Originally Posted By brotherdave Just saw that Universe of Energy: Ellen's Energy Adventure will be closed from Jan 9 thru March 22. Also, the Backlot Tram Tour at DHS will be closed Jan 4 thru early March. According to Screamscape, they are supposedly installing a pre-recorded spiel to the trams during this downtime. Anyone know more about either??? Is Ellen possibly being replaced at UoE, or just going 'seasonal' due to cost cuts?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Believe it's because the ride is falling apart ... but management will enjoy taking a savings in staffing it.
Originally Posted By MPierce Why even bother with the Backlot Tour. That just needs to be replaced with something else. It's like riding through a junk yard when you look at the vehicles from the different movies.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Are these normally shut down at this time of year? Or is it a really bad sign?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros If these are in fact refurbs to make them better experiences (or at least restored to what they once were), I welcome them whole-heartedly. If they are just closing them for a couple months to save on staffing costs, I really question how bad it's gotten for WDW. I really don't see UOE as being one of those attractions that uses a ton of CM's each day. And the tram tour may not be the best attraction out there, but it still has a fairly large draw, as it is a studio-esque-themed-kinda park. It's just one of those things that people automatically expect to be open, so they should limit its down time as much as possible, no matter how people on the boards may feel about it.
Originally Posted By ExpDave I would have loved to have seen the original UOE as well as other original EPCOT attractions, but Ellen just doesen't do anything for me. I saw it once with a handful of other people and have no interest in seeing it again. I don't see UOE attracting a ton of guests either. Maybe it's time put in an energy themed coaster or something.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Also, the Backlot Tram Tour at DHS will be closed Jan 4 thru early March. According to Screamscape, they are supposedly installing a pre-recorded spiel to the trams during this downtime. >>> Putting in the pre-recorded spiel is clearly being done to reduce labor costs. Although, no doubt someone here will claim that it's actually being done to benefit the guest experience. <<< Ellen just doesen't do anything for me. I saw it once with a handful of other people and have no interest in seeing it again. >>> I just saw it for the first time last year, and felt the same way. Although it's currently not sponsored by anyone, and I knew nothing about it before riding, by the time I got off it, I asked the person I was with "That was put together by an oil company, wasn't it?" The way it tried so hard to be "fair and balanced" on the surface while pushing an agenda was just too hard to hide. Not for the agenda reason, but just in general, I have very little interest in riding it again. Perhaps on a hot summer day when I was tired, I might feel differently. The ride system had so much potential - when we first started moving, I was expecting much more. But there basically was one ride-through scene and then a couple of theaters that might have well been a single one if not for the requirement to cycle people through. It just seemed a bit odd to me.
Originally Posted By Mr X Trust me, SD, if you even saw the SUPER boring original you'd feel even MORE strongly you were at an oil company orientation program..even PRIOR to having been seated! Yawn. Sorry, ExpD..I find the new version, while still boring, at least partially tolerable because Ellen is a pretty amusing chick (imho).
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad We rode UOE 2 years ago. I remember getting off and thinking, what a great beginning with the dinosaurs and stuff, but then it just went boring. My kids started off looking at everything wide eyed and finished with their chins in their hands. It just needs a more stimulating show.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad >>>Why even bother with the Backlot Tour. That just needs to be replaced with something else. It's like riding through a junk yard when you look at the vehicles from the different movies<<<..................................................................................We still like this attraction. The prop room is one of Disney's hidden gems (but they need to allow more time for exploring it). This year there was a nearly lifesize wooden horse from Mulan. The war simulation is fun and the flooding burning tanker truck set is well worth the wait to see. All these things are well done................................. But it is disheartening to see the sad shape of the movie props left out to weather on the backlot. Many are in such bad shape that you can't picture how they were used in a movie anymore. They should be refurbed and maintained to stand as shining examples of the wizardry and innovation that goes into set and prop design. By letting them sit out there and rust they are telling the guest, " Hey here's some worthless junk we towed over here and left that you can look at if you want to." While well maintained set pieces would transport your mind back to the movies where you saw them in use. You would think that Disney of all people would understand the importance of history! If these props are beyond help, then bring in new props and build proper shelter for them. I'm sure Disney has plenty of movie props lying around ! This attraction should be a major draw. It's hard to understand why such and easy to fix area would be so neglected. Don't close it. Fix it. If you fix it we will come.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << This year there was a nearly lifesize wooden horse from Mulan. >> How do you have props on display from an animated movie?
