Walt Disney World has confirmed that one other location at BoardWalk Inn can be going out of enterprise in 2025, marking the fourth everlasting closure in as a few years. This shares dates & particulars, together with commentary about the way forward for the nighttime leisure and eating on the Showplace of the Shore.
Let’s begin with the meat of the story, which is that Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar has revealed through social media that it’s closing: “After practically thirty years on Disney’s Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is making a transfer! Come rejoice with us into the spring season and hold your eyes on our social media for thrilling new updates!”
Subsequent to the official announcement, journalist Scott Gustin reported that the brand new Jellyrolls location won’t be on Walt Disney World property. This is smart, and may put to relaxation any hypothesis or wishful pondering that Jellyrolls will relocate to Disney Springs or another resort. Jellyrolls has not but revealed the place it’ll transfer, or in the event that they’ve even secured a lease elsewhere round Orlando at this level.
In keeping with the official Walt Disney World web site, Jellyrolls has working hours by a minimum of April 2, 2025. The piano bar opens evening at 7 p.m. and closes at 1:45 a.m. most nights. In fact, that is topic to vary–it’s completely attainable that these are boilerplate hours and Jellyrolls will shut sooner. As at all times, Jellyrolls entry is proscribed to company ages 21 and over, and there’s a canopy cost (like $20 final we knew).
Our expectation is that Jellyrolls won’t shut earlier than April. Moderately, that there can be an inflow of longtime Walt Disney World followers desirous to say their goodbyes to Jellyrolls over the following couple of months. Between that and the busy Spring Break season working by late April, our expectation is that Jellyrolls will be capable of grasp on by a minimum of early Could 2025.
Nevertheless, that cowl cost can be one barrier to Jellyrolls getting an ongoing fond farewell from followers and locals–it’ll most likely be one and accomplished for many, and certain within the bar’s final week or weekend of operations.
To one of the best of my information, Jellyrolls is a gap day BoardWalk authentic, and first opened in 1996. I’d actually be stunned if it’s modified a lot since then. The final time we stopped in at Jellyrolls, it was precisely the identical as I bear in mind from over a decade in the past.
For individuals who have been unfamiliar with it, Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar that contains a workforce of gifted musicians dazzle company with their intensive repertoire of songs spanning a long time. From the obscure tunes of yesterday to the hits of in the present day, the ability and showmanship of Jellyrolls’ pianists takes middle stage in a real dueling piano exhibition.
Jellyrolls is situated on the finish of the Boardwalk closest to the Swan & Dolphin pathway. Parking is accessible on the Boardwalk or on the Swolphin. You may also arrive through EPCOT’s Worldwide Gateway or strolling from Disney’s Hollywood Studios–it’s about the identical distance from each because it’s on the far finish of the BoardWalk. It’s additionally simply accessible from the Skyliner resorts.
Though Walt Disney World has seen a revival of adult-centric bars and different choices within the final a number of years, that hasn’t at all times been the case. For some time following the closure of Pleasure Island, Jellyrolls was one of many few adult-only choices at Walt Disney World.
Between that and its practically 30-year historical past, Jellyrolls has developed a loyal fan following. That’s kind of how we grew to become ‘regulars’ of Jellyrolls at one time–Pleasure Island had closed, making Jellyrolls one of many de facto on-site hangouts for twentysomethings. It was additionally common with Faculty Program members and youthful Solid Members, who acquired free entry at one time (perhaps nonetheless do).
Jellyrolls is likewise common with conventioneers for a similar causes. It’s fascinating that even with all of those favorable demographics, and 1000’s of rooms with easy accessibility, Jellyrolls nonetheless is now not viable at Disney’s BoardWalk.
As we first talked about final 12 months round this time when Huge River Grille & Brewing Works closed completely, Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Corridor have been each hanging on by a thread. Truthfully, I’m stunned they’ve each lasted this lengthy; there have been perpetual rumors in regards to the imminent closures of each institutions for the higher a part of a decade. And the ‘deader’ this finish of BoardWalk turns into, the extra possible it’s that the remaining tenants will observe go well with and likewise shut up shope.
Huge River and Jellyrolls aren’t the one two closures at BoardWalk. Previous to that, each ESPN Membership and Ample Hills went out of enterprise through the COVID closure. Subsequent to reopening, Walt Disney World started a multi-year reimagining of the BoardWalk.
This culminated with the opening of the Cake Bake Store Restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers. That additionally added BoardWalk Deli, Blue Ribbon Corn Canines, and some different minor modifications. Most notable up till Cake Bake was the reimagined rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, that are a little bit of a blended bag.
Clearly, there’s no phrase but on any plans for a everlasting alternative for Jellyrolls. Despite the fact that Jellyrolls closing has been rumored for ages, it’s nonetheless seemingly popping out of the blue. It’s not even an official announcement with specifics–only a random Instagram submit on a Saturday evening, with none follow-up from Walt Disney World. Nonetheless higher than the best way Huge River went out!
