HELLOOOOO from Disney’s Wilderness Lodge!

We’re here to check out all the eats and drinks at the BRAND NEW Geyser Point Bar & Grill located near Silver Creek Springs Pool (the Resort’s main pool). This new spot blends right in with the Pacific Northwest feel of this beautiful Resort, and we’re happy to show you around!

By the way, this opening coincides with the temporary closure of Roaring Fork, a Counter Service option, and the permanent closure of Trout Pass Pool Bar. Roaring Fork will reopen later this year once their refurbishments are complete, but Trout Pass will be repurposed, with Geyser Point serving as the main pool bar for both pools.

Therefore, in its opening months, Geyser Point will be THE place for Counter Service breakfast, lunch, AND dinner at Wilderness Lodge (and Territory Lounge will serve continental breakfast options and coffee until 2 pm daily). But there’s more to it than that, as you’re about to see…

… as you join us for our first trip to Geyser Point Bar & Grill!

Atmosphere

To find Geyser Point, just head outside towards the lake (and to the right of Trout Pass Pool Bar). That’s where your eyes will be treated to this brand new facade:

The plentiful stone and cedar offers a natural extension to the rustic feel of the Lodge, while also lending a refined atmosphere to the new space.

The overall effect is simultaneously simple and beautiful. And the spot makes the most of its location by the lake so you can take in some terrific views of the water.

In fact it was even cloudy on our opening day visit, which only helped that Pacific Northwest feel!

You can grab a seat at any one of the high back stools around the large bar area and just take in whatever is on TV (which, when we arrived, was airing park schedules and menu pictures; but regular stations can, of course, also be shown — and thus, my next Super Bowl viewing space ;-D ). Better yet, you can always chat with some of the stellar Wilderness Lodge Cast Members.

There is also table seating in abundance, with much of it lining the open air perimeter.

Some cozier spaces with lower tables, though, encourage you to lounge for a while with a drink and some friends (made comfortable by the presence of ceiling fans OR heaters, depending on the weather). Speaking of weather, thanks to a DFB reader on Facebook, we now know that there are retractable walls/windows here so that the location can be completely enclosed!

And speaking of cozy, I’m going to make it a point to come back here some evening and enjoy the fireplace!

Honestly, due to Geyser Point being an outdoor location, I think I was expecting a rather glorified pool bar — which is not to say that the Disney Pool Bars aren’t tons of fun. In fact, some of them rank among my favorite vacation spots in Disney World. But Geyser Point decidedly has its own feel, making it a destination in and of itself.

And now, let’s check out what exactly is happening at the BAR and GRILL parts of Geyser Point 🙂 !

Eats

Geyser Point blends two different dining styles (Table Service and Counter Service) and two different menus, with the unique feature that you can enjoy both styles at once if you wish — we’ll explain that a little later. First, let’s check out the bar menu, starting with the beverages.

The Featured Cocktails, it’s worth noting, are exclusive to Geyser Point, and they each feature at least one spirit from a Northwest distillery. Click the images to zoom in.

According to the bartenders, Huckleberry Punch will best suit fans of sweet drinks. The Cascadia Sangria Cocktail will err on the side of tart due to the use of merlot. The Northwest Iced Tea is, of course, a spin on a classic Long Island, made with Aviation Gin (from Portland, Oregon), which lends lavender and citrus flavors as opposed to juniper.

We’ll show you the rest of the beverage menu shortly, but we wanted to try one from the Featured list, so we went with the Black Cherry Mule. All drinks are served in plastic ware even at the bar area, which is to be expected in such close proximity to the main pool. In fact, while Trout Pass Pool Bar is closed for refurbishment, guests can be served their food and drink in the pool area as well.

The Black Cherry Mule is full of flavor, with the strength of the black cherry balanced by the zesty Ginger Beer and mildly sweet agave. Variations of Mules are popping up everywhere these days, and the black cherry offers an unexpected twist.

The Wine selections feature Northwest vineyards, primarily.

And the Beer menu even offers a few Northwest brewery choices, among others.

Of course, some tried-and-true Disney Pool Bar drinks can be found here, too.

There is also a bit of “Rustic Fare” on the bar menu (along with a few non-alcoholic drinks), made up of a selection of appetizers and small plates.

It was honestly a bit hard to choose, since the Rustic Fare menu offers some unique choices in the world of Disney World appetizers. It was NOT difficult, however, to realize we wanted to order the Cheesy Barbecue Brisket with house-made chips immediately (and, yes, that is a wooden board the whole thing is served on)!

The Cheesy Barbecue Brisket is a shareable dip (IF you’re feeling generous 😉 ) . The “cheesy” part is composed of Provolone and Tillamook Cheddar, and is garnished with a few jalapeño slices.

Oh, you can get as many chip refills as you need to polish off the dip!

Now, you may get as caught up as we did in the savory, mildly spicy, wonderful cheesy goodness of this dip-that-eats-like-a-meal. Even so, don’t forget to catch up on the “Specialty Times” lining your wooden plate 😉 !

And, yeah… you guessed it. It pretty much comes with the job to ALWAYS order up any and all Charcuterie boards. (Tough work, but somebody’s gotta do it!)

