Universe of Energy question

[TheGoofster]

I was listening to an audio of this ride today, and was not at all impressed by Ellen (the so-called humor was anything but), then I heard her say "to all of you who have come in late...", and it got me wondering, is it possible to skip that tacky intro part of the show, and only go on the riding part of the attraction, or do you have to sit through ALL of it (dumb jokes and all).
The last time I went on this ride was, I think, 1990, so I really don't know much about it.
Thank you for any responses.

 

[BamaFan121s]

Hmmm...I didn't think think it had been that long (1990) since they re-did it to include Ellen. I like the ride, just don't do it every trip because it is so loooooong.

 

[NurseJamie]

I don't think there's any way to avoid the intro part... You know how in MuppetVision3D and HISTA there's the area where they show the viedos before, and then you go into the theatre? Same idea - the loooong Ellen intro part is basically the queue, and then you go into the ride itself. Only way I can think of to avoid it is to time it perfectly that you're walking in at the end, and I don't think there's any easy way to do it.

This is one of the rides that I don't feel any great need to do again - it's almost 40 minutes long! And I am not the biggest Ellen fan... However, it does have Bill Nye the Science Guy (I love him!!), so there is one redeeming thing about it!

 

[mehmetdan]

We did this ride 2 weeks ago. You can come in late to the pre-entertainment but you will need to guess when the show starts and that will be pretty difficult. Although it took about 40 minutes it was a good rest from walking!

 

[ZeoliFamily]

We love the pre-show and think it goes well with the ride itself. The jokes are silly but I love her delivery!

We don't go every visit due to length as well as there being so much to do at Epcot. Once every year and a half to two years might be why it works for us.

-Jim

 

[FloraFauna]

Is it 40 minutes long with the intro? Or is it an intro and then a 40-minute ride?

 

[dis-happy]

I think the pre-show it the best part of the whole ride, plus it all ties in together. Try to see the entire thing all the way trhough at least once, and then decide.

 

[helenabear]

Is it 40 minutes long with the intro? Or is it an intro and then a 40-minute ride?

They say it is a 37 minute ride after the intro. I believe the CM told us it was 45 minutes long total.

I do agree it is a nice way to get away from everything and rest for a while. I never realized it was that long, but we timed it and sure enough the ride itself was 37 minutes.

I was annoyed though, normally they just let you walk in whenever you are in line for it and see whatever part of the intro you want. I don't care to see that every time, so I had to see the whole thing and wait for it to start for the first time ever.

They did the same thing at Muppet 3D. Keep in mind, this was not due to crowds, everything was a walk on that day. I'm not sure why they kept us out. Wasn't just having to wait for through the preshow, but we had to wait about 5 minutes for the preshow to start

 

[GEM]

The pre-show is the absolute best part! (Of course, I think Ellen is hilarious, so maybe I'm biased.) You definately can come in as it's ending though, although the rest of the experience wouldn't make much sense.

 

[OKW Lover]

There is no need to get there in time for the pre-show. If you knew just what time the actual boarding of the ride started (and you won't) you could just show up at that time. I suppose you could just wait outside until the pre-show is over.

But I'm with many of the other posters here - the pre-show is a good set-up for the actual ride.

 

[rie'smom]

It's not fabulous.

 

[cleo]

You may want to see the preshow anyway, as the jokes are probably a lot funnier with the video than they are just as audio. Then again, if you dislike it now you probably won't see the humor in it when you arrive.

Still, you might want to show up before the preshow since there are times when they close the doors and don't let anyone in once the preshow starts. We were taken by surprise last time when we showed up a couple of minutes after the show started and were told we couldn't go in. It wasn't peak season so I don't think they were full (it's got a huge capacity).

 

[Robo]

It's not fabulous.

Just for balance, I think it IS fabulous.

 

[Mickey1122]

I like the ride, preshow and all. I think that it is pretty funny, and is a good lead up to the ride, tying it all together. I agree with cleo-video and audio is better than audio alone. Ellen points at the audience for example, and the audio wouldn't show that.

 

[cranbiz]

The preshow is 8 1/2 minutes long.

I was there last week and we did have guests come in just before boarding the ride part. It would be difficult to guess when to enter and to wait outside to avoid the show would be a waste of time in my book.

Universe of Energy is not on my must do list every time but once in a while I enjoy the attraction.

 

[TheGoofster]

Well, from what it sounds like it will probably be better to just get to the show at the normal time, and simply endure the jokes. And like somebody else mentioned, at least Bill Nye is there, and my kids do like him.
Anyway, thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[AStamm]

Isn't that audio-animotronic Ellen the absolute worst???? I thought it was pretty bad the first time we rode UOE back in 2003, but after seeing it this last trip following a day at POTC and that first fabulous Johnny Depp, it made me feel bad for Ellen. Technology has progressed so much and she deserves to look human, like her or not!

 

[Howellsy]

Isn't that audio-animotronic Ellen the absolute worst???? I thought it was pretty bad the first time we rode UOE back in 2003, but after seeing it this last trip following a day at POTC and that first fabulous Johnny Depp, it made me feel bad for Ellen. Technology has progressed so much and she deserves to look human, like her or not!

Absolutely!! I said that when we there in August - you'd think they could chang here a bit - make her slightly human-esque

 

[tinkerbell87512]

In all the times that ive been to WDW ive never done this. I guess ill have to ride it next time to see what your all talking about

 

[WeirdTigger27]

The ride was okay. I acctually wanted more information and details. I'm a science geek.