Walt Disney Global has showed that some other location at BoardWalk Inn will likely be going into chapter 11 in 2025, marking the fourth everlasting closure in as a few years. This stocks dates & main points, in conjunction with remark about the way forward for the middle of the night leisure and eating on the Showplace of the Shore.
Let’s get started with the beef of the tale, which is that Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar has printed by means of social media that it’s ultimate: “After just about thirty years on Disney’s Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is creating a transfer! Come rejoice with us into the spring season and stay your eyes on our social media for stimulating new updates!”
Next to the legitimate announcement, journalist Scott Gustin reported that the brand new Jellyrolls location might not be on Walt Disney Global assets. This is smart, and must put to leisure any hypothesis or wishful considering that Jellyrolls will relocate to Disney Springs or any other hotel. Jellyrolls has now not but printed the place it’ll transfer, or in the event that they’ve even secured a hire somewhere else round Orlando at this level.
In line with the legitimate Walt Disney Global website online, Jellyrolls has working hours thru a minimum of April 2, 2025. The piano bar opens evening at 7 p.m. and closes at 1:45 a.m. maximum nights. After all, that is topic to switch–it’s completely conceivable that those are boilerplate hours and Jellyrolls will shut faster. As at all times, Jellyrolls access is proscribed to visitors ages 21 and over, and there’s a canopy price (like $20 remaining we knew).
Our expectation is that Jellyrolls won’t shut earlier than April. Quite, that there will likely be an inflow of longtime Walt Disney Global lovers short of to mention their goodbyes to Jellyrolls over the following couple of months. Between that and the busy Spring Spoil season working thru overdue April, our expectation is that Jellyrolls will be capable of dangle on thru a minimum of early Would possibly 2025.
Alternatively, that duvet price will likely be one barrier to Jellyrolls getting an ongoing fond farewell from lovers and locals–it’ll most likely be one and completed for many, and most probably within the bar’s remaining week or weekend of operations.
To the most productive of my wisdom, Jellyrolls is a gap day BoardWalk unique, and primary opened in 1996. I’d truthfully be stunned if it’s modified a lot since then. The remaining time we stopped in at Jellyrolls, it was once precisely the similar as I keep in mind from over a decade in the past.
For individuals who have been unfamiliar with it, Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar that includes a staff of gifted musicians dazzle visitors with their intensive repertoire of songs spanning a long time. From the difficult to understand tunes of the day past to the hits of these days, the ability and showmanship of Jellyrolls’ pianists takes middle degree in a real dueling piano exhibition.
Jellyrolls is situated on the finish of the Boardwalk closest to the Swan & Dolphin pathway. Parking is to be had on the Boardwalk or on the Swolphin. You’ll additionally arrive by means of EPCOT’s World Gateway or strolling from Disney’s Hollywood Studios–it’s about the similar distance from each because it’s at the a long way finish of the BoardWalk. It’s additionally simply available from the Skyliner lodges.
Even supposing Walt Disney Global has observed a revival of adult-centric bars and different choices within the remaining a number of years, that hasn’t at all times been the case. For some time following the closure of Excitement Island, Jellyrolls was once some of the few adult-only choices at Walt Disney Global.
Between that and its just about 30-year historical past, Jellyrolls has advanced a devoted fan following. That’s roughly how we was ‘regulars’ of Jellyrolls at one time–Excitement Island had closed, making Jellyrolls some of the de facto on-site hangouts for twentysomethings. It was once additionally well-liked by Faculty Program contributors and more youthful Forged Individuals, who won unfastened access at one time (possibly nonetheless do).
Jellyrolls is likewise well-liked by conventioneers for a similar causes. It’s fascinating that even with all of those favorable demographics, and 1000’s of rooms with simple get entry to, Jellyrolls nonetheless is not viable at Disney’s BoardWalk.
As we first discussed remaining 12 months round this time when Large River Grille & Brewing Works closed completely, Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Corridor have been each striking on via a thread. In truth, I’m stunned they’ve each lasted this lengthy; there were perpetual rumors in regards to the forthcoming closures of each institutions for the simpler a part of a decade. And the ‘deader’ this finish of BoardWalk turns into, the much more likely it’s that the remainder tenants will stick with swimsuit and in addition shut up shope.
Large River and Jellyrolls aren’t the one two closures at BoardWalk. Previous to that, each ESPN Membership and Abundant Hills went into chapter 11 all through the COVID closure. Next to reopening, Walt Disney Global started a multi-year reimagining of the BoardWalk.
This culminated with the hole of the Cake Bake Store Eating place via Gwendolyn Rogers. That still added BoardWalk Deli, Blue Ribbon Corn Canine, and a couple of different minor adjustments. Maximum notable up till Cake Bake was once the reimagined rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, which might be just a little of a combined bag.
Clearly, there’s no phrase but on any plans for an everlasting substitute for Jellyrolls. Even supposing Jellyrolls ultimate has been rumored for ages, it’s nonetheless reputedly popping out of the blue. It’s now not even an legitimate announcement with specifics–only a random Instagram submit on a Saturday evening, with none follow-up from Walt Disney Global. Nonetheless higher than the best way Large River went out!
Don’t cling your breath on Walt Disney Global revealing a substitute for Jellyrolls anytime quickly. Once more, Large River Grille & Brewing Works all of a sudden closed round this identical time remaining 12 months, and it’s been radio silence from Walt Disney Global since. We wouldn’t be expecting to listen to the rest from Disney for months. It wouldn’t marvel me the least if there’s no announcement till 2026. Possibly we’ll good fortune into one thing on the 2025 Vacation spot D23.
