Universe of Energy, one last time...

[MikeTaylor]

...and so it begins, with the proposed destruction of Ellen's Snooze Cruise to make way for an IP to have a place in a park that needs attention, Spaceship Earth and Living With The Land shall remain the last memory in Future World to the old guard attractions. The enormous structure and greenhouse will stand tall as a testimony to an imagineering style that once spread all over EPCOT.

As I listen to the great music before the doors open this weekend, the films begin, and Bill Nye talks about technology presented almost two decades ago, I will tune it out and reminisce as the damp, dank, smelly smoke machines take me back to some of the earliest memories of my childhood. I will bear the corny jokes, the bladder punishment, and the stupid Judys to see the dinosaur animatronics one last time. I will take one last ride on a large vehicle that is partially-run off of solar panels.

I will say good-bye to another piece missing to the original EPCOT puzzle; my only hope is that the land they use will create an attraction on par with Uni's HPatFJ and that I can get excited about it. Guardians of the Galaxy was a good movie-I liked it more so than Avatar, probably due to the story being more original. Speaking of The Land; I'm glad I can still go on a ride and see in my mind Roy Clark singing "This Land is Your Land" on one of the boats.

 

[tlmadden73]

It's sad to see Epcot die a slow death (even slower death) like DHS did. I loved DHS when it first opened, but as they slowly started to pair back all the "making of movies" stuff, it just lost its magic because it no longer had a theme. It still had a great look and a lot of great attractions, but just wasn't the same to me. The addition of the Star Wars and Toy Story stuff is a great way to revive a park that they let die .. though I am not sure if it really has a "theme" anymore.

I feel Epcot just isn't a good park .. and if it wasn't for nostalgia, I am not sure when I would visit again. I haven't even gone there on my last two trips.

 

[Lisa F]

when are they planning to do this?

 

[MidgeD79]

My kids and grandkids and myself were very sad to hear this ride will be closing. We love it!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

We have skipped this attraction over many of our last trips, but will be taking it in for old times sake when we go back. Right now I think ANYTHING that is done to Epcot should be welcomed as it has become so neglected for far too long. Epcot was never suppose to be a finished product, but I believe was instead meant to be ever evolving as times changed, the powers that be just really dropped the ball.

 

[Planogirl]

The question is what is Epcot evolving into. Right now there doesn't seem to be a visible direction.

I'd like to know when this is supposed to happen too. I'd like to see those dinosaurs once more.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

I would like to know also. DH wanted to go this year but we only got half a day at Epcot this year. The day we were there was the day the tropic storm came across Orlando. We waited about 5 minutes too late to leave because the skies opened up on us about 5 minutes from the car.

 

[Klayfish]

I had read the rumors about it being turned into Guardians of the Galaxy, but never heard anything concrete. Is it 100% certain it's going to close? When? What's it going to become? When will it be done? Glad we rode it when we were there last month. Yes, it's a snooze cruise and we just laugh at the old school things in it (Jeopardy scene is such a throw back), but it's nostalgic.

 

[DisneyFive]

I'll have to make sure to see it in a couple of weeks. I still have never seen the attraction in our 5 previous stays.

Dan

 

[Mikie]

I'll have to make sure to see it in a couple of weeks. I still have never seen the attraction in our 5 previous stays.

Dan

You're missing out! Be sure to go when you're hot and tired and need a long AC break. Last trip, I felt sort of bad for bringing my whole extended family on it and said I wouldn't "make" anyone go next time, but the kids all said they liked it and want it to stay in rotation!! R.I.P. Stupid Judy!

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

We will probably ride it if it is still open on our trip, just for old times sake. We never really cared much for it but I'd like to ride again before it is gone.

 

[Accident]

My daughter had never seen it and I never saw it after it became ellen so we did it about 2 months ago....

The best part is the dinosaurs and that's only because it was mentioend on connecting with walt they are the original worlds fair dinosaurs. Nothing else was good...

Theres no reason to revisit it...

 

[MikeTaylor]

The architectural balloons were up and flying above it yesterday. The balloons test height and visual impact among the surrounding areas. They brought these out earlier this year in January near the Fantasia mini golf. So, I'd say it's in the design process right now. Where there's smoke there's fire. I guess they've already figured out they can't use the building if they're testing something that's higher than what's currently there.

 

[minnie mum]

The question is what is Epcot evolving into. Right now there doesn't seem to be a visible direction.

I agree with you. For years Epcot has stagnated and FW has suffered neglect with too many places left empty. Now it seems the only thing they can come up with is to shove an IP ride into an existing space, even if it has little or no relevance to the area. What happens when there is no longer a THEME to your theme park? You're left with the world's most expensive amusement park. But as long as Iger's getting his annual bonus, the bean counters wont care.

 

[BrianL]

when are they planning to do this?

It is just a rumor for now, though I have heard as early as this fall. It is not 100% what will be replacing it either, but GotG is the front runner right now.

 

[Mikie]

I agree with you. For years Epcot has stagnated and FW has suffered neglect with too many places left empty. Now it seems the only thing they can come up with is to shove an IP ride into an existing space, even if it has little or no relevance to the area. What happens when there is no longer a THEME to your theme park? You're left with the world's most expensive amusement park. But as long as Iger's getting his annual bonus, the bean counters wont care.

I definitely agree with this! I certainly used to be very specific about the difference between WDW as a THEME park and other places as amusement parks. The ride queues are still much more elaborate than other amusement parks I go to, but the parks themselves (Epcot and DHS) are certainly losing their theme. For me, personally, that diminishes the value, especially when they aren't packed with ride after ride like MK or other amusement parks - if there's no theme and atmosphere to enjoy and it doesn't have more rides per square foot, then what am I spending that high admission on??

 

[Wdwfan2016]

As of right now Energy is rumored to close around holiday time.

 

[DisneyFive]

IP?

 

[minnie mum]

IP?

Intellectual property. In Disney's case, usually a movie.

 

[Mikie]

IP?

Intellectual Property - in this case, the Marvel rights (for characters not already used in Universal parks east of the Mississippi or some such contractual contortions. . . )

ETA: oops! simultaneous posting