There are many new experiences coming to Walt Disney World in the coming months and one of the most anticipated is the Connections Café and Eatery restaurant coming to EPCOT.
In this post, we are going to explain everything you need to know about Connections Café and Eatery. We are going to share with you all the details we have so far including the opening, menu items, prices, and much more!
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Table of Contents
Connections Café and Eatery Overview
- Location: EPCOT Park, World Celebration
- Status: Under Construction
- Opening: April 27, 2022
- Type: Quick Service Dining
- Price: $-$$
- Cuisine Type: Burgers, Pizza, Salads
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Dress Code: Theme Park Attire
We’ve got a bunch of new info from the latest Disney announcements, and nothing makes us more excited than hearing more new restaurants are coming to Walt Disney World!
And it just so happens that a brand new quick service restaurant has is coming to EPCOT called: “Connections Café and Eatery.”
With the opening right around the corner, we have been learning more details about Connections Café and Eatery. For starters, this is really two restaurants in one as it is split into the “Café” section and the “Eatery.”
The Café is the new home of Starbucks in EPCOT since the old location at Traveler’s Café in World Showcase is now closed. Obviously, it doesn’t make sense for there to be two Starbucks in EPCOT and the current location was always temporary until this new location was built.
Instead, the Eatery is a traditional quick service restaurant serving international cuisine, embracing cultures from around the world.
Connections Café and Eatery is located in the new World Celebration after the rearranging of EPCOT which is split into 4 different neighborhoods. It’s in the old location where the old Electric Umbrella called home for many years, but obviously with a bunch of changes to the building.
The Electric Umbrella served classic theme park food like hot dogs and burgers, and this new location is also serving burgers and the like, although with an international twist (as much as burgers can be international).
I don’t know how high it will land on our list of the best quick service restaurants in EPCOT, but the potential is there if done right.
Full Menu Food & Drinks Photos
With Connections Café and Eatery opening soon, Disney has revealed the full menus for the restaurant and everything looks delicious.
The interesting thing about this restaurant is the guests can see the chefs in action as they are putting the finishing touches on desserts and watch as pizza makers make the dough. This certainly is different than your standard quick service restaurant where the majority of the items are pre-packaged.
As Disney says: “the purpose of Connections Eatery is to show us how food has the power to bring us together if we open our minds (and our stomachs)!”
We now have a first look at the entire menu. This is just a brief look at the menu, our full review will come when the restaurant opens in EPCOT. Let’s take a Look:
Burgers
I know what you are thinking…more burgers in a theme park restaurant. Real unique. These burgers are not your run-of-the-mill cheeseburgers though, each having a unique and international style.
The French Bistro Burger comes with caramelized onions, bacon, and brie:
The Southwestern Burger features a roasted chipotle-corn salsa and guacamole spread:
The Banh Mi Burger is inspired by Vietnamese cuisine and it looks amazing.
The Greek-inspired Mediterranean Burger comes with Pickled Vegetable and Feta Relish, Zhoug Mayonnaise, Housemade Doner Bread
Pizza
A classic almost anyone can get behind is pizza, and the Connections Café and Eatery has 4 types of pizza to choose from.
The Meatball Pizza is a classic pizza option here:
The Curry Spice Pizza topped with carrots, potato, peas, and lime “yogurt” puts a new plant-based twist on the classic pizza
Other flavors include Pepperoni Pizza and Five-Cheese Pizza.
Salads
If you don’t feel like a burger or pizza there are some lighter salads available inspired by French and Chinese cuisines.
For an Asian flare, get the General Tso Chicken Salad featuring ingredients like broccoli slaw, red bell pepper, mandarin oranges, and crispy wontons
the Niçoise-style Salad is packed with potatoes, white and green beans, and olives drizzled with a delicious Dijon vinaigrette
Kid’s Menu
Kid’s Menu options include a Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Bao, Chicken Nuggets Basket, or Five-Cheese Pizza.
Dessert
The Liege Waffle sounds really tasty as it’s made with brioche dough and topped with pearl sugar, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce.
Drinks
There are plenty of drinks on the menu including shakes, beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and soft drinks.
The Apple Pie Gelato Shake
The Mango-Coconut Milk Shake is topped with a pomegranate molasses drizzle and a perfect option for a non-dairy shake.
The Watermelon-Mint Agua Fresca is alcohol-free so the whole family can enjoy it together!
