, there will be a few people who refuse to pay attention or feel entitled to ignore them. Maybe CMs could ride along and if they see someone stand up during the ride, tackle them back into their seat.

I like that idea.

 

[Robo]

Maybe CMs could ride along and if they see someone stand up during the ride, tackle them back into their seat.

Make the errant guest get off and take the place the the Ellen AA battling the sharp-toothed snakey-thing.

 

[mistydoodles]

That should cure them.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

That is so crazy! We have also rode the Ellen ride many times and never seen that happen. It is also a nap ride for our younger children, great for a little rest and down time.

 

[jdcthree]

Wow.. Never had that happen on Ellen.. but while on Carousel of Progress in November, someone got up and left through the exit door. Same thing happened. The attraction stopped, the theater wouldnt rotate to the next scene,and the CM came in and yelled at the guy. Told him that he just made the entire ride stop working. We didnt have to evacuate, but we did have to sit through the same scene twice.

THAT'S why we had to sit there so long in front of the first scene and watch it twice!! Someone must have exited in one of the other sections though because it wasn't in ours.