GEO-82, the new Spaceship Earth lounge, is now open at EPCOT! We made it out for the opening day to review an assortment of drinks and bites at Walt Disney World’s most exclusive bar. The new lounge is located near Spaceship Earth, and it overlooks EPCOT and the World Celebration area. Walt Disney World is also positioning GEO-82 as the spot to watch the nightly Luminous fireworks show, selling a pricey fireworks viewing package.
As a disclaimer, we paid 100% out of pocket for our GEO-82 review. We were not hosted by Disney or given any special privileges by them. Our review will include an honest discussion about our experience.
Theming & Location
So, where is GEO-82 located? The new Spaceship Earth bar is not exactly in the Spaceship Earth ball or ride area, but it’s about as close as you can get. The bar is located on the second floor of the Project Tomorrow post-show experience. Project Tomorrow is the interactive games area that you walk through when you exit the Spaceship Earth attraction.
GEO-82 is actually located in the old corporate sponsor space previously used by Siemens. Much like the EPCOT overhaul itself, the bones of the venue remain the same, but with a completely new veneer and functionality. Gone are the corporate board rooms – replaced by a kitchen. The entryway and main overlook retain a similar layout but are completely repurposed.
In fact, if you had never visited the Siemens corporate lounge, and you probably haven’t, the space wouldn’t feel like it was created with compromises, which is about as high of a compliment as you can give a rethemed space.
The GEO-82 entrance is located on the first floor of the Project Tomorrow Spaceship Earth post-show area. You can find the entrance when utilizing the World Nature egress on the west side of the building. You do not need to ride Spaceship Earth to reach GEO-82, but if you have some time before your reservation and the line is short, it might be more fun to get a quick ride in before your reservation.
Here’s a look at the entrance to GEO-82, which features the lounge logo and a preview of some of the upscale design that you will find when you enter the adults-only lounge. The narrow hallway is lined with miniature, reflective triangles, creating a very warm welcome. A Cast Member is stationed just a few steps inside to begin your onboarding and ensure that you have a reservation to enter the space.
Reservations are highly recommended and are sold out for months in advance right now. For the foreseeable future, you likely won’t be able to experience GEO-82 without a reservation or some serious pixie dust magic. It’s also worth noting that GEO-82 is only open to guests 21 years old and older. No children are allowed in the space at all.
You can either take the elevator or the stairs up to the GEO-82 lounge. Once upstairs, a Cast Member will greet you and invite you to relax in the waiting area as your table is prepared. The waiting area is comfortable, and it features some digitally enhanced photos of Spaceship Earth, with fireworks added to historic photos of the geodesic sphere. All of the artwork leans heavily into a fireworks theme. There are even some theming elements inside the main lounge that give off a fireworks vibe.
In case you haven’t noticed, everything is very warm and golden. This is a callback to early Spaceship Earth concept art that showed the iconic structure bathed in a golden light. Gold will be a continuing color concept for the space, but more on the design in a bit. Before we get inside, let’s take a look at some souvenir glassware.
On display are the two souvenir glasses, both available for purchase at $35 each (eventually). When we visited, the souvenir glasses were not available for purchase due to reported issues with the My Disney Experience app mobile purchase functionality. Hopefully, they will be available for purchase soon.
Once your table is ready, you’ll be guided through a curved hallway that leads to the GEO-82 dining area/lounge. The hallway features large triangular tiles similar to what you’d find on the exterior of the iconic Spaceship Earth attraction. In fact, leadership for GEO-82 informed us that these are authentic Alucobond tiles – the same style that cover the exterior of Spaceship Earth. This gives guests the opportunity to “touch” Spaceship Earth on the way to their tables.
Lighting on the ceiling is meant to evoke the memory of the star field above you as you descend from the Spaceship Earth attraction. In-floor lighting is a nostalgic nod to the fiber-optic pathways in the old Future World section of the park before the recent overhaul project.
The lounge itself is rather spacious, with a number of giant glass windows that offer a good view of the World Celebration area of EPCOT. Anything beyond the immediate World Celebration Gardens area plays a background role to the view, including World Showcase, which is barely visible.
