Home > Pavilion > Rehab Although the Universe of Energy pavilion has managed to survive in Future World at Epcot since the park opened back on October 1, 1982 (as well as hold onto its original sponsor that entire time), it has undergone some significant changes during its over 20 year run at the park. In the early 1990s, Imagineers began to notice that the original show was beginning to show its age. Much of the subject matter covered in the original show's films was by that time outdated or inaccurate, and the show needed to be brought back up to date. They also found that many guests were commenting on the show's "overly serious" presentation style, and that many were finding the attraction to be dry, slow, and for some, even boring. It was then decided that something needed to be done to breathe new life into the aging attraction, as well as to help freshen Epcot's overall image. Inspired by the lighthearted and humorous attractions of the Wonders of Life pavilion, next door to Energy, Imagineers decided that the best way to present such a scientific and technical subject matter as Energy to a modern day audience would be through humor and satire. With that in mind, show writers began coming up with ideas for an all new show for the attraction. The script called for the new show, which was to be entitled "Ellen's Energy Crisis," to be hosted by comedian Ellen DeGeneres, along with television personality Bill Nye the Science Guy. The Rehab Begins While filming for the new show began out in California, back in Epcot, the pavilion itself was ready to undergo its physical rehab in preparation for the new show. On Saturday, January 20, 1996, the original show ran for the last day in its entirety, and the pavilion was completely closed down so that work could commence. Many elements of the pavilion had to be modified, removed, or completely changed in order for them to fit into the storyline of the new show. When Imagineers first began writing the script for the new show, plans called for the Radok pre-show screen to remain as Bill Nye was to "show Ellen a 'kinetic mosaic' of various energy resources" in the pre-show film. However, as time went on, the script continued to evolve and be rewritten, and it was finally determined that the Radok screen would no longer be needed for the new show. As a result, the screen was demolished and replaced with five new stretch frame screens. The audio system behind the screen was completely refurbished along with the replacement of the projector lamp housings on all five projectors. New colored wash lighting was also added to illuminate the new screens with colored lighting between shows, as well as an elevated spieling platform for cast members to stand on at the front of the theater. In Theater I, the signature sparkling, shimmering curtains that always covered the mirrored walls until the finale were replaced with dark navy curtains. The mirrors themselves, which covered the side walls of Theater I and were used during the finale film at the end of the show, were all removed and replaced with black soundproofing material. Beneath the three rear movie screens in the theater, two giant subwoofers were installed to help enhance the effect of the Big Bang sequence during the new show's film. The half-cylindrical apex screen at the front of the theater was demolished during this time and replaced with a new television-shaped movie screen that was to be used as part of the new show's finale. Several changes were made to the diorama during this rehab as well. Disney Imagineers consulted with paleontologists regarding new theories on the coloring of dinosaurs' skin. Based on the paleontologists' recommendations, the dinosaurs were repainted from their original deep green, brown and gray colors to almost florescent shades of green, orange, blue and yellow. Many more prehistoric plants were added in and around the diorama to help make the vegetation seem fuller and more lush. Water spraying effects were installed in two of the dinosaurs including the "sneezing" Brontosaurus that overhangs the ride path, and to the "spitting" Ornithomimus that used to be trapped in a mud pit. The biggest addition to the diorama was of the $1 million Generation III Ellen Audio Animatronic that was installed by the Elasmosaurus in the tidal pool. Much like the Wicked Witch of the West figure featured on The Great Movie Ride over at the Disney/MGM Studios, this state-of-the-art Animatronic is known for its extremely realistic and life-like movements. Sadly, during this time many of the special effects already present in the diorama were deactivated (most likely to reduce maintenance costs). Among the effects that were lost, were the "Smellitzers," which emitted the damp swamp scents in the marsh area, and the sulfur scents of the volcano. Many of the fog effects such as the blanket of fog that once covered the floor of the diorama in the marsh scene, as well as the fog wall underneath the volcano that the vehicles passed through when entering Theater II, were also deactivated during this time. The fog wall under the volcano was replaced during the rehab with a series of flashing lights for the new show. The diorama also received all new audio tracks for all of the dinosaur sound effects, as well as a new upbeat musical accompaniment that would play as the vehicles passed through the diorama. Several changes were made in Theater II as well. The EPCOT Energy Information Center show set, which consisted of a bank of seven television monitors behind the operator console, along with a series of three large illuminated glass maps of the world that were located to the right of the console, was completely demolished with the exception of the console itself. A large image of a radio tower, which was painted in florescent paint, was put up behind the console and black lighting was installed to illuminate it from above. Additional twinkling lights were installed above the theater as well to help illuminate the vehicles as they were reentering the theater. A black plywood cutout in the shape of the outlines of plants was installed in front of the existing operator console to mask its "futuristic" appearance left over from the old show. Large black reveal curtains were installed in front of the three giant movie screens in the theater as part of a sequence in the new show's film in which the screen would