For the ultimate a number of years, Walt Disney International has had an issue with the BoardWalk. There are these days 3 vacancies alongside the prom that observe a wave of closures, which adopted a previous slate of openings and reimaginings. To borrow a word from the stricken EPCOT overhaul, BoardWalk has been in a state of “changing into” for some time.
Final month, we reported on thriller initiatives at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, which resulted from visual development going down within the vacant venues that used to deal with Jellyrolls and Giant River Grille & Brewing Works. This got here after a thriller bulletin gave the impression past due ultimate yr at the Walt Disney International site, indicating that there’d be development on the BoardWalk via past due 2026.
Again when this was once first introduced, we speculated about what the mission would possibly entail. It’s imaginable that development caution most effective considerations utilities paintings and different regimen upkeep, however we doubt it. Reasonably, there’s explanation why to consider that BoardWalk is in any case getting ‘section two’ of its larger image hotel reimagining, very similar to what Grand Floridian has obtained over the past yr following a longer hiatus in that well-received lodge overhaul.
The most recent building is that two new entries within the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District database ascertain that new eating places and retail are coming to Disney’s Boardwalk after two storefronts have sat empty for months. Even though nonetheless formally unannounced by means of Walt Disney International, the 2 new initiatives are indexed as “Challenge Amazon” and “Challenge Bubbles,” and each are at places which were sitting empty for a while.
Let’s talk about every one in flip together with recent pictures lately Might 2026…
Challenge Bubbles
Challenge Bubbles is positioned on the former Prom Superb Artwork Gallery, which closed ultimate October. The CFTOD database data signifies that the gap is more or less 2,300 sq. ft in dimension, this means that it makes use of the similar footprint as the former galleries.
With a reputation like Challenge Bubbles, the very first thing that would possibly soar to thoughts is a champagne (or “bubbly”) bar. One thing like Crimson aboard Disney Cruise Line. This may be an enormous hit with Walt Disney International’s goal demographic, and with out cannibalizing industry from different bars round Crescent Lake that skew against different audiences.
Between a bubbly bar and Cake Bake, Crescent Lake may just solidify itself because the vacation spot at Walt Disney International for bachelorette events and different such reviews. It could be a license to print cash!
The one hang-up this is that the Prom Superb Artwork Gallery was once, clearly, a store. As was once the former tenant prior to that. If Walt Disney International had been going to retrofit this area to turn out to be a bar, that might be an formidable and dear undertaking, until it had been executed as merely as imaginable (and we’ve observed precisely that with different contemporary bars).
Accordingly, until Walt Disney International goes to head all-in on making BoardWalk a ingesting district for conventioneers, bachelorette events, and so forth., it most certainly makes extra sense for this area to be reimagined into retail. With a trio of vacancies at the BoardWalk (plus different borderline places that may be put to raised use), there’s actually no explanation why to fully grow to be any location into one thing materially other from what it was once prior to.
All 3 of the approaching places are most certainly moderately 1:1 additions. That means that the previous Prom Superb Artwork Gallery is more likely to turn out to be a store, Giant River Grille will most likely home a cafe, and Jellyrolls shall be a bar. No wish to swim upstream with this many choices at the desk.
Every other logical rationalization derived from the Challenge Bubbles codename is a cleaning soap store. As any person with handwashing enjoy must know, cleaning soap bubbles when lathered.
Walt Disney International has partnered with plenty of bathtub merchandise corporations through the years. The latest of those additions had been Basin stores at each Disney Springs and the Grand Floridian, which appear relatively well-liked. (No less than, on the subject of foot site visitors. I don’t know the way robust gross sales are…however there are two of them!)
Atmosphere apart problems relating to competition and exclusivity, we’d additionally observe that Disney has aggressively expanded its partnership with Bathtub & Frame Works. They not too long ago launched 26 merchandise as a part of a Mandalorian and Grogu partnership.
I wouldn’t be shocked to look Basin or Bathtub & Frame Works arrange store right here, particularly if it’s a part of a larger image initiative to revitalize the BoardWalk and build up foot site visitors. There’s most certainly additionally important overlap between Cake Bake’s core demo and potential clients of cleaning soap.
Walt Disney Imagineering has a historical past of having adorable with mission names, leaving cryptic and indecipherable breadcrumbs which might be nonsensical until you already know what the top mission is and will paintings the common sense backwards.
As an example, Megastar Wars: Upward thrust of the Resistance was once Challenge Alcatraz and the Skyliner was once the Italian Task. As soon as each had been formally introduced, the ones names made sense in an indirect form of manner, however no person would’ve guessed both with none more information.
