Universe of Energy PDF Print E-mail
Written by Louis A. Mongello   
  • The original show in the Universe of Energy pavilion was known simply as "The Universe of Energy", when the pavilion opened on October 1, 1982. On September 15, 1986, the revised show, known as "Ellen's Energy Crisis" opened. The name was quickly changed to "Ellen's Energy Adventure," while the pavilion's name remains, "The Universe of Energy."
  • Weighing more than 15 tons, each of the ride cars in the Universe of Energy pavilion is guided through the attraction on a wire that is merely 1/8 inch thick!
  • The attraction's original song, "Energy (You Make the World Go Round)" was written by Robert Moline and played during the pre-show movie of the same name. The film showed various images of energy production, and was shown on a 14 by 90-foot screen made up of 100 rotating projection triangles. These reflective triangles could move and rotate in sync, a process known as a "kinetic mosaic" by its creator, Czech filmmaker Emil Radok.
  • The second song, "Universe of Energy" is the "official theme song" of the attraction, and was played near the end of the attraction, as the ride cars moved into a final room with another animated movie. "Universe of Energy" was written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschorn.
  • These songs were heard from the attraction's opening day on October 1, 1982 until January 21, 1996, when the attraction closed for refurbishment. The new show, starring comedienne Ellen Degeneres, opened on September 15, 1996.
  • When The Universe of Energy opened in 1982, it was the largest privately funded solar-power installation in the world.
  • On the roof of Ellen's Energy Adventure are photovoltaic solar panels that generate 15% of the power needed to run the entire attraction.
  • There are 80,000 three-inch cells arranged on 2,200 panels. The cells can provide 77 kilowatts of DC current at optimal conditions. This energy is converted into AC current for later use.
  • The Universe of Energy attraction has more "Please remain seated" placards in their ride vehicles than any other ride in Walt Disney World.



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