The first major piece of the ongoing expansion of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge opened on Monday: Geyser Point Bar and Grill.

The new lounge and counter service location is nestled on the shores of Bay Lake where a beach line once stood.

The fire pit just outside of the main entrance will be a nice spot to enjoy some warmth and food & drink.

The bar and lounge portion of the establishment is under a large, open air structure.

Adjacent, guests will find a counter service location for if they are in a hurry.

A rather pleasant lounge surrounds the bar, offering a full service dining experience with a waiter or waitress.

The bar has plenty of seats, which is good, because they are going to need it…

The views of Bay Lake from here are gorgeous (even though Monday wasn’t exactly the most picturesque day in Central Florida).

The new location will be just steps away from many of the Copper Creek Cabins that are nearing completion at the resort.

If you take a walk around the corner, there is still much work to be done.

However, the themed elements here are fantastic. as the backstory goes…

Such rejuvenating transformations were common in the Pacific Northwest following the mid-20th-century fading of the Transcontinental Railroad, as locals turned rails into trails – repurposing everything from bridges and tunnels to cranes and quarries. A nearby “Boulder Ridge Railway and Mining Co.” water tower will be among the pool area’s landmark reminders of its pioneering past, while a vintage mine cart supports the mining theme with an affectionate nod to Disney history.

While not confirmed yet, the Reunion Station sounds like it may be home to the new activity center and childcare amenities for the resort (since the Cub’s Den is now closed).

The water tower and other themed elements nearby are stunning, fantastic pieces that go a long way to make this area feel special and envelope you in the resort’s fantastic theme.

They sure do love years ending in 71…

Train tracks in the ground and a nearby mine cart further the story.

We have a short video tour if you would like a better sense of how everything here is situated:

An updated map can be found nearby, featuring pieces of the resort that have yet to open.

Temporary stickers cover the items that are not yet open.

Alright, now let’s head on in and have a bite (and a few drinks, I suppose)…

Geyser Point Bar and Grill Menus

What instantly puts Geyser Point over many of the other establishments at various resorts is the variety of options. Not only does the lounge offer a huge menu of drinks and a few unique edible options, but you can also order from the full counter service menu as well. This is spectacular. This is one of the reasons why I love Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at Disneyland so much more than the Polynesian Village Resort version, because I can enjoy the specialty beverages, but also a quick service meal from the Tangaroa Terrace next door.

We start below with the lounge-only menu:

The featured cocktails are completely unique to Geyser Point Bar and Grill.

Below, the full counter service menu:

Below is the breakfast offerings (which we will be back for):

OK, now let’s get down to business…

Featured and Specialty Drinks

Let’s dive on in to the alcoholic beverages that we tried on our first visit, shall we?

Whippersnapper Sour ($11.25)

WhipperSnapper Whiskey perfectly mixed with Sweet-and-Sour

This is something fairly unique to this location and I thought it was pretty tasty too. I was concerned when ordering it as I don’t often like drinks with sweet-and-sour, but I would honestly order this again.

Cascadia Sangria Cocktail ($11.00)

Zodiac Black Cherry Vodka, fresh Lime Juice, and Orange Juice topped with Columbia Crest H3 Merlot

Warning: this won’t stay this pretty as you do have to mix it after this, but it does offer a pretty picture before you do. This was honestly my favorite of all the drinks that we tried and a fun twist on your average sangria.

Northwest Iced Tea ($11.25)

Rogue Dark Rum, 44° North Idaho Potato Vodka, Aviation Gin, Cointreau, and Sweet-and-Sour with a splash of Coca-Cola

Rum and Coke is probably just about my favorite adult beverage, and this is an interesting and delicious take on that.

Black Cherry Mule ($10.75)

Crown Royal Regal Apple, DeKuyper Pucker Sour Apple, and fresh Lime Juice topped with Fever Tree Ginger Beer

I wasn’t crazy about this and I think it is because it needs a little more of the black cherry vodka. I would say that I don’t usually like ginger beer drinks, but as we learned at the Paddlefish with the Gold Rush, it turns out that I do. So maybe stay clear of this one.