Accordingly, it’s most certainly a idiot’s errand to take a look at to do the similar with Challenge Bubbles (or Challenge Amazon, for that subject). The one thing more I’d upload this is that the previous tenant was once Wyland Galleries. The artist at the back of that gallery, Robert Wyland, paints marine scenes that incessantly function…bubbles. That will give us 0 perception into the longer term for this area, simply the previous.
Challenge Amazon
Challenge Amazon is positioned on the former Giant River Grille & Brewing Works, which was once a desk provider eating place and sports activities bar that closed again in January 2024. I believe we will be able to all agree that the codename is a clue that that is going to be a distribution heart for a undeniable well-liked store. Clearly.
Joking apart, the identify right here may just level to this being a Rainforest Cafe or a brand new jungle-themed principle from Landry’s. It’s been some time since T-REX Cafe opened at Disney Springs, so it may well be time for every other access into that campy and tacky assortment. On the other hand, I once in a while surprise how the Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom continues to be in industry, and don’t assume this location lends itself to a kitschy family-centric sit-down eating place.
A much more likely choice, given the conventioneer clientele, is a Brazilian steakhouse. One thing like Fogo de Chão, however now not a series and most likely extra upmarket. The template for this may well be extra like Bourbon Steak over on the Swan & Dolphin. Conference visitors staying at those high-end lodges generally tend to have cash to burn.
Logically, what makes probably the most sense is a sports activities bar & grill…like what was once there prior to, however with a recent inner and other branding. As famous above, all of those new initiatives are most certainly 1:1 replacements, that means that Challenge Amazon is sort of without a doubt a desk provider eating place with a bar that reuses the prevailing kitchen and infrastructure, versus, say, an Amazon success heart.
A sports activities bar and grill would additionally fill a very important function that’s now conspicuously absent from this house. There are numerous dads and different sports activities enthusiasts who revel in observing “the massive recreation,” and there isn’t a perfect choice that’s simply obtainable from the parks. This spot is definitely obtainable from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in addition to 10 lodges that cater to a variety of demographics.
Even though it’s now not obvious from those pictures, which simply display the home windows blacked out, so much has been going down at Giant River over the previous couple of months. There was once a transportable barricade up not too long ago, there’s been audible noise within, and development crews had been noticed coming and going. One thing is already going down, past simply the Challenge Amazon access.
Challenge JR (Jellyrolls Substitute)
Sadly, that’s now not a real mission identify, so don’t get your hopes up about Japan Railways opening a line connecting BoardWalk and Orlando World Airport. (A extra apt identify can be Challenge Chord, giving us a reputation associated with a previous/long term tenant and finishing the ABC trifecta.)
Oddly sufficient, there is not any mission access for a Jellyrolls substitute within the CFTOD database, and that is in spite of that mission being probably the most visual of the bunch! As we reported ultimate month, there’s been visual and audible demolition and/or development at Jellyrolls, with employees hauling out and in fabrics. They weren’t energetic after I visited for those pictures, but it surely was once the night time. Regardless, that is the one location the place visual paintings is occurring, with the facade open at the back of the development partitions.
Extra particularly, there was once this photograph that allegedly displays the internal of Jellyrolls has been gutted, with plumbing and utilities paintings being executed. Given the state of that inner, paintings has additionally been ongoing at Jellyrolls for a minimum of a couple of months. Whilst I haven’t observed within the development, it’s obvious even from the outdoor that one thing primary is occurring with Jellyrolls.
For just about the ultimate yr, there’s been a power rumor that Jellyrolls would get replaced by means of a jazz membership or speakeasy. I haven’t heard the rest credible about this shortly, and it’s frankly a little bit arduous to parse wishful considering and legit rumor.
Purely speculative, but it surely wouldn’t wonder me to look one thing corresponding to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar and Dealer Sam’s, however with a prohibition-era jazz membership because the theme. If Disney can land on an idea with a vending part (like tiki mugs), that might make it a lot more straightforward to promote internally, as Dealer Sam’s is a license to print cash.
A technique or every other, I’d totally be expecting this to be a bar of a few type. Once more, those are all most certainly 1:1 replacements, and that’s most likely the case even with Jellyrolls being totally gutted. It nonetheless makes probably the most sense to have this be every other bar, reusing the underlying infrastructure.