The Handcrafted Charcuterie comes with sourdough crisps, prosciutto, salami, shaved parmesan reggiano, arugula, mini pickles, and honey grain mustard.

The side jar is filled with duck rillette (which resembles a pâté).

In all, I’d have to say, “More cheese, please!” But aside from wanting another hearty cheese or two, I still thought the portion, plating, and cool addition of the rillette among the meat selections combine to make this a solid offering.

The seafood options we chose fall more under the category of “small plates,” starting with the Crispy Fried Oysters, which are served on top of shaved sweet potatoes with a Miso Tartar Sauce on the side.

The oysters were tasty, but a lot of that actually had to do with the breading.

These things were HEAVY on the bread, so the oyster flavor was somewhat hidden. Seafood lovers may be a bit deterred.

Finally, we chose the Shrimp on a Wire with Miso Lime Vinaigrette, togarashi, shishito peppers, and chili aioli.

The shrimp are smoked, and were also very fresh and spicy. Another winner.

So, we’ve gone over the full bar menu. But we’re not done yet! Geyser Point Bar & Grill also offers Quick Service fare, via a walkup window.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees are all available here. Alas, we’re out of Specialty Mickey Waffles until the Roaring Fork’s refurbishment is complete. But items like the Eggs Benedict (served on a Cheddar Biscuit!), Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, Maple Cinnamon Pancakes and Apple Compote, and Smoked Salmon Everything Bialy (as opposed to a standard bagel) can fill the void… for now 😉 .

The lunch and dinner menu offers some Counter Service items that you’d expect, with a Smoked Turkey Sandwich and Classic Bacon Cheeseburger. But a Bison Cheeseburger, Grilled Salmon BLT, and Grilled Portobello Salad up the Counter Service ante a bit.

Here’s the thing: yes, you can order from the walkup window. You’ll receive a number and they’ll bring your food to your table when it’s ready, or you can carry it over to the pool or what have you, as per usual.

But let’s say you’re perfectly happy at your seat in the bar and dining area, yet you’d prefer a meal over the appetizers. Well, good news! Your server can bring you the Counter Service menu, as well as take your order and deliver your food right to you, so it’s a pretty cool set up.

We ordered the Bison Cheeseburger which, like the other burgers and sandwiches, is served with Waffle Fries (unless you opt for the Multi-Grain Salad as your side).

The toppings here are pretty hefty, with Tillamook Cheddar, sweet onion straws and Marionberry Barbecue Sauce covering the bison meat (with tomato and lettuce underneath), so this next picture gives a better idea of the burger itself.

It’s cool to have the option of the leaner bison meat, and I thought this sandwich was prepared well. I especially enjoyed the Marionberry Barbecue Sauce, which has a tart-and-sweet tang as opposed to a typical barbecue — a great, tasty touch.

The Lump Crab Cake Sandwich was another nice surprise (and is also accompanied by the Waffle Fries).

Toppings here include a spicy cabbage-carrot slaw (which I honestly didn’t find to be particularly spicy), while the Crab Cake is served over some of the house-made Canadian Bacon, which you’ll also find on the Eggs Benedict from the Breakfast menu.

The crab cake was completely PACKED with crab, with hardly any bread filler at all; just enough to bind.

It’s also grilled instead of fried, so that great crab flavor really comes through.

For dessert, the options are a Chocolate Brownie Mousse with caramel popcorn and toasted meringue, and a Seasonal Pie. I was expecting something along the lines of the Counter Service Apple Blossom-type staple, but I was SO wrong! I was pleased to find out that the seasonal selection is starting out with a Dried Cranberry and Apple Pie.

There was a TON of fruit inside the buttery shell (this cross-section picture shows just half of the fruit inside).

It’s a pretty nice change of pace from your typical Quick Service dessert, and was a nice way to end our first — but definitely not last — stop at Geyser Point Bar & Grill.

Overall

You know, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from Geyser Point Bar & Grill, with its unusual  bar-meets-Counter-Service-meets-Table Service hybrid setup. Turns out, it totally works! Geyser Point offers service styles and flavors — with just enough cohesion in the Northwest-themed menu options — to meet a range of tastes and guest needs in a setting that will please… well, just about anybody, in my opinion! There really seems to be something for everyone here.

Also, we were originally concerned that there were no windows here and that the location was all open-air, all the time. We were told by a DFB reader on Facebook, however, that there are retractable walls/windows here so it is an all-weather spot! Yay!!

So, do you want to make this a destination, or should you just save this spot for the next time you’re at the Wilderness Lodge pool? Well…that depends. If you’re like me and love hanging out in a relaxing location with access to pretty good food and some fun drinks, then it’s worth a trip over to Wilderness Lodge. If you’re visiting Disney World with your family, working from a spreadsheet schedule, and packing your days with theme park fun, then it’s probably not your best use of time to come all the way over to Geyser Point. I will say that this is a welcome addition to Wilderness Lodge, and the guests staying at this resort will likely very much enjoy the dining spot.

If Geyser Point gives any indication of what’s to come as we anticipate another dining option, refurbishments to long-loved spots, and further amenities coming to Wilderness Lodge, then it makes me even more excited to see — and taste — more soon!

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What are your thoughts on Geyser Point Bar & Grill from what you’ve seen so far? Please let us know with a comment!