EPCOT has removed the breezeway seating area near Connections Café, eliminating tables, benches, and umbrellas from the outdoor corridor between Connections Café and Creations Shop. The removal affects one of the park’s busiest areas but helps runDisney participants navigate the upcoming Princess Half Marathon Weekend races.
The seating should return after March 2, 2026, once the runDisney weekend concludes.
Why It Was Removed From Disney
The breezeway seating was originally introduced as a temporary solution to high demand for indoor seating at Connections Café. When the eatery first opened, interior seating often reached capacity within minutes of lunch rush, leading Disney to install outdoor furniture for overflow crowds.
Several factors led to removal in early 2026:
Crowd flow optimization has become a priority with CommuniCore Hall and Plaza fully open. The breezeway serves as a major artery for guests moving between World Discovery, home to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and the front of the park. Removing furniture prevents bottlenecks during peak attendance.
The shift to CommuniCore consolidated leisure infrastructure into the nearby CommuniCore area, specifically designed to handle festival crowds with permanent seating solutions including indoor air-conditioned spaces and outdoor areas under geometric canopy shade.
Festival layouts also influenced the decision. During events like Flower & Garden Festival starting March 4, these spaces are reclaimed for topiaries, character meet-and-greets like Lightning McQueen and Mater, or floral installations requiring clear sight lines.
The runDisney Factor
The timing coinciding with Princess Half Marathon Weekend is significant. The 5K on February 28, 10K on March 1, and Princess Half Marathon on March 2 all route runners through World Celebration using the breezeway corridor.
Without furniture creating obstacles, runners can move through more efficiently and safely, reducing collision risks with tables or chairs that could cause injuries or dangerous pile-ups in pre-dawn darkness when races begin.
After March 2 when Princess Half Marathon Weekend concludes, Disney should theoretically be able to reinstall seating, though other factors including Flower & Garden Festival preparations may prevent immediate furniture return.
Where to Sit Instead at Disney
Several alternatives exist for guests who previously relied on breezeway seating:
CommuniCore Hall, located directly across from Connections’ back exit, offers air-conditioned indoor seating and outdoor benches under plaza shade, providing more comfortable environments than exposed breezeway tables.
World Celebration Gardens features built-in benches and planters with scenic Spaceship Earth views, though shade availability varies throughout the day.
The Odyssey Pavilion between Test Track and Mexico Pavilion provides massive indoor space frequently open during festivals, almost always cooler and quieter than Connections Café.
Journey of Water pathways offer several nooks less chaotic than main dining corridors, though these work better for quick breaks than extended seated rest.
The Broader Context
The removal reflects Disney’s desire to return EPCOT to its open and airy roots. By moving tables into dedicated zones like CommuniCore, the park feels less like a food court and more like the futuristic garden originally intended.
This philosophy prioritizes aesthetic cohesion over pure functional convenience, accepting that some guests will walk farther to find seating in exchange for cleaner sight lines and better crowd flow.
What Happens Next at Disney
The critical question is whether Disney reinstalls furniture after March 2 or maintains the open corridor permanently. If furniture returns, it suggests Disney views removal as primarily runDisney-motivated. If the breezeway remains furniture-free, it indicates Disney believes alternative seating options adequately serve guest needs.
Flower & Garden Festival starting March 4, just two days after Princess Half Marathon Weekend ends, complicates predictions. Disney may maintain the open breezeway for festival installations rather than reinstalling seating only to remove it again days later.
For now, guests visiting EPCOT during late February and early March should plan to utilize CommuniCore Hall, World Celebration Gardens, Odyssey Pavilion, or other designated seating areas rather than expecting overflow seating in the Connections Café breezeway.
