PHOTOS: Connections Cafe Will Feature a Major Nod to EPCOT History

You’ll often hear people mention how it’s “the little things” that make Disney World great.

Every single detail is expertly designed and crafted with such intention and purpose, it’s hard to not be amazed everywhere you look. With so much change taking place in EPCOT, we can expect that same level of detail and care to appear all throughout the new locations. And now, we learned about an insanely cool detail that will be part of the new Connections Cafe!

We’ve been learning a lot of new information about EPCOT’s newest restaurant, Connections Cafe and Eatery. We now know that Connections Cafe and Connections Eatery will be two distinct (yet attached) locations in World Celebration, and that Connections Cafe will be the future home of Starbucks.

But today, Imagineer Zach Riddley shared even more about the details of Connections Cafe, and we happen to think Walt would approve!

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A post shared by Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley)

Walt Disney’s original concept and site plans for EPCOT show that he wanted the Community of Tomorrow to be at the center of Walt Disney World, an idea that was ultimately scrapped after his passing.

That didn’t stop Disney Imagineers from honoring Walt’s original concept design in a pretty huge way at Connections Cafe — all over the floors!

The designs are first turned into a stencil made from 3D printed bio-polymer material, which is then placed onto the floor where concrete is poured around it, leaving a perfect impression of Walt’s original EPCOT layout.

If you love geeking out over vintage Disney details, you’ll appreciate all the detail and thought that went into these floors. Zach Riddley was so passionate about the idea that he came back with another Instagram post to share more details on how the spirit of EPCOT is infused in the design of the Connections Eatery.

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A post shared by Zach Riddley (@thezachriddley)

Riddley further explained how Imagineers designed a flooring inlay for Connections Eatery at EPCOT, sharing a photo of Walt’s Florida project master plan that inspired the design.

From there, the design was transformed into a pattern!

Riddley explained that one of his favorite details in the new flooring inlay is, “the intersection of I-4 and US 192 highways, represented by the orange lines which cut across the map.”

Without the backstory, guests might just see this new floor as a fun, abstract pattern, but there’s actually a lot of planning and intention behind the design!

We can’t wait until we’re finally able to see these iconic designs in person — Connections Cafe is scheduled to open this spring of 2022. Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney park news!

Disney’s Cultural Representative Program Is Coming Back to EPCOT!

What part of the EPCOT Transformation are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!