Universe of Energy, one last time...

[Klayfish]

I agree with a lot of the tone of this thread in that Epcot, at least FW, has lost its' way...or hasn't kept up with the times. My wife and I had that discussion as we were walking through it recently. It doesn't really tie together very well anymore. You can still pick up the general theme of Epcot, but it's becoming very muddled. Many pieces just don't fit in...Sum of All Thrills, Short Film Festival, Mission Space, using entire large building for character greets, World of Coke all seem somewhat random. Energy and Living with The Land are sorely outdated. I like all these things mentioned, but the EPCOT theme is being lost. Heck, Spaceship Earth, for whatever reason, is one of my favorite rides. But I think it could use a bit of a refresh. With all the attention being put on HS rebuild right now and Smurfville in AK, I wonder if they're just limping it along until they can really dig into it.

 

[momimouse27]

I agree with the above poster in general. But I do think that the original idea surrounding Epcot can be reignited by just tweaking and reimagining each pavilion, with maybe the exception of TT and MS. The theming around Universe of Energy is great, and so is the messaging, it just needs a bit of updating...a new movie and some new and more exciting dinosaurs. There is so much that could be done with WOL, its just sickening that it sits there, especially when people are so into health and fitness right now.

But the thing that breaks my heart is the dismantling of Innoventions. I know much of it was outdated, but I loved it and so did my kids. There are so many memories and there used to be so much to do. Epcot was our favorite park, and now its nothing like it used to be. If they touch Living with the Land, I may go into meltdown mode.

 

[BrianL]

I'm not one who minds the "IPs" coming into Epcot. I mean, whatever works, but I'd like them to have some cohesiveness within the Future World theme, not just tossed in randomly. That's why I thought TRON would be a better fit than GotG if coupled with a history of computing post-show area. I'm not saying GotG can't work, but it depends on how they do it.

IPs are not the enemy. Technically Bill Nye The Science Guy was an IP. Mission: SPACE was based on the movie Mission to Mars which was (kinda) based on Stitch's predecessor. Figment is an IP in his own right (a criminally underused one, but still). The IPs can be integrated in a natural way if they do it right. That may be a big IF, but I'm hopeful.

 

[lborne]

I love Ellen’s Energy Encounter (sponsored by BP). But I have no idea why my kids enjoy this ride so much as it is the antithesis of Mission Space for the probability of removing your lunch from your stomach. This ride is less exciting than sleeping on a sofa bed. It is slower than the parking lot trams. It is slower than the lady in the electric scooter who is blocking the entire path as she tries to parallel park and is yelling at her husband to warn her if she is about to hit the curb.

From Wikipedia (because my Volume E of the 1967 Britannica Encyclopedia is in a box somewhere): In this attraction, you get to ride along with Ellen DeGeneres after she falls asleep and dreams that she is in an energy-themed version of Jeopardy!, playing against an old rival Judy Peterson (portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis) and Albert Einstein (portrayed by Mark Twain). Bill Nye the Science Guy helps Ellen learn about evolution and how renewable energy is not the answer to our problems, and sings a little tune about filling up your Humvee at the local BP.

About the only good part of this attraction is seeing Jamie Lee Curtis – Ellen’s not the only one dreaming. And I love Bill Nye and Ellen too, although, DW and I know all their lines by heart, as we’ve ridden this so many times to cool off of those hot Florida summers (February-December).

OP - you mentioned balloons were also up recently over Fantasia mini-golf? Are they doing something there?

 

[princessjadesmom]

I love Ellens Energy. I am sad to see it go I hope it will be open on our next trip so we can see it one last time.

So do we! It's one of our favorite things at EPCOT. I hope it's still open when we go in November. I'm so sad that it's being removed. We always ride it at least twice on the days we're in EPCOT.

 

[JerseyJanice]

What I can't get over is why they're doing away with a good, long, albeit outdated, attraction when they've got a bunch of buildings that are unused most of the time.

Innoventions, Wonders of Life, and Odyssey restaurant are just taking up space most of the time. Why not put these Galaxy Guardians in one of those buildings? Why destroy an attraction that many people (myself included) enjoy?

It's a really stupid decision IMO.

 

[canyoncam]

I will miss this simply for the outdated show at the beginning. There were times I just watched the show and skipped the ride. I loved seeing the younger Ellen, BN, JLC, and AT.

 

[Eastern]

Great read, thanks!!! I especially love this: "Next up is the moving of the Leave a Legacy stones in front of Spaceship Earth. The stones which many Disney fans call an eye sore are set to be moved for a new entrance look at Epcot."

That would be fantastic!!!!!!! The very first time I set foot at Epcot was 2010, and one of the very first impressions I had was "What are these ugly monolithic type structures "tombstones? " smack in the front of Epcot?" Really , really takes away from the entrance to Epcot IMO. This change would be GREAT if it happens.

Dan

I would love a new entrance for Epcot, too. It's hard navigating around those cement mountains and groups of people, trying to get in!

 

[cigar95]

So far little or no fans showing up for the *true* Universe of Energy attraction. "Here we go, . . . here we grow . . . to the Universe . . . of En-Er-Gy. . . . ". Sure, the content would be hopelessly outdated by now, but that doesn't keep us from remembering it fondly.