Opposite the giant windows is the bar, which is stocked full of unique liquors. The bartenders have come from a variety of roles around Walt Disney World property, including some familiar faces from the Enchanted Rose bar at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, so they should all be more than competent in being able to whip up some off-menu concoctions as well.
Disney describes GEO-82 as a love letter to EPCOT and the architecture of Spaceship Earth. Specifically, Walt Disney Imagineering focused on the shape language of Spaceship Earth – the triangles that make up hexagons that create a geodesic sphere. The interior of the GEO-82 lounge and entrance areas aim to celebrate that shape language. Beyond the shape language, Imagineering called back to an early concept art of Spaceship Earth, bathed in golden light, and tried to bring those colors into the lounge space.
The rich textures are wonderful, as are the colors, shapes, and metallic tones. The entire lounge feels upscale and worthy of being a space where you feel like you can splurge a bit.
Menu & Prices
The GEO-82 menu contains a few small bites and an extensive drink menu. Almost everything is expensive. The drinks are some of the most expensive that you can find at Walt Disney World, but they are some of the most unique as well. Before we get to the typed-out menu, let’s first take a look at the GEO-82 Cocktail Key. The front of the menu contains icons that will help you narrow down your cocktail search. From glassware style to ice type, and even preparation technique, it’s a super useful guide to include in the menu and unique to Walt Disney World bars. Kudos to the team for thinking to include it because when you’re paying $25+ for a cocktail, you’ll want to know exactly what you’re ordering.
Small Plates
- Chef’s Selection of Artisanal Cheeses, Cured Meats, and Accompaniments | $29.00
- Cannellini Hummus | $14.00
Pumpkin Seed Pistou, Radish, Preserved Lemon, Fresno Peppers, Pappadam - Funghi Flatbread | $15.00
Roasted Mushrooms, Miso-Mascarpone, Mozzarella, Fontina, Pickled Red Onion, Black Garlic Molasses - Truffled Ahi Tuna | $23.00
Japanese Whisky Barrel-aged Soy-Truffle Ponzu, Citrus, Scallion, Tobiko, Black Sesame Seeds - Jumbo Lump Crab Gâteau | $25.00
Smoked Cheddar, Pickled Mustard Seed-Lemon Vinaigrette, Supreme Caviar
Zero-Proof Cocktails
- A Walk Through the Garden | $17.00
Seedlip Garden 108 Non-Alcoholic Spirit, Basil, Fennel, Lemon, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters, The Bitter Truth Celery Bitters, Bubbles - Manhattan in the Morning | $17.00
Seedlip Spice 94 Non-Alcoholic Spirit, Joffrey’s Coffee
Cold Brew, Maple, Verjus Blanc, Tart Cherry, Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
Featured Cocktails
- Caramelized Leek Martini | $26.00
Fords Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry, Caramelized Leek, Pickled Onion - Strawberry-Black Pepper Sour | $25.00
Campari Liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Strawberry, Lemon, Black Pepper - Brown Butter Old-Fashioned | $28.00
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, Brown Butter, Maple, Hella Cocktail Co. Mexican Chocolate Bitters - Peach Shrub Whisky Smash | $26.00
Toki Suntory Whisky, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Peach and Mint Shrub, Bubbles - Strawberry and Coconut ‘Right Hand’ | $25.00
Campari Liqueur, Coconut Cartel Añejo Rum, Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth, Strawberry - Electron | $23.00
Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal, Carrot, Cinnamon, Lime, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters, Pink Peppercorn - Clarified New York Sour | $26.00
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Yuzu, Lemon, Red Wine Float - Brûlée Banana Highball | $26.00
Toki Suntory Whisky, Lustau ‘Don Nuño’ Oloroso Sherry, Banana, Coffee, Cacao, Bubbles - High Brow Batanga | $25.00
Tapatio Reposado Tequila, Ramazzotti Amaro, Kola Nut, Lime Cordial, Salt, Bubbles - Exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight | $49.00
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Single Barrel, Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel, Stagg Private Barrel
Wine Selections
- A. Bergère ‘Origine’ Brut NV
Bottle $120.00 | Glass $26.00 - Arnot-Roberts Rosé
Bottle $64.00 | Glass $16.00 - Domaine Siret-Courtaud ‘Quincy’ Sauvignon Blanc
