EPCOT Wish Visit Brings Connor Behind the Kitchen Doors
Published October 31, 2026
Live now: Connections Café availability
Disney announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, that Connor and his family had experienced a culinary wish visit at EPCOT with Disney chefs. As of Saturday, October 31, the account describes a personalized outing combining International Food & Wine Festival tastings, a backstage kitchen visit and food-making activities at Connections Café & Eatery.
Disney shared that Connor has a neurological condition that may affect his ability to enjoy food later in life. His wish centered on tasting food with Disney chefs and learning about the memories and themes behind Disney dining.
The experience began before his arrival, when chefs Eddie, Amanda, Tony, Daniel and Marco assembled a welcome package that included merchandise featuring Goofy, Connor’s favorite character. Other EPCOT cast members contributed cards for Connor and his family.
At EPCOT, the family met the chefs in World Celebration Gardens, with EPCOT Vice President Matt Simon joining the welcome. The chefs accompanied Connor to four festival marketplaces, explaining dishes, kitchen operations and stories behind the offerings.
What we know
- The Fry Basket and Brew-Wing Lab at The Odyssey — both hosted tasting stops during Connor’s visit.
- Milled & Mulled and The Wedge hosted by Dairy Does More — completed the four-marketplace itinerary.
- A backstage kitchen — hosted a greeting with Chef Goofy, where Chef Eddie presented Connor with a personalized green chef coat.
- Connections Café & Eatery — was included for Connor to make food creations of his own.
Disney did not specify the date the visit took place. The announcement also did not offer a publicly bookable version of Connor’s chef-accompanied itinerary or identify his backstage greeting as a regular guest experience.
What it means for your trip
Treat Connor’s itinerary as a special wish experience rather than a tour you can reserve: do not build your EPCOT schedule around backstage kitchen access, a Chef Goofy greeting or a cooking session at Connections Café & Eatery. For a food-focused visit of your own, use the four named marketplaces as a research shortlist, then confirm which are operating during your travel dates before choosing your stops. Separate the festival tastings from the personalized extras when discussing the story with children, so they know which parts require different expectations.
Go deeper — the full guides: EPCOT Dec 12–13: Best Time to Ride on a 10/10 Weekend · Boatwright’s Dining Hall Reservations: How to Get a Table · La Hacienda de San Angel: How to Get a Reservation
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