Don’t maintain your breath on Walt Disney World revealing a alternative for Jellyrolls anytime quickly. Once more, Huge River Grille & Brewing Works abruptly closed round this similar time final 12 months, and it’s been radio silence from Walt Disney World since. We wouldn’t anticipate to listen to something from Disney for months. It wouldn’t shock me the least if there’s no announcement till 2026. Perhaps we’ll luck into one thing on the 2025 Vacation spot D23.
Frankly, I’m okay with this as long as Walt Disney World takes its time to discover a becoming tenant or, ideally, makes use of the vacant house in a complimentary method and opens one thing actually bold to anchor this finish of the BoardWalk (the previous Huge River and Jellyrolls will not be related, however they’re close to each other, so a single tenant that’s a cut up restaurant idea would most likely work).
In the event that they’re searching for free ‘Armchair Imagineering,’ there’s no scarcity of concepts in Prime 10 Restaurant Substitute Ideas at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.
Armchair Imagineering apart, it’ll be fascinating to see what replaces Jellyrolls in the long run. If we’re desirous about this logically, what makes essentially the most sense is a sports activities bar & grill. One thing that’s a combination between Jellyrolls, Huge River and ESPN Membership can be excellent. It could additionally fill an important position that’s now conspicuously absent from this space.
There are numerous dads and different sports activities followers who take pleasure in watching “the massive recreation,” and there’s not a fantastic possibility for that that’s simply accessible from the parks. This spot is well accessible from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, in addition to 10 resorts 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 Huge River function the restaurant facet, and Jellyrolls could be the bar half.
It’s unlucky that this didn’t occur in 2019. Every part on this finish of the BoardWalk has been on life assist for the final decade plus. Cake Bake Store might’ve gone on this finish and ESPN Membership might nonetheless be working in its outdated location had this been master-planned higher. In fact, there’s solely a lot Disney can do with tenants abruptly ending their leases…but it surely additionally looks like Disney might’ve foreseen this. It’s not like Huge River or Jellyrolls have been doing gangbuster enterprise. And Disney clearly is aware of how a lot it’s charging for lease, and whether or not these third get together tenants are viable in the long run.
Truthfully, I’m extra questioning if something will exchange Jellyrolls, moderately than what. Whereas it’s enjoyable to take a position in regards to the potentialities, it’s most likely additionally value inspecting the truth that Disney’s BoardWalk isn’t the counterprogramming to Disney Springs that it was envisioned again within the Nineteen Nineties.
There are nonetheless occasions when BoardWalk is totally hoppin’, but it surely definitely isn’t an enormous hangout for locals. Walt Disney World’s restrictive resort parking guidelines have seen to that! Despite the fact that it’s simpler to park at BoardWalk than, say, Grand Floridian or Up to date (the Fort Knox of WDW), you’re nonetheless playing on the whims of the Solid 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 luck.
Greater than the rest, that’s the largest drawback with the BoardWalk not serving as a secondary leisure space at Walt Disney World. Regardless of the native inhabitants of Central Florida exploding within the final decade, the BoardWalk is much less common (as a vacation spot, not a resort) than it was within the late Nineteen Nineties.
Not solely has this space not lived as much as its full potential and doesn’t see the foot visitors wanted to maintain a restaurant 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 resorts, or World Showcase.
Given simply how a lot turnover there was at BoardWalk all through the 2000s, I can’t assist however surprise if Walt Disney World goes to have a tough time luring extra third get together tenants into these areas. Hopefully this implies that Disney will open its personal Imagineered idea on this location, however that’s tough to see something bold given every little thing else they’ve accomplished (or not accomplished) on the eating entrance within the final a number of years.
It could take an enormous quantity of hubris for a 3rd get together to have a look at Disney’s lease charges and phrases, see what number of different third events have come and gone throughout the BoardWalk, and nonetheless suppose it’s the correct transfer to arrange store right here. That you just’ll be the exception to the rule. Then once more, isn’t that form of the restaurateur mindset? Round us, it’s simply nonstop turnover in high-rent areas–it’s baffling that the industrial actual property homeowners handle to maintain discovering new tenants. However I digress.
If you happen to’re a 3rd get together with the choice of going into Disney Springs, Flamingo Crossings, World Showcase, or right here…which might you select? The ‘lifeless’ finish of BoardWalk–can be a extremely robust promote for me. It could virtually should be a singular and common idea that is aware of it could actually rise above the situation, fill tables regardless, and would like the decrease lease. (Just like the Cake Bake or ESPN Membership.)
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Your Ideas
What do you consider Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar completely closing at Walt Disney World? Will you miss it or are you excited for no matter’s subsequent? Assume that one thing will take its place on that finish of the BoardWalk anytime quickly? What can be your preferrred alternative for Jellyrolls? Anticipate different ideas on this finish of the BoardWalk to exit of enterprise sooner or later within the not-too-distant future? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