Bottle $64.00 | Glass $16.00 - Domaine Chapel ‘Fleurie’ Charbonnières
Bottle $92.00 | Glass $21.00 - Fisher Vineyard ‘Unity’ Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle $110.00 | Glass $24.00 - Schramsberg Brut Rosé
Bottle $98.00 | Glass $23.00 - Muxagat Douro Branco
Bottle $70.00 | Glass $17.00 - Massican Hyde Vineyards Chardonnay
Bottle $110.00 | Glass $24.00 - Presqu’ile Pinot Noir
Bottle $75.00 | Glass $18.00
Beer Selections ($8.25 to $11.25)
- Miller High Life Lager
- Lexington Brewing Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
- Yuengling Traditional Lager
- Bell’s Two Hearted IPA
- Modelo Especial Lager
- Athletic Brewing Co Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA
GEO-82 Review: Drinks
Ok, it’s time to place our orders and try some drinks! During a normal restaurant review, or even an EPCOT festival review, we tend to stay away from reviewing drinks simply because we find drinks to be a more personal preference decision than food. That said, this is a lounge, and Disney is calling it a “beverage-forward concept”, with the drinks taking center stage over the food. We also tried the food, but we’ll start with the drinks.
As a little bit of housekeeping, some of these photos will be phone photos, which is not typical for this site. We were able to visit GEO-82 unexpectedly, which led to a wonderful meal, but without my typical camera setup. We did visit a second time with the proper camera gear, but I forgot to hit publish on the GoFundMe to support one trip to GEO-82, let alone a second trip, so I tried not to overlap my orders too much. Therefore, there will be a difference in photo quality.
Caramelized Leek Martini | $26
Fords Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry, Caramelized Leek, Pickled Onion
Besides the $28 Old Fashioned, this was the next highest on our interest list before we sat down. The Caramelized Leek Martini is served in a coupe glass with vertical ridges encompassing the exterior. The martini itself is mostly clear, featuring a pickled onion presented as the main visual draw.
In terms of flavor, expect this to be a sipping drink. In fact, if you aren’t racing a melting ice cube, we’d approach most of the drinks as sipping drinks as you savor the premium ingredients (and premium price tag).
The caramelized leek and pickled onion created a unique flavor that is hard to describe. Other than that, you can expect to find something close to a gin martini. It’s certainly unique, and our table was divided, with half enjoying the drink for its martini elements, and others not caring for a second sip.
When considering the drinks in this review, we’re also going to take into account the liquors and ingredients used and how rare they might be to find at other Walt Disney World locations. In general, there are not a ton of gin options at Walt Disney World, and Fords Gin is listed in more than a dozen drinks around property. That said, Fords Gin is only listed on two in-park menus, with GEO-82 being the third in-park location to serve it. The Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry is only officially listed on two Walt Disney World menus, both at resort lounges and not in a theme park, making it a bit more rare.
As with most drinks, you’ll typically find some rare-to-Walt-Disney-World liquors, almost always presented in a fully unique way.
Brown Butter Old-Fashioned | $28.00
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, Brown Butter, Maple, Hella Cocktail Co. Mexican Chocolate Bitters
The Brown Butter Old-Fashioned is the featured drink on the GEO-82 menu, and it’s delicious. Disney says that the process of creating the drink actually begins in the kitchen, with the team “washing” the bourbon for several days before it makes its way into the drink.
Your drink will be prepared at the bar but poured at the table. It is the only drink that we dried to feature a Spaceship Earth stamp, although I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more definition in the stamp once the drink was fully poured into the glass. Here’s a look at the table side pour.
I’m not sure what else to say besides the drink is absolutely delicious and unique. The brown butter hits the nose before the drink hits your lips. What follows is a smooth, exceptionally buttery drink that hits all of the correct flavor notes, including a bit of bite from the Woodford Reserve bourbon.
