Universe of Energy

## Universe of Energy/Ellen's Energy Adventure

**Universe of Energy** is a defunct attraction in EPCOT which was replaced by similar attraction **Ellen's Energy Adventure**. The *Universe of Energy* pavilion was later used for *Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind* which contains various allusions to its predecessors.

## History

### Backstory

Universe of Energy revolved around the *Universe of Energy* pavilion in Florida's *Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow* or, "Epcot". The purpose of this pavilion was to educate Epcot-goers on the nature of energy. Ellen's Energy Adventure followed the same premise albeit forcing guests to follow the narrative of then-popular comedian Ellen DeGenerous recount a weird dream she had where she played the game-show Jeopardy against her high school rival and needed to be explained energy from children's entertainer, "Bill Nye the Science Guy".

### Development history

Universe of Energy was one of EPCOT's opening day attractions. The centre-piece of the attraction was its highly inaccurate diorama of audio-animatronic prehistoric animals, inspired by the *Rite of Spring* segment of the Disney film Fantasia (1940). In 1996, the attraction was reimagined as, "Ellen's Energy Adventure", revolving around 1990s performers Ellen DeGenerous and Bill Nye the Science Guy. The attraction maintained its primeval diorama albeit with the addition of a crude audio-animatronic Ellen DeGenerous fighting a serpentine creature.

Ellen'S Energy Adventure was closed on the August 13th of 2017 to make way for *Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind*. By this point in time, *Ellen's Energy Adventure* was considered a laughably awkward and dated attraction, increased by its titular star's fall from public grace.

## Marvel connections

### Disney Traders

There is a promotional travel banner in this EPCOT shop for the Savage Land, a location from Marvel Comics inhabited by various prehistoric animals. On the poster is a green sauropod with its head sticking out of the greenery, which is likely a tribute to the edaphosaurus which appeared in the defunct Universe of Energy.

### Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

The Universe of Energy Pavilion is regarded as a previous tenant replaced by the Xandarian Outpost. On Good Morning Xandar, Star-Lord implies he went on the attraction child and comedically proclaims that he wants to see, "The Energy Dinosaurs". Xandarian codes on beams of the Nova Ship read, "ELLEN", "ALEX" (referencing the late Alex Trebek who appeared in Ellen's Energy Adventure), "E=MC Squared" (referencing Albert Einstein who was a character in Ellen's Energy Adventure), and, "DINO".

An electric-guitar version of the Universe of Energy theme-song plays from the Milano early in the ride. Drax refers to the Big Bang as the, "Ding Dang". This is a reference to the defunct attraction Ellen's Energy Adventure which Cosmic Rewind replaced where Ellen Degenerous mistakenly refers to the Big Bang by the same term.

## Trivia

* Universe of Energy and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are both Disney attractions which were replaced by Guardians of the Galaxy themed attractions that contained allusions to their predecessors.

## References

1. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2023/02/marvel-themed-travel-poster-banners-installed-in-disney-traders-at-epcot/
2. ↑ https://blogmickey.com/2022/05/guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind-easter-eggs/
3. ↑ https://allears.net/2022/05/05/the-big-easter-eggs-to-look-for-on-epcots-guardians-of-the-galaxy-cosmic-rewind/