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad >>>How do you have props on display from an animated movie?<<< ..................................................................................... Art imitating life. LOL
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Trust me, SD, if you even saw the SUPER boring original you'd feel even MORE strongly you were at an oil company orientation program..even PRIOR to having been seated! Yawn. Sorry, ExpD..I find the new version, while still boring, at least partially tolerable because Ellen is a pretty amusing chick (imho).< I'd agree with this and I am a museum geek - so I liked the first version just fine...but do think Ellen infused a little energy into it and that was good. For whatever reason though it seems dated - maybe an update or maybe it's jsut because I've seen it so often.
Originally Posted By hightp At 40 minutes the UOE ride is way too long, and from the look at the attendance when we were there, last year, a lot of park goers know it. I'd like to see the original theather split into some kind of interactive display, then the dinosaur world be a walk through, ending back at the interactive displays, and gift shop. It would make the show more enjoyable. For the backlot tour, even putting lables on a few things would help.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The problem with adding Ellen and Alex Trebec and Jamie Lee Curtis and all the others to 'The Universe of Energy' is that the actors start to look dated as time wears on. A few more years, and the fashions are going to start looking clunky -- maybe they already are -- and even hair styles and make-up start to look 'off.' I would agree the original got a bit tedious, but I do miss that opening film with the moving movie screen -- remember that? -- with the changing designs and stuff -- and the theme song.
Originally Posted By danyoung >... but I do miss that opening film with the moving movie screen...< That was the most amazing display of coordination between moving screen elements and movie design that I had ever seen. I was TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED when they took that out! Other than that, I like the Ellen version much better than the original, and still manage to hit it at least once a trip.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<and the theme song>> Dumping the theme songs from the EPCOT attractions was a big mistake. The songs gave people an emotional tie to the rides that they could take with them when they left. For those of us that got to experience EPCOT's glory days, who doesn't remember Listen to the Land, or It's Fun to Be Free, or the Universe of Energy theme? Disney should really consider a return to attractions with theme songs for EPCOT.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA ^^agreed plpeters70. That suite of music that played in Communicore took pieces of all the theme songs in Future World and World Showcase, and created that wonderful background for EPCOT Center. Seems like the trend away from theme songs tied in with the smugness of things like 'Shrek' and shows like 'The Simpsons' -- where theme parks are mocked and ridiculed. Even within Disney, a classic show like 'Tiki Room: Under New Management' steps back from the original and pokes fun -- even in 'The Lion King' 'It's a Small World' is mocked as one of the most horrifying songs. Flash forward to California Adventure -- 'Golden Dreams' and 'Seasons of the Vine' both had terrific theme songs, but are now both gone. And instead of a stirring suite of music in the 'Sunshine Plaza', we get a 'Top 40 California Songs' line up of pop tunes.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>Putting in the pre-recorded spiel is clearly being done to reduce labor costs. Although, no doubt someone here will claim that it's actually being done to benefit the guest experience.<<< Well, if they do put the monitors in, this could be a plus. Due to the language issues we have a wonderful use of monitors on our tram tour with Jeremy Irons in English, Juliette Binnoche in French, Issabella Rosselini in Italian, and other stars from Germany, Portugal and Spain. They do show clips of films and show how the effects are done. It really does plus it over WDW's, so while maybe a little cheaper, it actually is more entertaining too.