Every other secure wager is a front room very similar to Geyser Level or Wailulu Bar & Grill. In between counter provider and desk provider, environment friendly, kin pleasant, and indoor/outside water perspectives. This sort of family-friendly front room has confirmed immensely well-liked by visitors, and it could fill a significant void at Crescent Lake. That’s doubly true in the event that they found out a option to do a counter provider window. (This may be another choice within the former Giant River area.)
I’m skeptical that this may be a simple meals court docket with out the living room hook. Even though that’s on the best of want lists amongst visitors who in reality keep on the BoardWalk, it’s not going that Disney sees it that manner. Massive-scale meals courts are a function of all Price and Average Accommodations, however now not Deluxes.
There’s a explanation why for that. Every time we talk over with the marketplaces over at Yacht & Seaside Membership, they aren’t that busy, which may well be as a result of they’re underwhelming however is also because of a loss of call for. Getting access to such a lot of eating choices throughout Crescent Lake, to not point out a brief stroll away in International Show off, is an important restricting issue on call for.
If BoardWalk goes to get a quick informal eating place, it most certainly must be one with “magnet” standing that may draw visitors from the parks and surrounding lodges. One thing like Portillo’s or D-Luxe Burger, either one of which have been urged in our listing of Most sensible 10 Eating place Substitute Ideas at Disney’s BoardWalk Hotel. (At the side of loads of different ‘Armchair Imagineering’ about different doable ideas to revitalize the BoardWalk.)
Challenge Timelines
Once more, not anything has been formally introduced as of but for any of those vacancies, however Walt Disney International wouldn’t be actively operating on those venues if there weren’t inside plans for them. In our view, the development provides enough affirmation, and the mission names for 2 of the venues are the icing at the cake. (Possibly one is every other cake store?!)
Which means Walt Disney International has both company plans for an in-house principle and/or 3rd birthday celebration tenants that experience already signed rentals and made commitments. It’s in reality a little bit unexpected that there wouldn’t be an professional announcement already given the obvious degree of labor.
A gap this fiscal yr feels not going given the dimensions of development, however a Christmas 2026 (calendar yr) debut isn’t totally far-fetched for the retail area. Someday in 2027 turns out like a more secure wager for the eating places. Paintings is obviously already going down on all 3 of those initiatives.
It’s additionally imaginable the scoop is being dictated by means of the 3rd birthday celebration tenants (assuming those initiatives aren’t in-house Disney ideas, which is most certainly a secure wager for a minimum of one in all them). Or that Walt Disney International is keeping a press release for D23 Expo, even though this turns out a little bit too small-scale for that.
Right here’s hoping that Walt Disney International has giant plans to respire new lifestyles into the prom with brand-new eating ideas and extra. There’s a ton of untapped doable on the BoardWalk; the replacements simply wish to be distinctive and price visitors and locals going out in their option to search out.
Even with minimum parking, the BoardWalk is hooked up to hundreds of lodge rooms by the use of the Skyliner gondolas, and there are every other few thousand rooms which might be walkable within the Crescent Lake Hotel Space–a lot of which home high-spending conference visitors.
Cake Bake Store already serves as proof-of-concept for this. In spite of numerous court cases and grievance over pricing, fan forecasts that idea was once doomed to fail weren’t simply very much exaggerated, they had been flat-out mistaken. Each and every time I keep at or talk over with the BoardWalk, together with a random shoulder season weeknight for those pictures, Cake Bake is hoppin’. In the meantime, the opposite finish of the prom is a ghost the city.
It without a doubt is helping that the BoardWalk is inside of strolling or boat distance of each EPCOT’s World Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The appropriate principle can do giant industry on the BoardWalk, as long as visitors are given sufficient of a explanation why to stroll over right here.
The district may just without a doubt maintain a couple of new tenants (particularly complementary ones). They only wish to be thrilling ideas that may draw visitors past the ones staying at BoardWalk. Up to I’d love to look one thing like Primo Piatto or every other great counter provider eating place right here, I don’t assume that would narrow it. However with the appropriate additions, industry may just increase on the BoardWalk, serving to revitalize and raise the world to destination-worthy ‘2d (Disney) Springs’ standing.
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Your Ideas
Assume replacements for Jellyrolls, Prom Artwork Gallery, and Giant River Grille & Brewing Works are in reality within the works? Have your individual favourite theories for Challenge Amazon or Bubbles? What about announcement and opening timelines? What’s maximum wanted within the Crescent Lake Hotel Space? Assume one thing extra grownup would lend a hand revive the BoardWalk, or must Disney focal point extra on family-friendly choices for BoardWalk? Any questions we will be able to can help you resolution? Listening to your comments—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas underneath within the feedback!
