The day is here! GEO-82, the Spaceship Earth-themed lounge, is officially open to the public, and we’re here to try it out!
This adults-only lounge is located inside Spaceship Earth (which is kinda the coolest thing ever), and we’re ready to grab a drink, sit back, relax, and enjoy everything GEO-82 has to offer.
Background
GEO-82 is located right inside EPCOT, on the backside of Spaceship Earth. You’ll need to book a reservation through the Disney World app, and all members of the party must be 21 years or older. Guests can order specialty cocktails, beers, and wine, along with small plates, during their reservation.
Check is in Project Tomorrow, where you’ll be guided up the stairs or elevator to the upstairs waiting area. You have the option to sit at the bar, which is what we recommend. You might miss out on the views, but we loved talking to the bartenders. They told us that the menu is ordered from the most spirit enthusiasts to beginner-friendly cocktails.
Now that we know the details and it’s time for our reservation, let’s head in!
Atmosphere
The stunning lounge is filled with nods to Spaceship Earth and EPCOT’s legacy. The room features gold and copper accents, along with ample seating for relaxation. When we first walked in, we fell in love with the large windows that give us stunning views of EPCOT.
They even have a fireworks experience where you get exclusive drinks and savory and sweet treats while watching Luminous: The Symphony of Us from your table.
After we were checked in and led upstairs, we were handed a cold towel that they said was tranquility scented, and it reminded us exactly of a spa. Disney spared no details!
This space is gorgeous, but we’re getting hungry. Let’s try some food and drinks!
Food & Drinks
We started our meal off with the Caramelized Leek Martini for $26.
This drink is made with Forde’s gin, dry vermouth de Chamber, caramelized leek, and pickled onion.
We’re going to start this off by saying wow. This was an incredible cocktail that we will be getting time and time again. It’s made with two different gins — one infused with caramelized leek and one without. They’re mixed together and provide an incredible sip. It was balanced, tangy, and a bit pungent. We tasted a bit of sweetness from the caramelization of the leeks, too. There was even a housemade cocktail onion that was perfectly pickled. We could go on and on about this drink, but know that we are in love.
We also had the Strawberry — Black Pepper Sour for $25.
It’s made with Campari liquor, Luxardo maraschino liquor, strawberry, lemon, and black pepper.
For this drink, the black pepper is right on the nose! There was a warmth from it, but not a heat, more of a zing. The black pepper felt noticeable but not distracting from the other flavors of the drink. The strawberry was mild and was not overly sweet or sour, but you can definitely taste the strawberry flavor. It reminded us of a strawberry daiquiri in a martini sort of way.
Then we had the Peach Shrub Whisky Smash for $26.
This is made with Toki Suntory whisky, Lustau Amontillado sherry, peach, and mint shrub with bubbles.
The biggest word that came to mind was divine. The peach flavor was reminiscent of a candied peach or peach ring, but with a hint of vinegar or sourness. It had a bit of sweetness but is more on the savory and tangy side. The carbonation was our favorite part! Disney was given a special machine to infuse bubbles more than a typical club soda, so it was extra bubbly, just how we like it.
We also had the Brûlée Banana Highball for $26.
The drink is made with Tapatio Reposado Tequila, Ramazzotti Amaro, kola nut, lime cordial, salt, and bubbles.
This drink was sweet without being overly sweet, making it different than a dessert drink. The coffee scent filled the air, and when we sipped it, the drink had a rich, spiced flavor. There was even a bit of smokiness! They brûlée the banana slice behind the bar, so we got to watch, and after we popped the banana in our mouths, we kept tasting the sweet caramelization from it while we drank. It was sophisticated and a gorgeous drink.
We tried the High Brow Batanga for $26. It’s made of Tapitio Reposado Tequila, Ramazzotti Amaro, Kola Nut, Lime Cordial Salt, and Bubbles.
A batanga is a version of a rum and Coke but with tequila instead of rum. This High Brow version had a gorgeous salted rim, topped with lime, and is an excellent drink for those who want familiar flavors. While it might not be the most thrilling drink on the menu, those who aren’t huge cocktail fans might enjoy this one with its well-known and classic taste.
As bourbon lovers, we weren’t leaving without trying the Clarified New York Sour for $26 with Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Yuzu, Lemon, and topped with a Red Wine Float.
This drink was so interesting because in our first sip, we only tasted the red wine. The more we drank, the ratio of the red wine and the bourbon changed, so we started tasting more and more of the bourbon, which made every sip feel different. The bourbon was milk-washed, resulting in softer edges and a milder taste profile, rather than the traditional bitter bite. We loved the lemon in it, and for a bourbon drink, this is on the lighter side, making it a great choice for people just getting into it.