Also a note on the frequent references to "vacant" buildings like Wonders of Life and the Odyssey - not just in this thread but all across the board. One thing to keep in mind is that the Special Events people have a huge amount of power at WDW. Getting rid of that space would cause riots to break out in the admin building. They don't need the space always, but when they need it, they *really* need it. And the dollar signs follow it. So if they want space, they're probably going to get it. (Similar to when it was declared that there would be a year or two with no Christmas light display at the Studios. Oh, boy, were there some unhappy people.)

 

[DisneyKeepsUsYoung]

Only ridden this once I don't remember exactly. I see online that it is 45 min long. 45! Is it an inescapable 45 min or if my 2 year old has a melt down we can leave like during a show? He rarely sits still for a full episode on Disney Junior so I'm not sure he'd make 45 min of Ellen. I'd like to check it out 1 last time but I do not want 45 min commited with a screaming kid trying to escape.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Only ridden this once I don't remember exactly. I see online that it is 45 min long. 45! Is it an inescapable 45 min or if my 2 year old has a melt down we can leave like during a show? He rarely sits still for a full episode on Disney Junior so I'm not sure he'd make 45 min of Ellen. I'd like to check it out 1 last time but I do not want 45 min commited with a screaming kid trying to escape.

There is a film in the beginning that you can walk out on. I want to say it's 15 minutes. Then you board these slowing moving vehicles with long rows of seating that you can't escape from quietly. They issue warnings not to get on them unless you can stay put (I want to say) 20 minutes.

Truthfully, I do this attraction almost every visit to Epcot. I have never experienced anyone's kids acting up. It's so cool and soothing in the theater, a lot of people take naps. I nod out every time I'm there. It's a long and relaxing attraction, and I will miss it, especially if they go with something hyper.

 

[Planogirl]

Only ridden this once I don't remember exactly. I see online that it is 45 min long. 45! Is it an inescapable 45 min or if my 2 year old has a melt down we can leave like during a show? He rarely sits still for a full episode on Disney Junior so I'm not sure he'd make 45 min of Ellen. I'd like to check it out 1 last time but I do not want 45 min commited with a screaming kid trying to escape.

There's no way to leave once the ride starts. I would avoid it if you don't think he can make it through.

 

[PetePanMan]

now where the heck am I going to take my mid-day cool nap at epcot?

 

[whiporee]

El - Degeneris is goin hoo-ooome, El - Degeneris is goin ho-oome. And she's gonna teach them how to say goodbye,

Folks don't want to learn stuff at WDW. That was the original, conceptual flaw of Epcot. They want rides and more rides and to be entertained.

Nothing wrong with that, but it's why so much of Future World is stagnant. They weren't designed to be rides, they were designed to be moving, somewhat interactive lectures. People didn't want moving, slightly interactive lectures -- they want to see Buzz and Woody or the talking Raccoon. This is their vacation, after all. If they wanted a learning vacation they'd go to Washington, where all the museums are FREE.

The best thing Epcot can do is make'em all roller coasters or those virtual coasters like Gringotts. At least that would quiet the US fans down a bit.

 

[uccats97]

This ride is very dear to me! My favorite thing about it is actually the film itself - I love Ellen, Bill Nye, Alex Trebeck and Jamie Lee Curtis - so funny! And the huge theater screens make it amazing.

Me too! I always say I should email all of the actors and have them record an updated version. It's cheesy but I love it anyway!

 

[joelkfla]

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...

Don't know what "connecting with walt" is, but it's wrong. The dinosaurs from the 1964 NY Worlds Fair are in California, in the Primeval World diorama on the DL Railroad. I'm sure the ones in UOE were inspired by them, and the scenes are similar, but they appear to be much more advanced animatronics.

 

[joelkfla]

Folks don't want to learn stuff at WDW. That was the original, conceptual flaw of Epcot. They want rides and more rides and to be entertained.

I loved the old FW, but it was from another era, before A&E, History Channel, Science Channel et al made educational entertainment commonplace and readily available. And before attention spans declined to about half a minute.

 

[cigar95]

. . . . Washington, where all the museums are FREE.

If only!

 

[monorailrabbit]

I really loved this ride - and like a PP I also fondly remember the original - I have the songs on my old Disney Parks CD! I really hope we get one last ride on it - but we don't go until mid Dec. I agree Epcot has seemed to loose it's way. For nostalgia's sake, it's always been my favorite... but I'm not sure how much longer that will last.

 

[Mikie]

I think that EPCOT will become IPCOT.

Awesome.
Well, not the concept of it happening, but I love the pithy nickname. Surprised this is the first time I've someone use it. It could be done right, I suppose, I'm almost ambivalent about what the theme should be, as long as it has one!

One PP mentioned that people don't want to do edu-tainment on vacation. My family and it seems some others on this thread, really enjoyed the hands on interactive parts of FW. However, I definitely know some families who thought all of Epcot was a waste! Thank goodness some friends we met up with one trip enjoyed all the food in WS and Illuminations, because they really griped about Epcot not being an amusement park and all of FW being worthless (this was a few years ago when more of it was still open)