While Woodford Reserve is not uncommon in Walt Disney World drinks, the double oaked variety found at GEO-82 appears to be exclusive, at least as a standard menu option. The Hella Cocktail Co. Mexican Chocolate Bitters also don’t appear to show up in any other menu items around property. Combine that with brown butter and maple, and you have yourself a drink that is not only technically unique but a drink that also stands out in the long line of old fashioned’s that I’ve had at Walt Disney World and beyond. It’s one of only two drinks that overlapped in our visits.
Clarified New York Sour | $26.00
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Yuzu, Lemon, Red Wine Float
Now we’re getting somewhere. GEO-82 may be the only Disney owned-and-operated location that has Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon on the menu. A few Disney Springs restaurants offer it, but I wasn’t able to find it in any Disney cocktail. It could be behind the bar, but we couldn’t find in on the Walt Disney World website as a cocktail ingredient. The Lustau Amontillado Sherry is an equally unique ingredient. Combine it with Yuzu, Lemon, and a Red Wine float and you’ve got something really special.
The red wine float on top dominates the flavor, only allowing the Old Forester to peek through in sips. It’s one of just a select few drinks that we reordered on our second visit and something that we will probably order again in the future!
Strawberry and Coconut ‘Right Hand’ | $25.00
Campari Liqueur, Coconut Cartel Añejo Rum, Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth, Strawberry
Expect to find a liquor-forward drink here, resembling a boulevardier. It is a strong drink that allows the coconut to shine through, both on the nose and the lips. There are hints of sweetness, with the drink mellowing out a bit as the ice starts to melt. Again, at $25 we’re sipping drinks and taking our time to slow down an enjoy the lounge and our company.
Campari Liqueur can be found in a number of Boulevardier’s and Negroni’s around the resorts. Only a couple of theme park locations serve it on the menu, but I wouldn’t say that it’s rare, per se. The Coconut Cartel Añejo Rum starts to become a bit more rare, with GEO-82 the only in-park location that I know of that has it on the menu. The Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth is a bit more common.
Peach Shrub Whisky Smash | $26.00
Toki Suntory Whisky, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Peach and Mint Shrub, Bubbles
The Peach Shrub Whisky Smash was a deliciously refreshing drink, served with a bit of peach compote on the side (unadvertised). A well-balanced drink that essentially was the whiskey cousin to a mint julep.
The Toki Suntory Whisky can be found at 5 other locations on Walt Disney World property right now, and the Lustau Amontillado Sherry is even more rare.
Electron | $23.00
Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal, Carrot, Cinnamon, Lime, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters, Pink Peppercorn
The Pink Peppercorn rim seen on the left side of the glass in the photo above circles half of the rim, giving you a choose-your-own-adventure sort of drink. The mezcal can be a bit smokey, but the drink overall was really well-balanced. I find myself gravitating toward bourbon and whiskey more often than not, so it’s not really my cup of tea, but I do think it was well prepared and delivered some wonderful flavors thanks to the Carrot, Cinnamon, Lime, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters – and that’s if you get a sip without the pink peppercorn on the rim.
The Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal is currently only found at one other location at Walt Disney World, Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, making it a very rare mezcal in a cocktail.
If you’re looking for something unique or specific, don’t be afraid to ask! We ordered a few off-menu items, letting the bartenders take the lead with a few notes from the table on the desired flavor profile. In fact, we hear that the bartenders are putting together their own list of drinks that have become quick fan favorites. Management even indicated that there could be some menu additions soon to fill in some of the gaps.
Here are a few of the creations that we won’t be reviewing, but that we thoroughly enjoyed thanks to bartenders Ricky and Ranger!
GEO-82 Review: Food
Yes, GEO-82 is a drink-forward concept, but Disney also has some food options – not a lot, but maybe enough.
Funghi Flatbread | $15.00
Roasted Mushrooms, Miso-Mascarpone, Mozzarella, Fontina, Pickled Red Onion, Black Garlic Molasses
The standout of this flatbread was the Miso-Mascarpone cheese, supported by some mozzarella and fontina. We weren’t a huge fan of this flatbread, however unique it may be. It fell a little flat in terms of flavor, with the mushrooms bringing it down a bit. If Disney could do something a bit more unique here with the mushrooms, it might elevate the dish a bit, but we won’t be reordering anytime soon.
