Purpose
The intent of this project was to re-purpose the Universe of Energy attraction and show building at Disney's Epcot theme park while also preserving some of the elements and informative nature of the current Ellen's Energy Adventure attraction.
Currently, Ellen's Energy Adventure occupies the space of the Universe of Energy pavilion and is a 45-minute slow-moving dark ride that takes Guests through the fascinating history of energy, starring Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Over the recent months, this attraction has received negative publicity for it's lengthy ride time, outdated special effects and ride system, and overall lack of appeal. The solution to this problem comes in the form of replacing Ellen's Energy Adventure with a new attraction, Energy and You. Energy and You is a dark ride that will enable Guests to embark on an adventure through the history and evolution of energy. The story will begin as soon as guests enter the queue line, where they will be waiting for their tour of the Universe of Energy, a Renewable Energy Research and Testing Facility, to commence. Unlike its predecessor, Energy and You will attract Guests who are looking for an attraction with a shorter duration and an element of thrill. Guests will board an "Energy Cruiser" during their tour of the Universe of Energy. It is in the Energy Cruiser that Guests will experience high speeds, sudden acceleration, spinning, dropping, tilting, and other jarring actions. |
Design
In addition to the reflecting pool and fountain, the outdoor area will also be scattered with tree and flowers to give the space a more eco-friendly appearance. With this in mind, the front facade will also feature two scaled-down, fully-functional wind turbines and the roof of the building will be complete with several solar panels. The energy generated by the wind turbines and solar panels will then be used to help in providing power to the attraction. The attraction will not be self-sufficient on the wind turbines and solar panels alone, but the inclusion of alternative energy sources fits in with the overall theme of the attraction.
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Exterior
From the exterior, the show building will remain structurally the same. The current reflecting pool will be remodeled to better fit the theme of this futuristic energy attraction. The pool will feature a water fountain and there will be plenty of seating available around the base of the pool. The fabrication of the exterior walls will also be changed by replacing the current fabrication with natural wood and stone. Overall, the outdoor area will feel much more open than the current layout. |
If the need ever arises, an extended queue section may be utilized to accommodate Guests during higher capacity times of the year. Contrary to the standby queue, the Fastpass+ queue will not feature interactive elements, largely in part due to the Guests' limited amount of time spent in this line. However, this area will still be highly themed to fit the story.
The Fastpass+ queue will feature a widened path, compared to the standby queue, minimal turns in path direction, and also a wall-length mural showcasing various ways to help energy conservation efforts. At the end of each queue line, the two will merge onto the ride loading platform where an attraction host/hostess will usher the Guests onto the ride. |
Queue Line
As you enter the queue line, you will immediately be immersed within the story of the attraction. There will be various interactive elements scattered throughout the standby queue section, such as games and trivia questions with the goal of educating the Guests on the world's energy usage. There are dedicated areas throughout the standby queue where there is no path; these areas are designated for interactive show elements. |
Overall, the vehicle design is simplistic yet futuristic, matching the overall theme of the ride. The purpose of the Energy Cruiser is to provide guests a means of transportation as they tour the Universe of Energy, Renewable Energy Research and Test Facility. Each vehicle is capable of transporting twelve (12) Guests, whom all must be securely fastened by a seat belt restraint system before the vehicle will begin motion. The vehicle itself is propelled by the use of rolling tires. The tires are independent of a motion-based platform that controls much of the ride vehicle's wide range of motion. The motion-based platform provides the vehicle with the ability to spin, tilt, drop, and shake riders throughout the experience, all in sequence with what is currently taking place in the story.
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Ride Vehicle
As you make your way to the end the queue line, the attraction host/hostess will group you and your party together and send you to the load/unload dock. It is here that you will see you Energy Cruiser pull up, ready to welcome you aboard. This ride vehicle is electronically powered and does not follow a track, but rather it is an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), which relies on the placement of a wire in the concrete of the attraction's floor. The Energy Cruiser is equipped with various sensors on the undercarriage to detect and follow this wire for successful navigation. |