Huckleberry Punch ($11.25)

44° North Mountain Huckleberry Vodka, Bols Crème de Cassis, fresh Lemon Juice, and Cranberry Juice

This is yet another viable option here, especially if you like a good fruity cocktail. Huckleberry vodka is very unique, which again separates the drinks here from many other places at Walt Disney World.

Blue Wilderness ($10.25)

Black Cherry Zodiac Vodka, pineapple juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Curacao.

I could not for the life of men remember what was in this, so credit to The Dis for the ingredient list and for the discovery of the drink (my arm and head also pop up a few times in that video as I was sitting behind them). I do enjoy myself a fruity beverage, so this was rather enjoyable to me. You almost can’t taste the alcohol in this (“that could be dangerous, very dangerous” to quote the Indiana Jones Adventure), but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of this nice fruity concoction.

Appetizers & Entrees

Below is a mix of items from both the counter service menu and the lounge-only menu.

Lump Crab Cake Sandwich ($13.99)

with House-made Canadian Bacon and Spicy Cabbage-Carrot Slaw

This sandwich was spectacular, stacked with plenty of crab cake and a nice, thick piece of Canadian bacon. Even the slaw blended well, being something I would usually remove before consuming the rest. The bread was fresh and I LOVED the waffle fries. This is seriously one of my favorite counter service meals I have had.

House Smoked Salmon BLT ($12.49)

with Lemon-Caper Mayonnaise

Giant, thick pieces of salmon with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on this perfect multigrain bread make for another fantastic option here. I hate to sound like a broken record, but this was awesome as well. A filling and well prepared meal for sure.

Cheesy Barbecue Brisket with House Made Chips ($11.00)

Alright, I know I just told you how much I loved the last two dishes, but this was our overall favorite. This cheesy brisket dip has a wonderful flavor and a nice dose of house made chips to dip in it. This is absolutely a must-order if you will be dining here!

Edamame with Chili Salt ($5.00)

These make for a really good, cheap lounge appetizer. The portion is very sizable and the chili salt gives them a favorable kick.

Crispy Fried Oysters with Miso Tartar Sauce ($12.00)

I also enjoyed the crispy fried oysters, which paired perfectly with the Miso Tartar Sauce.

Classic Bacon Cheeseburger ($12.49)

with Tillamook Cheddar, Lettuce and Tomato

As I would at most Disney counter service locations, I’m going to advise you to stay away from the hamburgers. These are not of the quality of a D-Luxe Burger and will not hit the spot. They are typically dry and almost flavorless. Steer clear at all costs. And yes, that is the full side of fries…

Smoked Turkey Sandwich ($9.99)

with Lettuce, Tomato and Cranberry Mayonnaise

Another viable option, the turkey sandwich is a solid substitute for the salmon version if you are not a big seafood eater. The quinoa salad was also pretty solid if you don’t want to order the waffle fries.

Chocolate Brownie Mousse ($5.99)

with Caramel Popcorn and Toasted Meringue

I loved this dessert so much. The quality of it was something you would expect from an Epcot festival, not so much from a resort counter service location. And yes, it was as good as it looked. The mousse and the cake blended perfectly together, also melding well with the bites of meringue and the piece of caramel popcorn. I would highly recommend this for any chocolate lover.

OVERALL

Geyser Point Bar and Grill is going to quickly become a hotspot at Walt Disney World, for both the views/atmosphere and the food & drinks. A lot of what we tasted was phenomenal. Solid food at good prices, a great array of adult beverages (including some really unique and fantastic beer on tap which we did not get to discuss), and a scenic view of Bay Lake make for something really special. With Roaring Fork and the old pool bar now closed (Roaring Fork should return in some form though), this is currently the extent of counter service dining at the Wilderness Lodge, and because of that, it will be crowded for a while (regardless of how well it would do if both of those other establishments were still functioning). I can say, based on our experience, it may be worth the wait for a table. Geyser Point is going to quickly become a standard by which all other Walt Disney World resort lounges will be judged.

Tom Corless