Every day, the views from Geo-82, which opens on Wednesdays, live in the colour and movement of Epcot’s World Celebration Gardens and World Showcase Lagoon.
In the evening, those lucky enough to win a seat for the GEO-82 fireworks experience are sure to become one of the hottest tickets at the park for the next few years.
And there’s something quite exclusive about Geo-82. This is a rare discovery at theme parks, day and night. It was completely adult-friendly (Walt Disney World is the first!), with refined drink pairings complementing curated wines, and refilling cocktails refilled with cocktails loaded with work-inspired luggage.
“This is the first time I’ve actually seen the partnership really shine between cooking and drink programs,” Dold said in a recent media preview. “There are many different curations of syrup and fat washing methods in cocktails from a kitchen perspective.”
However, you may need to get used to gravity shifting before you order. The lounge is an outstanding achievement of design, its walls and ceilings, barware, platers, and even ice, and takes on a bold and subtle cues from the space in which everything exists: the iconic measurement of the Earth of the Spaceship.
The semi-crilandestine entry can really feel the Starrecchian and save the views of the crushing outside – taking you to a venue where the atmosphere of the theme park disappears. These windows have a little imagination-enhancing magic, allowing deep space to easily see the past. The lighting fixtures are even numbers, and reminiscent of those guests will be visible outside during bright shows each night.
Electronic ($23) could be the creation of the most thematic space featuring Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal, Carrot, Cinnamon, Lime, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters, and cracked zips of pink peppercorn rims. But Dold spends money on old-fashioned butter ($28) brown butter, gets caught up in a hot list and samples the menu again.
“It’s a real entry point for guests to experience trendy techniques like fat washing,” she says. “Maybe they’ve never had such a cocktail before. We wanted to experience whiskey (Woodford Reserve Double Oak Bourbon) and wanted to make sure they had something on the menu for their first timer.
The chef at Brian Piasecki, director of Culinary and Concept Development, has been enjoying the whole journey, approaching the challenges in a different way than other projects since the GEO-82 concept was first embodied about two and a half years ago.
“It’s an adult space… And we knew it would be a very culinary approach to drinks heavier. We wanted the food to combine with the menu overall and feature a powerful Umami flavor, classic bar bites. We wanted Rich.”
Items like Cannellini Humsu are served with delicate Papadam ($14) and Jumbo Lamp Club Gateau ($25) and topped with one lighter and allergen-friendly, another decadent, smoked tilam cheddar and caviar.
“People love hummus, so we saw it and thought, ‘How can we enhance something so simple?’ ”
He says the crafty, high-end ingredients were answers like pistots of preserved lemon and pumpkin seeds. Cracked Pappadam is also a unique choice, he points out.
Paired with a flavourful caramelized nequin martini (Ford Gin, Doryn Dry Vermouth de Chamberie, Caramelized Onion, Pickled Onion, $26) he stands out and the gateau is a great bite.
“Martini is the opposite of sweet things,” says Piasecki. “It’s strong, and in your face, it has a very flavorful, very sharp pickled onion flavor.
Cocktails and mocktails are the stars of the show, but AA Walk the Garden ($17) is a lovely lemony refresher featuring the Seedlip Garden 108 Nonalcoholic Spirit – there are plenty of options for beer and thoughtfully curated wine selection.
“We have some unique little growers,” Dold says. “What you have to come to the Geo-82 to experience. Many of them were inspired by travel, like some of the lovely Portuguese wines (Portuguese, Douro Valley, $70, bottle, $17, glass).
“But I really think people will come here and experience the exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight ($45).
Curation tends to drink straighter than single barrels near Ankle, Woodford Reserve Single Barrel, Blanton Gold Single Barrel, Stag Private Barrel, an attractive mix for bourbon lovers, and sample cocktails.
Of course, it is subjective, but nevertheless, the view is unmistakably unharmed.
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If you’re going
Fireworks experience is $179 per person and tax/eligible. Park admission is required for all visits to GEO-82.