The Cucumber and Thai Basil Cooler is one of the specialty cocktails:
Keep in mind that this will be the new Starbucks location in EPCOT so you can also get all your favorite coffee drinks too.
Keep reading for a look at more details for the restaurant and the full menu with prices, as well as a review once it opens.
Opening Date
After seeing all that good food, now you are asking: “When will Connections Café and Eatery open in EPCOT?”
Disney has revealed that Connections Café and Eatery is opening on April 27, 2022.
The front half of EPCOT is lacking in quick service options at the moment, and this is a most welcome addition and better for guests. We absolutely can’t wait to try it when it opens.
Right now we are in the middle of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration, and Disney needs more dining options in the front area of EPCOT as soon as possible.
It will be a centerpiece of the EPCOT transformation project, especially at World Celebration.
To make sure you’re notified of any updates for the Connections Café and Eatery, we recommend signing up for our free newsletter, where we’ll let you know as soon as we have an opening date along with other Disney World planning updates. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!
Theme/Setting
Besides great food, having an awesome theme really takes any good Disney World restaurant to the next level, and that’s what Disney is trying to do with Connections Café and Eatery. In fact, the Connections Café and Eatery is inspired by Walt Disney’s original “Florida Project” and the original plans for EPCOT, and you can see that in the style throughout the restaurant.
The restaurant is split into two parts all in the same building. One side serves lunch and dinner, the other side is a pastry shop and café open all day long.
The first thing you notice about the dining space is how big and open it is. The perimeter is filled with floor-to-ceiling windows giving plenty of light and offering guests incredible views of EPCOT outside.
One of the highlights of the restaurant is its colorful mural spanning one entire wall. This mural is named “Global Gathering” and shows people from all over the world gathering together to eat food. It’s also one of the largest murals that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created.
Take some time to look at the details of this scene which blends from sunrise to sunset.
Another highlight of the restaurant are the three show kitchens. These are great for watching the chefs while they are grilling, sautéing, and baking your food.
There is also an interesting display set up on one of the walls showing various coffee and tea pots from around the world. This is a great idea and we can’t want to see how the different cultures enjoy their favorite drinks.
Lastly, and our favorite feature in the new restaurant is the three original floor inlays inspired by Walt’s 1966 “Florida Project” site plans. This is a cool way to honor the park’s history, while moving into the future.
Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley recently shared some background behind the theming here on his Instagram page as well as some of the photos of work during the construction.
He said: “Disney fans may recognize this first image from the EPCOT film, released in 1967, as Walt Disney described his grand vision for the “Florida Project.” Standing proudly with pointer in hand, Walt relayed with great enthusiasm details on the early master plan for “Disney World,” including an “airport of the future,” an entrance complex for visitors, an industrial park and an area reserved for theme parks at the north of the property.“
“Walt passed away very soon after articulating this vision, but the spirit of his concept – that Walt Disney World and EPCOT would be a place where the power of possibility would inspire the world – lived on.“
“That idea is alive today and continues to inform our design choices for EPCOT. Drawing inspiration from Walt’s Florida project master plan, Imagineers designed a flooring inlay for Connections Eatery at EPCOT which would infuse the original DNA of the resort into this new location within World Celebration.
One of my favorite details is the intersection of I-4 and US 192 highways, represented by the orange lines which cut across the map. Linework showing original ideas for EPCOT, Magic Kingdom and other recreational amenities reflect the diversity and scale that has always been the guiding vision for Walt Disney World.“
“Many guests may not know the origin of this design. But these details, big and small, matter to the work we do – reflecting our own history and bridging our past to our future. Walt dreamed of a place that would connect the world through ideas, wonder and inspiration. And we are honored to reflect his vision in our design for World Celebration and for Connections Café and Eatery.“
“EPCOT is full of iconic shape language that evokes grand ideas about cities, innovation and the potential for design to make the world a better, more integrated place. These iconic EPCOT designs were evident as far back as Walt’s original site plans for the Florida project, where EPCOT was to serve as the literal and conceptual “center” of Walt Disney World, where one could live, learn and experience innovations that would later come to define everyday life as we know it.“
“In the new Connections Café and Eatery, guests will discover detailed flooring designs (yes, more flooring ?) that pay homage to the radial layout and celebrate the purposeful geometry and organic symmetry of EPCOT. As you swipe here, you can see various stages of the process, from the linework to a near-finished product just prior to its final buffing.“
“These designs are created with a sustainable bio-polymer material which is 3-D printed to provide an intricate template. That linework is then laid out by skilled craftspeople to create inlays in the poured flooring material, with the final design revealed through rounds of sanding and buffing, where classic and cutting-edge techniques meet.“
Price
Since Connections Café and Eatery is a quick service restaurant, it will be one of the cheaper places to eat in EPCOT and affordable for everyone. It is listed in the $ range which means $10-$20 per person depending on what you order.
