Connections Eatery at EPCOT has stopped using real ceramic plates. Every meal now comes out on paper plates, paper dishes, or paper bowls. Cast Members we spoke with at the location said the change happened recently, and they said they’re not aware of any plans to bring the ceramic dishware back. Walt Disney World has not returned multiple requests for comment on the switch. We visited EPCOT today to take a look at the change.
Connections Eatery Now Using Paper Plates
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Connections Eatery has fully switched from ceramic to paper plates
- Cast Members say they don’t know of plans to reverse the change
A New Look for a Familiar Meal
We stopped by Connections Eatery during a recent visit to EPCOT. Every meal we saw, from pizza to burgers to fries, arrived on paper plates. That’s a change from the ceramic dishware the quick-service restaurant has used since it opened in 2022. Here’s a look at the change, with the new paper plates featured on the right.
The shift breaks from how Connections Eatery has operated for years. We previously reviewed the pizzas and salads and the burgers and chicken sandwich on real, reusable plates shortly after the restaurant opened in World Celebration.
Disney later reworked the pizza recipe and increased the portion size, but the food still came out on ceramic dishware at that time. Real plates and a show kitchen helped Connections Eatery feel like a step up from a typical counter-service stop.
Unfortunately, the venue was built with reusable plates in mind. That means that the trash openings are not nearly large enough to accommodate the pizza plates. Guests must stuff the paper plates into the trash in order to dispose of them after the meal.
What Cast Members Told Us
Cast Members working the location told us the move away from ceramic plates happened recently. They said they don’t know of any plans to bring back the old dishware. A future change is always possible if Disney adjusts course. We reached out to Walt Disney World for comment on the reasoning behind the switch, but we have not heard back.
Keep Reading
- Curious how the pizzas and burgers actually taste? Our original pizza and salad review breaks down every option on that side of the menu.
- Miss the chicken sandwich write-up? Check out our burgers and chicken sandwich review for our full take.
- Wondering about the pizza’s bigger portions? Here’s how Disney reworked the pizza recipe not long after opening.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
I wonder if this has anything to do with the drought that Florida, as well as the rest of the east coast, is experiencing