Disney has removed the breezeway seating area near Connections Café at EPCOT, eliminating tables and benches that served as overflow seating for guests. This change aims to facilitate smoother movement for participants during the upcoming Princess Half Marathon Weekend, helping runners navigate the busy corridor without obstacles. The outdoor seating was initially introduced to accommodate the high demand for indoor seating at Connections Café after its opening. The breezeway is a key pathway linking World Discovery and World Celebration, making it crucial for runDisney events to avoid bottlenecks. The seating is expected to return after March 2, 2026.Why the Disney Seating Was RemovedSeveral reasons led to the removal of breezeway seating in early 2026, beyond just runDisney race needs. Disney wants to improve crowd flow now that CommuniCore Hall and Plaza are fully open. Keeping main pathways clear is essential to avoid crowding during busy times. The breezeway acts as a key route for guests, and removing seating stops guests from getting stuck when diners occupy tables while others try to walk through.Credit: Erica Lauren, Inside the MagicThe move to CommuniCore is another factor. Much of the seating previously scattered throughout World Celebration is now in the CommuniCore area. This area is designed to handle large crowds and offers both air-conditioned indoor seating and shaded outdoor areas. By centralizing seating, Disney can create specific rest zones instead of spreading furniture across busy walks.Festival layouts also played a role in this decision. During major events, like the Flower & Garden Festival starting March 4, 2026, these open spaces often host displays, character meet-and-greets, or floral installations. These events need clear views for pictures and guest enjoyment. The furniture in the breezeway would have to be taken out and put back repeatedly to make space for changing festival elements, which is not efficient.Breezeway Seating Area Near Connections Cafe Gone in EPCOT https://t.co/xs7W4nCEjV— Chip and Company (@4chipandcompany) February 28, 2026The runDisney ImpactThe timing of the breezeway seating removal coinciding with Princess Half Marathon Weekend is particularly significant because runDisney events bring thousands of participants through EPCOT during early morning hours when races traverse the park before it opens to regular day guests. The 5K race scheduled for February 28, 2026, the 10K race on March 1, 2026, and the Princess Half Marathon on March 2, 2026, will all route runners through World Celebration and utilize the breezeway corridor as a major pathway for race flow.Without furniture creating obstacles in the breezeway, runners can move through the space more efficiently and safely, reducing the risk of collisions with tables or chairs that could cause injuries or create dangerous pile-ups if runners stumble over furniture in the pre-dawn darkness when races typically begin. The clear corridor also allows race volunteers and medical staff to position themselves more effectively along the route without competing with furniture for space.Credit: runDisney After March 2 when Princess Half Marathon Weekend concludes, Disney should theoretically be able to reinstall breezeway seating if they determine it serves guest needs better than maintaining the open corridor, though the other factors including crowd flow optimization, CommuniCore consolidation, and upcoming Flower & Garden Festival preparations may mean the furniture doesn’t immediately return despite runDisney events ending.Alternative Seating Options at DisneyFor guests who previously relied on breezeway seating after purchasing items from Connections Café, several superior alternatives exist just steps away from the removed furniture area. CommuniCore Hall, located directly across from the back exit of Connections, functions as the new living room of EPCOT offering air-conditioned indoor seating and plenty of outdoor benches under the shade of the plaza’s geometric canopy, providing more comfortable environments than the exposed breezeway tables.Credit: DisneyWorld Celebration Gardens, the lush center of the park, features numerous built-in benches and planters designed for sitting that offer more scenic views of Spaceship Earth than the concrete breezeway, though shade availability varies throughout the day as sun angles change. The Odyssey Pavilion, often overlooked between Test Track and the Mexico Pavilion, provides a massive indoor space frequently open to the public during festivals that remains almost always cooler and quieter than Connections Café and the surrounding areas.Journey of Water pathways near the Moana-themed attraction offer several nooks that are far less chaotic than the main dining corridors, though these function better as quick standing breaks or cool mist experiences rather than extended seated rest stops. These alternatives collectively provide more seating capacity than the breezeway furniture offered, but require guests to walk additional steps from Connections Café to access them.The Broader EPCOT EvolutionThe removal of the breezeway seating at EPCOT highlights Disney’s goal of restoring the park’s open atmosphere after years of construction and temporary fixes during the transformation of Future World. By relocating tables to areas like CommuniCore, EPCOT aims to feel less like a food court and more like the futuristic garden envisioned since its 1982 opening. This design approach emphasizes aesthetic coherence and crowd flow over convenience, accepting that some guests will need to walk further for seating to enhance sight lines and spatial organization. Guest preferences for seating depend largely on personal priorities and physical abilities.What Happens After Princess Half Marathon WeekendThe main concern for EPCOT visitors is whether Disney will reinstall breezeway seating after March 2, 2026, or keep it open for the World Celebration design. If seating is not returned, it may indicate that Disney prioritizes open space over additional seating.With the Flower & Garden Festival starting on March 4, 2026, shortly after the Princess Half Marathon Weekend, there’s a possibility that the breezeway will remain clear for festival activities. Thus, it seems likely that the area will stay furniture-free until at least June 1, 2026.Visitors in late February and early March 2026 should use other seating areas, like CommuniCore Hall, while runDisney participants can expect clear pathways during the race weekend.The post Disney Has Removed Prominent Seating Area in Orlando Park, Affecting Many Travelers appeared first on Inside the Magic.