Frankly, I’m ok with this as long as Walt Disney Global takes its time to discover a becoming tenant or, preferably, makes use of the vacant area in a complimentary way and opens one thing in point of fact bold to anchor this finish of the BoardWalk (the previous Large River and Jellyrolls don’t seem to be hooked up, however they’re close to one some other, so a unmarried tenant that’s a break up eating place idea would most likely paintings).
In the event that they’re in search of unfastened ‘Armchair Imagineering,’ there’s no scarcity of concepts in Most sensible 10 Eating place Alternative Ideas at Disney’s BoardWalk Lodge.
Armchair Imagineering apart, it’ll be fascinating to peer what replaces Jellyrolls in the longer term. If we’re excited about this logically, what makes essentially the most sense is a sports activities bar & grill. One thing that’s a mixture between Jellyrolls, Large River and ESPN Membership can be easiest. It might additionally fill a very important position that’s now conspicuously absent from this house.
There are numerous dads and different sports activities lovers who revel in staring at “the massive recreation,” and there’s now not an ideal possibility for that that’s simply available from the parks. This spot is well available from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in addition to 10 lodges that cater to a variety of demographics, from households to conventioneers. A family-friendly(ish) sports activities bar & grille makes numerous sense right here. Have the previous Large River function the eating place aspect, and Jellyrolls will also be the bar part.
It’s unlucky that this didn’t occur in 2019. The entirety in this finish of the BoardWalk has been on lifestyles beef up for the decade plus. Cake Bake Store may’ve long gone in this finish and ESPN Membership may nonetheless be working in its previous location had this been master-planned higher. After all, there’s solely such a lot Disney can do with tenants all of a sudden finishing their rentals…but it surely additionally turns out like Disney may’ve foreseen this. It’s now not like Large River or Jellyrolls have been doing gangbuster trade. And Disney clearly is aware of how a lot it’s charging for hire, and whether or not those 3rd birthday celebration tenants are viable in the longer term.
In truth, I’m extra questioning if the rest will exchange Jellyrolls, somewhat than what. Whilst it’s amusing to take a position in regards to the probabilities, it’s most likely additionally value inspecting the truth that Disney’s BoardWalk isn’t the counterprogramming to Disney Springs that it was once envisioned again within the Nineteen Nineties.
There are nonetheless occasions when BoardWalk is admittedly hoppin’, but it surely unquestionably isn’t an enormous hangout for locals. Walt Disney Global’s restrictive hotel parking regulations have observed to that! Even supposing it’s more uncomplicated to park at BoardWalk than, say, Grand Floridian or Recent (the Castle Knox of WDW), you’re nonetheless playing at the whims of the Forged Member on the safety guard sales space. In the event that they’re having a nasty day or don’t just like the lower of your jib, you’re out of good fortune.
Greater than the rest, that’s the largest drawback with the BoardWalk now not serving as a secondary leisure house at Walt Disney Global. In spite of the native inhabitants of Central Florida exploding within the remaining decade, the BoardWalk is much less widespread (as a vacation spot, now not a hotel) than it was once within the overdue Nineteen Nineties.
No longer solely has this house now not lived as much as its complete attainable and doesn’t see the foot visitors had to maintain a cafe row, however there already are numerous eating choices. BoardWalk, Yacht & Seaside Membership all have numerous choices, and that’s to not even point out Swan & Dolphin, Swan Reserve, all the Skyliner lodges, or Global Exhibit.
Given simply how a lot turnover there was at BoardWalk all over the 2000s, I will’t lend a hand however wonder whether Walt Disney Global goes to have a troublesome time luring extra 3rd birthday celebration tenants into those areas. Optimistically this implies that Disney will open its personal Imagineered idea on this location, however that’s tricky to peer the rest bold given the whole lot else they’ve completed (or now not completed) at the eating entrance within the remaining a number of years.
It might take an enormous quantity of hubris for a 3rd birthday celebration to have a look at Disney’s hire charges and phrases, see what number of different 3rd events have come and long gone around the BoardWalk, and nonetheless assume it’s the best transfer to arrange store right here. That you simply’ll be the exception to the rule of thumb. However, isn’t that more or less the restaurateur mindset? Round us, it’s simply nonstop turnover in high-rent areas–it’s baffling that the industrial actual property homeowners arrange to stay discovering new tenants. However I digress.
Should you’re a 3rd birthday celebration with the choice of going into Disney Springs, Flamingo Crossings, Global Exhibit, or right here…which might you select? The ‘useless’ finish of BoardWalk–can be a in point of fact difficult promote for me. It might nearly should be a novel and widespread idea that is aware of it will possibly upward push above the site, fill tables regardless, and would favor the decrease hire. (Just like the Cake Bake or ESPN Membership.)
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Your Ideas
What do you bring to mind Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar completely ultimate at Walt Disney Global? Will you omit it or are you excited for no matter’s subsequent? Suppose that one thing will take its position on that finish of the BoardWalk anytime quickly? What can be your ultimate substitute for Jellyrolls? Be expecting different ideas in this finish of the BoardWalk to head into chapter 11 sooner or later within the not-too-distant long term? Do you compromise or disagree with our review? Any questions we will be able to let you solution? Listening to your comments—even whilst you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please percentage your ideas beneath within the feedback!
