Ellen's Energy Adventure

Ellen's Energy Adventure Review

Comedian Ellen DeGeneres portrays a woman who dreams she's a contestant on Jeopardy! only to discover that all the categories involve a subject she knows nothing about—energy. Her challengers on the show, hosted by Alex Trebek himself, are Ellen's know-it-all former college roommate (played to the irritating hilt by Jamie Lee Curtis) and Albert Einstein. Enter Bill Nye, the Science Guy, Ellen's nice neighbor and all-around science whiz, who guides Ellen (and you) in a crash Energy 101 course.

First comes the history of the universe—in one minute—on three 70-millimeter screens, 157 feet wide by 32 feet tall. Next the theater separates into six 96-passenger vehicles that lurch into a primeval forest. Huge trees loom out of the mists of time, ominous blue moonbeams waver in the fog, sulfurous lava burbles up, and the air smells of Swamp Thing. Through this landscape, apatosauruses wander trailing mouthfuls of weeds, a tyrannosaurus fights it out with a triceratops, pterodactyls swoop through the air, and a truly nasty sea snake emerges from the swamp to threaten the left side of the tram. A terrified Ellen is even cornered by a menacing elasmosaurus.

The ride concludes with another film in which Ellen learns about the world's present-day energy needs, resources, and concerns. It's shown on three screens, each 30 feet tall, 74 feet wide, and curved to create a 200-degree range of vision. Does Ellen win in her Jeopardy! dream? You'll have to travel back in time for the answer. For people with disabilities: This attraction is accessible to guests using standard wheelchairs and those who can transfer to them. Equipped for assisted-listening, handheld-captioning, and attraction-description devices. To experience the primeval landscape unspoiled by rows of modern heads, sit in the seats to the far left and front of the theater; to get these, position yourself similarly in the preshow area.