Connections Café & Eatery Menu:
*(Last Updated 4/22/22) – If you have any Menu updates or corrections please let us know!
Lunch/Dinner Menu:
Burgers & Chicken
French Bistro Burger
Gourmet Beef Blend, Caramelized Onions, Bacon, Brie, Mushrooms, Dijon Mayonnaise, Toasted Brioche Bun
$12.99
Southwestern Burger
Gourmet Beef Blend, Roasted Corn-Chipotle Salsa, Oaxaca Cheese Crema, Chamoy, Guacamole Spread, Toasted Bun
$12.99
American Classic Burger
Gourmet Beef Blend, Lettuce, Pickle, Tomato, Cheddar, Roasted Garlic Spread, Toasted Bun
$11.99
Banh Mi Burger
Miso-marinated Gourmet Beef Blend, Pickled Vegetables, Sriracha Mayonnaise, Soft Sub Roll
$11.99
Hand-breaded Chicken Sandwich
House-made Pickles, Signature Sauce, Toasted Brioche Bun
$11.99
Mediterranean Burger
Gourmet Beef Blend, Shredded Lettuce, Pickled Vegetable and Feta Relish, Zhoug Mayonnaise, Housemade Doner Bread
$11.99
Pizza
Meatball Pizza
Beef and Pork Meatballs, San Marzano Tomato and Basil Sauce, Cheese Blend, served with Mediterranean Side Salad
$10.99
Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni, San Marzano Tomato, and Basil Sauce, Cheese Blend, served with Mediterranean Side Salad
$10.99
Five-Cheese Pizza
San Marzano Tomato and Basil Sauce, Cheese Blend, served with Mediterranean Side Salad
$10.49
Curry Spice Pizza
Tikka Masala, Carrot, Potato, Peas, Tomato, Plant-based Mozzarella, Lime “Yogurt”, served with Mediterranean Side Salad
$10.99
Salads
General Tso Chicken Salad
Petite Kale Blend, Broccoli Slaw, Red Bell Pepper, Mandarin Oranges, Edamame, Crispy Wontons, Warm Fried Chicken, General Tso’s Dressing
$11.49
Niçoise-style Salad
Crispy Mixed Greens, Wedged Potatoes, Tomatoes, Green Beans, Olives, White Beans, Dijon Vinaigrette (Plant-based)
$10.29
Sides
Coleslaw
$4.49
French Fries
$4.49
Mediterranean Side Salad
$3.79
A Cuties® Mandarin
$1.99
Kid’s Meals
Cheeseburger
Served with choice of two Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI® Bottled Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitutions
$7.99
Grilled Chicken Bao
Served with choice of two Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI® Bottled Water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitutions
$7.49
Chicken Nuggets Basket
Served with choice of two Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI® Bottled Water
$7.99
Five-Cheese Pizza
Served with choice of two Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI® Bottled Water
$7.49
Dessert
Liege Waffle
Brioche Dough with Pearl Sugar, Strawberries, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Sauce
$5.29
Shakes
Apple Pie Gelato Shake
$7.29
Mango-Coconut Milk Shake
Topped with Pomegranate-Molasses Drizzle
$7.29
Beer
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA – Tampa, FL
20-oz Draft – This bigger brother to the Pale Ale employs a significant amount of Hops with high bitterness and Citrus and Floral aromas
$10.00
Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider – Cincinnati, OH
20-oz Draft – Sweet and refreshing, a favorite since Colonial times
$9.25
Yuengling Traditional Lager – Pottsville, PA
20-oz Draft – Fuller flavored with a higher malt presence than Pale Lagers
$8.75
Bud Light Lager – St. Louis, MO
20-oz Draft – Golden colored with flavors that are dry, clean, crisp and refreshing with subtle bitterness
$8.25
Wine
Acrobat Pinot Noir, Oregon
5-oz Glass of Pinot Noir – Flavors of ripe strawberry and dark chocolate, with notes of cherry, cinnamon, and vanilla on the nose
$13.00
Broadside Cabernet Sauvignon, California
5-oz Glass of Cabernet Sauvignon – Flavors of plum and dark chocolate with aromas of strawberry and cedar
$11.00
Hess Shirtail Creek Chardonnay, California
5-oz Glass of Chardonnay – Crisp acidity with notes of green apple and tropical fruit
$11.00
Rainstorm Pinot Noir Rosé, Oregon
5-oz Glass of Pinot Noir Rosé – Vibrate pink hue with notes of strawberry, rose petal, and pomegranate on the nose
$11.00
Specialty Cocktails
Cucumber and Thai Basil Cooler
Hendrick’s Gin, Cucumber, Cane Sugar, Lemon, Thai Basil, Ginger Bitters
$14.00
Watermelon-Mint Agua Fresca (non-alcoholic)
$4.99
Dining Plan
As of right now, we do not know whether the Disney Dining Plan will be accepted at Connections Café and Eatery, Disney hasn’t announced that yet.