Jumbo Lump Crab Gâteau | $25.00
Smoked Cheddar, Pickled Mustard Seed-Lemon Vinaigrette, Supreme Caviar
The Jumbo Lump Crab Gâteau was nothing short of a standout dish, and at $25, it better be! As you can see from the photos, you’re dealing with a very light, airy presentation that is packed with flavor. There is a crusted top for the caviar to be presented on. The dish tastes as wonderful as it looks, with a rich, robust flavor supported by the Smoked Cheddar and Pickled Mustard Seed-Lemon Vinaigrette. The crab was delicious, and not overly fishy. This is one of two dishes that we ordered a second time and one that I think we’ll continue to order, however pricey it may be.
Truffled Ahi Tuna | $23.00
Japanese Whisky Barrel-aged Soy-Truffle Ponzu, Citrus, Scallion, Tobiko, Black Sesame Seeds
I didn’t get a chance to get a bite of this, but our friends were not the biggest fans of the dish. It’s not something that we ordered again, but if I do order it for myself on a subsequent visit, I’ll update the review.
Cannellini Hummus | $14.00
Pumpkin Seed Pistou, Radish, Preserved Lemon, Fresno Peppers, Pappadam
This was the other dish that we ordered for a second visit, and we’ll certainly order it again going forward. The hummus was delicious, but we would’ve loved to have seen a better vessel than the overly brittle pappadam. In fact, we found ourselves gravitating to some of the leftover bread from the charcuterie to more easily enjoy the wonderful hummus.
Chef’s Selection of Artisanal Cheeses, Cured Meats, and Accompaniments | $29.00
Everything on this board was delicious. Every single item. This is the standout charcuterie board at Walt Disney World right now, and it is an easy recommendation (assuming you like the items pictured). There wasn’t a single weak spot on the board, offering something for just about everyone who might be even slightly interested.
Honestly, a charcuterie/bourbon flight combo might be the best deal at GEO-82. Speaking of the bourbon flight…
We’re going to review this in a separate article because I think it deserves to be highlighted. The takeaway is that it is a $49 flight with 3/4oz pours of single barrel and private barrel bourbons, exclusive to the GEO-82 lounge. Here are the bourbons that you’ll find in the flight:
- Uncle Nearest Single Barrel
- Woodford Reserve Single Barrel
- Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel
- Stagg Private Barrel
GEO-82 Review: Closing Thoughts
GEO-82 is a premium experience at a premium price tag. We have spent hundreds of dollars so far, and the highest praise that we can give is that we have plans to return – not because we have money to burn, but because it really is a standout, unique experience at Walt Disney World. It is a wonderful space, created with an attention to detail that extends from the floor beneath your feet to the seat you use, from the lighting overhead to through to the drinks and food that you enjoy.
Oddly enough, the view is perhaps the weakest part and is probably best described as just ok, with World Celebration needing just a bit more to really shine. Of course, this is more of a critique of the World Celebration Gardens area and less of a critique of GEO-82.
That said, I’m not sure if GEO-82 exists without the budget cut of the World Celebration Festival Center. As you may remember, there were plans to create a multi-story structure where CommuniCore Hall currently sits that would’ve been an entertainment flex space as well as a nighttime dessert spot. There’s a better than zero chance that there would be a bar or lounge as well. Ultimately, that didn’t come to fruition.
In addition to the budget cut World Celebration Festival Center, a planned Spaceship Earth overhaul never made it out of the planning stages as well. The update to Spaceship Earth, which was advertised to guests and even had a published start date, was paused and ultimately canceled when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the theme parks. GEO-82 would not have been part of that overhaul.
Instead, GEO-82 is a compromise. It is the result of budget cuts elsewhere in the park. That said, there are no visible corners cut or compromises inside the space itself. If it wasn’t the hardest reservation to get at Walt Disney World with some very expensive drinks, I think that I would find myself there more often. As is, GEO-82 is a wonderful splurge and something that we can recommend for your upcoming vacation. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
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!
