Connections Cafe and Eatery

[Epcot82Guy]

Yup EU had to compete with World Showcase eateries, about 20 of the best themed restaurants anywhere many of which also had great and varied food. I think EU knew what they were up against and didn't even try. "This burger is convenient" was their offering. Connections might give it a go? Convenient and edible?

At the time (90s-early 2010s), that was actually the exact point. While the desire for varied food is higher today, you'd be surprised how many guests didn't want all the "exotic stuff". So EU and Liberty Inn gave the park the needed burger and fries for the kids. That has changed since then, but there was a guest sat reason back then (which I experienced personally when at The Land).

 

[HauntedPirate]

At the time (90s-early 2010s), that was actually the exact point. While the desire for varied food is higher today, you'd be surprised how many guests didn't want all the "exotic stuff". So EU and Liberty Inn gave the park the needed burger and fries for the kids. That has changed since then, but there was a guest sat reason back then (which I experienced personally when at The Land).

Agreed. Sometimes you just want a burger. Not necessarily what Disney liked to call a burger for years, but you get the idea.

And… When did chicken strips make a comeback?

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

We ate at EU (or whatever it was called) in 2019. Mediocre at best.

 

[networkpro]

We ate at EU (or whatever it was called) in

 

[networkpro]

I ate at the Electric Umbrella very few times because it was just generic food you could get at almost any door in Kissimmee but with an elevated price. So my anticipation is almost palpable in the hope that it will free up dining reservations.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I’d like some place in future World that is a fairly priced restaurant with good food. Something between a food court and high priced dining that needs reservations.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Electric Umbrella was literally blue carpet walls and a drop ceiling.

It Was colorful..

Lets not forget the upstairs too..

 

[disneyC97]

We all had a group experience of the worst cheeseburger ever at the Electric Umbrella... The food was dreadful. I never ate there early on in the 80s...wonder if like the entire core of the park, it was better once and then just got bad over the years...
Does anyone have any memories of that place having great food?

It was called “Stargate” from opening through the 1994 Innoventions debut, when I believe is when it got the EU redo. I recall purple umbrellas outside and views of the gardens and waterways in that area before they were paved over. I remember liking the food but was a kid lol

 

[Disstevefan1]

We all had a group experience of the worst cheeseburger ever at the Electric Umbrella... The food was dreadful. I never ate there early on in the 80s...wonder if like the entire core of the park, it was better once and then just got bad over the years...
Does anyone have any memories of that place having great food?

Agreed, I had a hockey puck on a bun there too. We can be hopeful they may serve better food in this new place, so we don't have both dreadful food and dreadful dacor..

 

[dreday3]

It Was colorful..
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Lets not forget the upstairs too..
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That was nice in 1984.

 

[Disstevefan1]

That was nice in 1984.

You're right. Disney is right to turn it into a hospital food court.
In today's COVID days, the more sanitary, germ free, virus free, it looks, the better.
We are not in 1984 anymore, that's for sure.

 

[dreday3]

You're right. Disney is right to turn it into a hospital food court.
In today's COVID days, the more sanitary, germ free, virus free, it looks, the better.
We are not in 1984 anymore, that's for sure.

Hey, some hospital food courts are nice!

I was born in 73. It is not a bad thing to not design interiors as they were in the 70s, 80s or 90s. Those were some ugly decades for decor... (although 70s futuristic is always fun)

 

[Disstevefan1]

Hey, some hospital food courts are nice!

I was born in 73. It is not a bad thing to not design interiors as they were in the 70s, 80s or 90s. Those were some ugly decades for decor... (although 70s futuristic is always fun)

And some hospital food is better than they served at the Electric Umbrella

I will say the new place is not awful.

It’s functional and maintainable and (what’s a word for the opposite of imaginative?)

 

[HauntedPirate]

That was nice in 1984.

1994.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

And some hospital food is better than they served at the Electric Umbrella

I will say the new place is not awful.

It’s functional and maintainable and (what’s a word for the opposite of imaginative?)

Blah. Hum-drum. Boring. Lackluster. Common.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Blah. Hum-drum. Boring. Lackluster. Common.

Aka. So Bob.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Aka. So Bob.

Yup.

 

[dreday3]

1994.

It's all a blur.

 

[Thelazer]

I like the mural, a lot. Very Living With the Land but somewhere non-descript. (do you capitalize the T in "the" )

More Details Released on New Restaurant Coming to EPCOT

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blogmickey.com

The mural is so out of place, it's not even funny.
Maybe if they stuck it in the land, it MIGHT kinda fit the theme.

But in a modern theme (or is it no theme??) fast casual eatery?

 

[Disstevefan1]

Blah. Hum-drum. Boring. Lackluster. Common.

Yea, that works, the new place is functional and maintainable and Common... Like a commissary