Flooring at Connections Cafe and Eatery draws inspiration from original Walt Disney World and EPCOT concepts and plans

Mar 28, 2022 in "Connections Café and Eatery"

Gallery / 6 Photos
Connections Café and Eatery flooring

Posted: Monday March 28, 2022 4:30pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared some new images of the flooring at EPCOT's upcoming Connections Cafe and Eatery.

In two posts on Instagram, Zach has shown how some of the early plans for the Florida project have served as inspiration for some intricate flooring designs in Connections Cafe.

Walt Disney describing his grand vision for the Florida project in 1967

Connections Café and Eatery flooring

Zach said, "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."

Connections Café and Eatery flooring

In this earlier post from last week, we got a sneak peek at another flooring design that uses the original plans for EPCOT as the inspiration.

Connections Café and Eatery flooring

Talking about the process of translating these plans into a finished floor, Zach said, "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."

Connections Café and Eatery flooring

Connections Cafe and Eatery, including the new EPCOT Starbucks, opens this spring.

One of the five entrances to Connections Cafe from the new walkway

Discuss on the Forums

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HakunamatataApr 10, 2024

One thing about connections I love is the openness of the kitchen area. Kids love watching what is going on behind the glass. May have to stop by after Hooligans play to try the new offering.

Cmdr_CrimsonApr 10, 2024

Anything lately from Connections Cafe.. This is why I miss Electric Umbrella..Simple and not complicated...

DisoneApr 10, 2024

It was pretty good. I am guessing it was just temporary during the flower and garden festival.

SplashJacketApr 10, 2024

Looks similar to the chicken sandwich at Country Bear in Disneyland (which is delicious).

tparrisApr 10, 2024

A new menu item has been added at Connections Eatery - Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich.

Epcot82GuyJul 06, 2023

I think it's a cool idea and very in line with Epcot. I'm only confused by the large focus on just this. If this was part of a series of 4 or 5 bakery items kinda like this (with cross-border appeal and history), it would be a huge identify and selling point for Connections. And maybe this is a test run for that. In short, good idea - hope it goes bigger.

BocabearJul 05, 2023

I did not know that...I am glad to see them doing something unique. Yay on that.

dreday3Jul 05, 2023

I agree. It's one of the only places in the country where you can get this and watch it being made! It's pretty cool.

Haymarket2008Jul 05, 2023

So confused by the reaction too. I think they’re doing a great job with Connections.

Sir_CliffJul 05, 2023

I think it's supposed to be a unique offering, isn't it? The sign says it's one of the few baumkuchen rotisserie ovens in the United States and the idea behind the Connections motif is how food connects people, so a German cake that has been adapted in Japan seems like a nice example to highlight and offer for purchase. Kind of puzzled at the reaction. Isn't this the sort of thing we wanted at Epcot?

tcool123Jul 05, 2023

I assume prep for a Food and Wine offering 🤷‍♂️

solidyneJul 05, 2023

Also, the three panels would have made more sense in reverse order. Or maybe creation-sensation-innovation. Actually what is Epcot's "innovation" here, if the snack already has been created and sensationalized elsewhere?

BocabearJul 05, 2023

but.....why is that the main subject of the bakery area at connections? Are they now selling these exclusively?

Sir_CliffJul 05, 2023

I do remember these from living in Germany! This is the kind of thing I hope is not too unfamiliar for WDW guests to survive as it at least adds some variety and keeps things interesting. The new signage and presentation of the bakery also looks good!