We grabbed the Strawberry and Coconut ‘Right Hand’ for $25. It has Campari Liqueur, Coconut Cartel Añejo Rum, Carpano Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth, and strawberry.
It was interesting but not our favorite. It tasted heavily of the Campari, which was quite bitter. We were surprised based on the name. It was more subtly sweet at first before the aftertaste became more bitter and dry. It was good, just not our favorite for $25.
For an alcohol free choice, we had the Manhattan in the Morning for $17. This mocktail is made with Seedlip Spice 94 Non-Alcoholic Spirit, Joffrey’s Coffee Cold Brew, maple, verjus blanc, tart cherry, and Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters.
Look at how pretty it is! It looks just like a real cocktail, which is perfect for all the drinks to match the group. We loved the spice from the Seedlip Spirit, and the maple in it added a hint of sweetness, but not too much. It’s a great shade of red from the tart cherries, and it was even garnished with some. We didn’t taste the Joffrey’s Coffee, but we didn’t mind. The drink was well-balanced, and we didn’t feel like we were missing any additional flavors.
Our final set of drinks was the Exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight for $49. It comes with Uncle Nearest Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Single Barrel, Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel, and Stagg Private Barrel, all served on this beautiful Spaceship Earth tray.
Currently at GEO-82, guests are limited to ordering two drinks at a time per person. This flight counts as two drinks, so if you were looking at ordering an additional cocktail, it will have to be after you finish the flight.
The bourbons are in order from lowest proof to highest, starting with the Uncle Nearest Single Barrel. Both the Uncle Nearest and Woodford Reserve were lovely sipping bourbons coming from a single barrel. The Blanton’s Gold is a common bourbon to see at bars and might be familiar to many, but Stagg Private was the most interesting to us. At first, we could feel the burn on the back of our throats, and when we took a sip, we tasted the heat, but it was so smooth. It was neat having the juxtaposition of the smoothness with the heat. We think bourbon lovers are going to have so much fun with this flight.
For our first small plate, we got the Chef’s Selection of Artisanal Cheeses, Cured Meats, and Accompaniments for $29.
We never knew we could be so impressed with a cheese board, but GEO-82 is blowing us away. The cheese board was filling and easily one of the best ones we’ve ever had. There were three cheeses, meats, accompaniments, and breads, which provided incredible combinations across all of them.
The cheeses were aggressive and very flavorful, and the meats were high quality, thinly sliced, and easy to eat.
From the cranberry loaf, pecan brittle, and baguette, nothing was oily, and all of it went together. Even the cheeses paired well together! We had to physically stop ourselves from licking the plate because it was that good.
We also knew we had to try the gorgeous Truffled Ahi Tuna for $23.
This is a Japanese whisky barrel-aged soy-truffle ponzu, citrus, scallion, tobiko, and black sesame seeds.
Again, we had no idea ahi tuna could be so good! While we’ve had plenty of ahi tuna, we didn’t know it could be so magical. Each bite felt like an explosion of flavor, and every single element belonged on the plate to make the perfect bite. This was definitely a sophisticated version of tuna, so if you’re used to it in more casual settings, this might not be your jam. We were served four pieces, but we loved every bite. It wasn’t overly fishy or briny, and it had a sweetness that balanced the acidity and salty flavor. We will be ordering this time and time again because we loved it that much.
Magic or Tragic?
You need to add GEO-82 to your Disney World bucket list if…
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- You want an exclusive, upscale dining experience at EPCOT that doesn’t take as long as a signature dining meal does
- You are a cocktail enthusiast and want to try different drinks and small plates
- You want a break from the theme park to relax
You might want to skip if…
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- You’re having a family day and don’t want to split the group apart
- You are drinking around the world, or are looking for a least expensive spot
- You prefer sweeter or fruitier cocktails or ones with simpler flavors
Overall, GEO-82 is a win for us! The experience was incredible, and yes, you’re going to be paying a lot of money for a trip to the lounge, but Disney tried to make it worth your money. From phenomenal service to great flavors and a sophisticated, fancy experience, GEO-82 is where we’ll be heading for all of our special celebrations. This might be our favorite dining in EPCOT, and yes, we would rather head here than Space 220. You can tell a lot of effort was made to make this an upscale and luxury experience, and we’re already looking towards booking our next reservation.
In the meantime, make sure you’re following AllEars for more Disney news and food reviews.
CHECK OUT THE FULL MENU FOR GEO-82 HERE!
Will you try GEO-82 the next time you’re in EPCOT? Tell us what you’re excited about in the comments!
While I haven’t been there, it’s Disney. No. It’s not worth the price. There is nothing at Disney World that is worth the price.