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Every aspect of the Universe Of Energy, from the pre-show to the theater seats that turn into cars to the amazingly realistic Audio-animatronic dinosaurs, makes it one of my all-time Walt Disney World favorites. After experiencing it for the first time, I remember being absolutely blown away by the technological genius of the Disney “Imagineers” and consider it one of the absolute Must See Orlando vacation attractions.
The educational, yet thoroughly entertaining pre-show movie at the Universe Of Energy features Ellen DeGeneres, who falls asleep while watching “Jeopardy.” She dreams she is a contestant on the game show but the dream becomes more of a nightmare when she realizes that the returning champion is her college nemesis - Dr. Judy Patterson, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. “Smart Judy” is not her only formidable opponent, however. To make matters worse, the third competitor on the show is none other than Dr. Albert Einstein. Worse still, all of the categories on the game show are energy-related and Ellen knows nothing at all about energy.
Fortunately, Bill Nye “The Science Guy” is Ellen’s neighbor in her game show dream. He puts Ellen through a crash course lesson on the basics of energy and where it comes from. To do this, he takes Ellen (and the audience) back to the beginning of the Universe and the formation of fossil fuels on this planet. The entire 600 seat Universe Of Energy theater begins to rotate and break up, creating six huge 97 passenger vehicles. When the walls of the theater open up, the “cars” begin a journey into the past and your Orlando vacation takes a sudden change of course to a place and time when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
The cool clammy air, the prehistoric flora, the sounds and scenes of enormous Audio-animatronic dinosaurs and even an erupting volcano immerse visitors to the Universe Of Energy in a total sensory experience. A nervous Ellen makes this a humorous adventure throughout the ride.
After leaving behind the prehistoric scenes, the vehicles at the Universe Of Energy reassemble themselves into “theater seat mode” and a final movie presentation is made on a 200-degree field of vision movie screen. Here, Ellen learns about the present  and future energy needs of the world and the various alternative energy sources that may be employed by generations to come.
The Universe Of Energy is truly Disney at it’s best and the entire experience lasts about 45 minutes, with new shows beginning every 17 minutes. Be sure to snap a few pictures outside of the building in front of the dinosaur topiaries. No Orlando vacation photo album would be complete without them!
Did You Know?
- The dinosaur topiaries that are seen outside of the Universe Of Energy building are from New York city’s Rockefeller Center, where they were part of a flower festival. Considering the harsh winter climate they would have had to endure in New York, I’m sure they really appreciate their extended Orlando vacation!
- The ride portion of the Universe Of Energy is powered by the nearly two acres of solar panels that are on the roof of the Universe of Energy building.
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