If you’re heading over to EPCOT soon, don’t expect to dine at its newest lounge.
GEO-82
GEO-82 is a new 21+ lounge at EPCOT that opened to guests in June. Months later, we’re still struggling to book reservations! Surprisingly, the same can be said about the GE0-82 Fireworks Experience! Dates are practically booked up into November. Which may lead you to ask, “How can I get in?”
While the prices were a turn-off for some, the vibe is immaculate at this Spaceship Earth-themed lounge, and the cocktails were out of this world.
Look at this entrance!
As an adults-only lounge, this spot offers a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of EPCOT. You’re even handed a cold “tranquility scented towel when you enter! It’s all very upscale, and offers a sophisticated menu that features “global flavors blended with culinary artistry in classic cocktails and small plates.”
Scented towels
We loved several things we tried! The Truffled Ahi Tuna with Japanese Whisky Barrel-aged Soy-Truffle Ponzu, Citrus, Scallion, Tobiko, and Black Sesame Seeds is $23 and absolutely beautiful. The texture really stands out, and the acidic flavors work super well. The ponzu adds a touch of complexity to the overall flavor, and — overall — it’s tough to find something this elevated in the parks.
Truffled Ahi Tuna
The Caramelized Leek Martini for $26 is made with Ford’s Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry, Caramelized Leek, and Pickled Onion. It’s incredible that this thing actually works, but the leek-infused gin and a regular gin mixed together create a great balance of pungent, tangy, and savory flavors with a hint of sweetness from the caramelization. Not everyone will enjoy this, but if you like pickled onions in your salad or eating pearl onions, you may dig this. We certainly did.
Caramelized Leek Martini
The Strawberry-Black Pepper Sour costs $25 and is made with Campari Liqueur, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Strawberry, Lemon, and Black Pepper. It’s unique, but offers a lovely strawberry flavor, and is sort of like a daiquiri meets a martini with that touch of black pepper zing.
Great strawberry flavor
The gorgeous Clarified New York Sour for $26 is another winner and is made with Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Yuzu, Lemon, and Red Wind Float. Each sip has a different taste, and the bourbon is milk-washed, which softens the traditional, bitter edges of the bourbon. We found this to be a great introduction for those looking to get into bourbon.
Clarified New York Sour
We also tried the Exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight for $49 and had lots of strong thoughts. The flight comes with Uncle Nearest Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Single Barrel, Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel, and Stagg Private Barrel. It’s served on a Spaceship Earth tray with the bourbons in order from lowest proof to highest. One important element to note about GEO-82 is that you are currently limited to ordering two drinks at a time per person. The bourbon flight counts as two drinks, so you have to finish the flight before getting your next drink.
Exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight
The Uncle Nearest and Woodford Reserve are beautiful sipping bourbons, the Blanton’s Gold is a common bourbon many may have already tried, and the Stagg Private was incredibly complex. Overall, bourbon lovers are going to have a blast trying these four small pours.
We really enjoyed all four bourbons
How to Get a Reservation
But enough glazing the lounge…let’s get down to brass tacks. With no walk-up list available, reservations are your only chance at experiencing GEO-82. So how can you snag one?
Sit at at the bar…trust us.
You can try to book the Fireworks Experience at $179 per person — which gets you “a tasting tower of savory light bites, sweet selections, Champagne poured tableside, and event-exclusive cocktails” along with incredible views of “Luminous: The Symphony of Us.” But as I previously mentioned, even this is booked up.
Luminous as seen from GEO-82
You can always bank on cancellations. You don’t see any reservations right now? Check again. And then check again after that. Oh, and then check again after that. While I was writing this, a random October weekday had one reservation open up for a party of two, so you never know. It is free to check the My Disney Experience app, and it never hurts to look. Keep refreshing.
GEO-82
The best advice, though? Book 60 days out at 6 AM ET. This is when new reservations open up, and it’s better to fight in real-time (digitally, of course) for a spot rather than banking on people to cancel their visit to the most popular location in EPCOT right now.
GEO-82
Have you been to GEO-82 yet? Are you struggling to get a reservation like so many guests? Let us know and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney World news, tips, reviews, and more!
5 Big Problems We Have With EPCOT’s NEW Geo-82 Lounge
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I have no interest in going and I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer but I’m totally confused as to why the average wdw guest would spend hundreds to get into a park just to drink and pay such outrageous money for drinks not to mention more hundreds to watch fireworks the rest of us watch for free!? I can perhaps see the appeal of this type of bar outside of the parks – for the wealthy, who seem to like wasting money – but to go to Epcot just to spend time in a bar and drink your hard-earned money away? Who are you trying to impress? Or have the generations changed that much that this is what they like to do? Am I that out of touch with the Disney World of Walt Disney and Michael Eisner? Is this how people live today? If people want to imbibe, there are bars in most resorts that are very nice and much less expensive. It seems like a very sad commentary…..
“I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer”…. then proceeds to do just that. You should understand that everyone spends their time and money differently while in Disney Parks. Personally, I’m not a souvenir gal. Maybe you are? I could go on a long rant about why I feel this way but I won’t. I also don’t do thrill rides or spinning rides. Maybe you do? I’ve been to WDW many times and so I don’t have a need to do every show & ride in each park. But the idea of taking a breather by sitting down somewhere away from cranky children (my 4 are all grown & I’m so *over* that), and relaxing a bit with a nice view and unique cocktail totally appeals to me!!! $25 for a snow globe vs $25 for a yummy cocktail….. I’ll go with the cocktail and the experience EVERY TIME!