When the Disney Dining Plan comes back, Connections Café and Eatery will likely accept the Disney Dining Plan and be a Quick Service Dining Credit restaurant.
Discounts
- Tables in Wonderland – TBD
- WDW Annual Passholder – TBD
- Disney Vacation Club – TBD
- Disney Rewards VISA – TBD
Disney has not yet announced what kind of discounts will be available at the new Connections Café and Eatery restaurant. Most quick service restaurants in Disney World don’t have any discounts and we expect that to be the same here so don’t count on the standard 10% Annual Passholder Discount or a 20% Tables in Wonderland Discount.
Location/Directions
Connections Café and Eatery is located in World Celebration, in the front half of EPCOT. It’s in the old Electric Umbrella location and right next door to the new Creations Shop and near Club Cool.
The new Starbucks is the “Café” part of the name Connections Café and Eatery, and shares the same interior space as the traditional quick service restaurant, just on a different side of the room.
Hours of Operation
Disney has not yet announced the hours of operation for Connections Café and Eatery. Right now it appears it will be open for all 2 meals per day, Lunch and Dinner, and with no Breakfast option. Until EPCOT starts opening up in time for breakfast it doesn’t really make sense they would serve it here.
An estimate of Connections Café and Eatery’s hours:
- Breakfast: Not Open
- Lunch: 10:30 am – 4:25 pm
- Dinner: 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Mobile Order
Like all quick service restaurants, Disney’s Mobile Order service is a big part of how guests get food at Connections Café and Eatery. It allows you to order your food ahead of time and skip the line.
You won’t have to worry about getting an Advanced Dining Reservation in Disney World here since that isn’t necessary for a quick-service restaurant.
If you are trying to avoid long waits, it’s always a good idea to book your trip around one of the least crowded times of the year in Disney World to minimize wait times for restaurants or attractions.
Must-Try Food/Drinks at Connections Café & Eatery
The new Connections Café and Eatery is not open yet. Once it opens we will let you know what the must-try food items and drinks are.
Connections Café & Eatery FAQs
Yes, it is. Connections Café & Eatery officially opened on April 27, 2022, and you can visit on your next trip to EPCOT.
Connections Café and Eatery serves similar food you would find at any quick service restaurant in a theme park but with an international flair.
Review
The Connections Café & Eatery restaurant is not yet open in EPCOT. When it opens we will bring you a full review of all the food and drinks, plus a detailed look at the restaurant’s atmosphere and theming.
We hope you enjoyed this look at the new Connections Café & Eatery restaurant. Keep checking back here at Ziggy Knows Disney as we will be adding any new info as it comes out.
In the meantime, check out our Disney World Restaurant Review page for a closer look at all the restaurants. Be sure to read our list of the Best Disney World Restaurants for our full rankings of all the top places to eat on your trip.
If you are going to Disney World soon, make sure to read our Disney World Planning Guide for all the tips and info you will need to cover everything! Also, check out our Disney World Crowd Calendar so you know when the best time to visit is!
Your Thoughts:
I want to know what you think about the new Connections Café & Eatery restaurant coming to EPCOT…
- Are you looking forward to this new restaurant?
- What type of food would you like to be served?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.