Beverage- and beauty-forward Epcot lounge, Geo-82, opens Wednesday

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By day, the views from GEO-82, which opens Wednesday, are alive with the color and movement of Epcot’s World Celebration Gardens and World Showcase Lagoon.

By night, those lucky enough to score seats for the GEO-82 Fireworks Experience, certain to be one of the park’s hottest tickets for years to come, will enjoy bites savory and sweet along with champagne sips as they take in the nearly 20 minutes color and movement that is Luminous, the explosive nightly fireworks spectacular.

The fireworks-explosive fixtures at GEO-82 only add to the snaps of the real ones outside as guests take in views of the Luminous spectacular from the sophisticated, climate-controlled luxury of this new adult-exclusive lounge. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

And there’s something else rather exclusive about GEO-82, whether you make it here, day or night, a rare find in any theme park: It is entirely adult-exclusive (a Walt Disney World first!) and a sophisticated, beverage-first space where food pairings were made to compliment curated wines and crafted cocktails with loads of culinary inspiration says Walt Disney World beverage director Stephanie Dold.

“I think this is going to be the first time you really see the partnership really shine through between the culinary and beverage programs,” Dold said during a recent media preview. “There are a lot of different curations from a kitchen perspective in the ways of syrups and fat washing in the cocktails.”

The lush and colorful activity of Epcot serves as the backdrop for guests at GEO-82, a brand-new lounge inside Spaceship Earth's iconic sphere. And for fans of bubbly mocktails, so does A Walk Through The Garden ($17) featuring Seedlip Garden 108 Non-Alcoholic Spirit, basil, fennel, lemon, orange bitters, celery bitters and bubbles. (Courtesy Christina Thomas/@GoEpicurista)

Before they even order, however, they might have to get used to the gravity shift. The lounge is an outstanding achievement in design, its walls and ceilings, barware and upholsters, even ice, all taking queues both bold and subtle from the space in which it resides: Spaceship Earth’s iconic geodesic sphere.

A semi-clandestine entry feels downright Star Trekkian, bringing you into a venue where — save the view of those milling about outside — the theme park vibe disappears. With a little Imagineering magic on those windows, one could easily watch deep space zipping past. The light fixtures, even, are bursts, reminiscent of those guests will see outside during the Luminous shows each night.

Truffled ahi tuna ($23) features Japanese whiskey barrel-aged soy-truffle ponzu, citrus, scallion, tobiko and black sesame seeds. (Courtesy Christina Thomas/@GoEpicurista)

The Electron ($23) might be the most themed-to-space creation, featuring Siete Misterios Doba-Yej Mezcal, carrot, cinnamon, lime, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters and the crackly zip of a pink peppercorn rim. But Dold puts her money on the Brown Butter Old-Fashioned ($28) winding up on the hot list once more folks get to sample the menu.

“It’s really the entry point for our guests to experience trending techniques like fat-washing,” she says. “Maybe they’ve never had a cocktail like that before. We wanted to make sure we had something on the menu for first-timers who want to experience the whiskey (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon) and all it has to offer, but with more of a velvety texture.”

Chef Brian Piasecki's favorite cocktail food pairing sees the rich jumbo lump crab gâteau served alongside the savory caramelized leek martini. (Courtesy Christina Thomas/@GoEpicurista)

Chef Brian Piasecki, director of culinary and concept development, onboard since the GEO-82 concept first materialized about two-and-a-half years ago, has enjoyed the entire journey, approaching the assignment in a different way than other projects.

“It’s an adult space … and we knew it was going to be beverage-heavy with a very culinary approach. We wanted the food to pair with the menu holistically, to feature strong umami flavors, classic bar bites. We wanted rich. We wanted creamy.”

A Disney dynamic duo: Brian Piasecki, director of culinary and concept development, and Stephanie Dold, beverage director, celebrate the opening of GEO-82. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

Items like the cannellini hummus, served with delicate pappadam ($14) and jumbo lump crab gâteau ($25) both fit the bill, one lighter and allergen friendly, the other decadent, with smoked Tillamook cheddar and topped with caviar.

“People love hummus and so we looked at it and thought, ‘How can we elevate something this simple?'”

Crafty, high-end ingredients, he says, were the answer, like preserved lemon and pumpkin seed pistou. Crackly pappadam, too, he notes, is a unique choice.

Paired with the savory caramelized leek martini (Fords Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry, caramelized leek, pickled onion; $26), he opines, the gâteau is a marvelous bite.

A tasting tower of savory light bites is served before the Luminous The Symphony of Us show begins. It's part of the Fireworks Experience available during the evening at GEO-82 and includes savory macarons with house-made pimento cheese, deviled eggs and a selection of charcuterie. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)

“The martini is the opposite of sweet,” says Piasecki. “It’s strong and in your face, very savory, with a really sharp pickled onion flavor. With the crab, which is super buttery and rich with that nice, salty caviar on top. It’s just perfect for me.”

Though cocktails and mocktails are the stars of the show — the A Walk Through The Garden ($17) is a nice, lemony refresher featuring Seedlip Garden 108 Non-Alcoholic Spirit — there are plenty of options in the way of beer and a thoughtfully curated wine selection.

“We have some unique small growers,” says Dold. “Things you’ll have to come to GEO-82 to experience. A lot of it was inspired by our travels, like a lovely wine from Portugal (Muxagat Douro Branco, Douro Valley, Portugal; $70, bottle, $17, glass) and a beautiful Champagne: A. Bergère ‘Origine’ ($120, bottle; $26, class).

Among the goodies included in the GEO-82 Fireworks Experience is a beautiful plate of sweet bites and a champagne toast. (Courtesy Christina Thomas/@GoEpicurista)

“But, I really think people are going to come here to experience the exclusive Disney select bourbon flight ($45), which are hand-selected and exclusive to GEO-82.”

The curation includes Uncle Nearest Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve Single Barrel, Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel and Stagg Private Barrel, an appealing mix for bourbon aficionados and those more prone to sip straight than sample cocktails.

It’s subjective, of course, but regardless, the views are undeniably intoxicating.

Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.

If you go

Fireworks experience is $179 per person plus tax/gratuity. All visits to GEO-82 require park admission.

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