seemingly widen and expand on Ellen's command. The show building itself also underwent some major aesthetic changes on both the inside and outside. The most significant and noticeable of these changes was to the pavilion's exterior paint scheme. The original paint scheme, which faded from dark red, to orange, and finally to yellow (symbolizing "radiating energy"), was changed to a much brighter scheme of pinks, lavenders, greens and blues. Another exterior renovation to the show building was the removal of the small square mirrors that adorned the side portions of the walls toward the back of the building (however, all of the mirrors on the front portion of the building remained). The reflecting pools located along either side of the building were drained and filled with earth. Large dinosaur topiaries were then installed on top of the old pools. New planting was added in the planters around the edges of the reflecting pool, as well as up against the building itself. All of the interior spaces of the pavilion including the pre-show theater, Theaters I & II, and the Post Show area received new carpeting on both the floors and walls. Among other things changed during this time, cast members received brand new costumes, which marked the third generation of costumes worn by Energy cast members. An Unsettling Transition By mid June of 1996, all of the renovations were finally completed and the pavilion was ready for the new show. Park management was also growing anxious to get the attraction back up and running in time for the upcoming busy summer months. However, out in California, the films were still not ready, and wouldn't be until the fall of that year. So in an effort to help ease the larger summer crowds in the park, it was decided that the newly refurbished pavilion would be temporarily reopened and the old films from the original show would be shown until the new films were ready. Over the next two and a half months, the original pre-show film was shown on the new static screens; the new dark navy curtains were in place in Theater I; the dinosaurs wore their new florescent paint jobs while the Ellen Audio Animatronic was hidden behind a temporary rock; and the new diorama audio tracks and sound effects-with the exception of the new musical track-played in the Diorama. A modified version of the "Welcome Back" narration played in Theater II as the vehicles entered from the diorama. It no longer mentioned the "monitors or maps behind the operator console" for they had already been removed. The original finale film was shown without the mirrors. And the pavilion sported its new pastel paint scheme while the cast members sported their brand new costumes. The original show films continued to be shown in the newly refurbished pavilion until it was finally closed down a second time at the beginning of September, 1996. It was then that the new show films arrived and were installed, and the small billboard that currently sits out in front on the east side of the pavilion between Energy and Wonders of Life was erected advertising its original message: "COMING SOON TO THE UNIVERSE OF ENERGY: ELLEN'S ENERGY CRISIS - PRESENTED BY EXXON." The New Show Premiers Once the new films and audio tracks had been installed, the pavilion had its soft opening only two weeks later on September 15, 1996. During this "test and adjust" period, Imagineers tweaked the new show based on guest surveys and comments, as well as their own observations. Also during this time, certain parts of the film were edited out, and additional audio tracks were added in certain scenes after hearing guests' reactions to the show that "certain parts of the show didn't make sense." It was also during this time that the name of the new show was officially changed for reasons unknown from "Ellen's Energy Crisis," to "Ellen's Energy Adventure." After all of the bugs had been worked out by Imagineers during the soft opening period, the pavilion officially reopened in time for Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Celebration on October 1, 1996. As part of the opening festivities, Bill Nye the Science Guy and Alex Trebek were brought in to see the finished product and to help celebrate the rebirth of this classic Epcot attraction. New Signs The most recent rehab to the pavilion occurred in 2001 when walls suddenly appeared around the reflecting pool in front of the attraction in early August. When the walls finally came down a little over a month later, the pavilion sported brand new signage to reflect the new name of its long-time sponsor, ExxonMobil. Both the main marquee in the reflecting pool, as well as both of the smaller mirrored marquees located next to the front entry doors were replaced with brand new signs. The two illuminated "PRESENTED BY EXXON" signs that had adorned the side walls in the pre-show theater were also replaced during this time with new signs that now read "PRESENTED BY EXXONMOBIL." The Future of Energy What's next for the Universe of Energy pavilion? At this point, it's anybody's guess. Over the past several years, there has been a lot of inside talk among Energy cast members and Epcot management about a full sized gift shop being constructed inside of the pavilion's post show area. Talk has also been circulating about overhead shelters being constructed over the entry doors and around both sides of the reflecting pool to help keep guests queuing for the attraction shaded from the hot Florida sun, as well as dry in the event of a sudden downpour. The latest rumors indicate that Imagineering is already discussing possible replacements for the current "Ellen's Energy Adventure" show. Whether or not this will be a similar rehab to the one in '96 in which the films were replaced and only minor modifications were made to the pavilion, or whether this rumored rehab will be a much more extensive renovation in which the entire attraction (and possibly even the entire show building) would be replaced, is still unknown. But one thing is for certain. Although the Universe of Energy has undergone some major changes since in first opened over 20 years ago, it still remains one of Disney's most creative and innovative attractions of all time. Special Thanks We'd like to offer a special "thank you" to the anonymous benefactor who shared the rehab photos with us. For additional credits and information, visit our Credits page.