Jellyrolls Completely Closing at Disney World

Walt Disney World has confirmed that one other location at BoardWalk Inn might 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 by way of 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 maintain 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 is not going to be on Walt Disney World property. This is smart, and may put to relaxation any hypothesis or wishful considering 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 accordance with the official Walt Disney World web site, Jellyrolls has working hours via no less than April 2, 2025. The piano bar opens evening at 7 p.m. and closes at 1:45 a.m. most nights. After all, that is topic to alter–it’s solely attainable that these are boilerplate hours and Jellyrolls will shut sooner. As at all times, Jellyrolls entry is restricted to visitors ages 21 and over, and there’s a canopy cost (like $20 final we knew).

Our expectation is that Jellyrolls is not going to shut earlier than April. Fairly, that there might be an inflow of longtime Walt Disney World followers desirous to say their goodbyes to Jellyrolls over the subsequent couple of months. Between that and the busy Spring Break season working via late April, our expectation is that Jellyrolls will have the ability to cling on via no less than early Might 2025.

Nonetheless, that cowl cost might 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 sure within the bar’s final week or weekend of operations.

To the very best of my data, Jellyrolls is a gap day BoardWalk authentic, and first opened in 1996. I’d truthfully 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 keep in mind from over a decade in the past.

For many who had been unfamiliar with it, Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar that contains a group of proficient musicians dazzle visitors with their in depth repertoire of songs spanning a long time. From the obscure tunes of yesterday to the hits of as we speak, the talent 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 on the market on the Boardwalk or on the Swolphin. You may as well arrive by way of 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 roughly how we turned ‘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 in style with School Program individuals and youthful Solid Members, who acquired free entry at one time (possibly nonetheless do).

Jellyrolls is likewise in style with conventioneers for a similar causes. It’s attention-grabbing that even with all of those favorable demographics, and hundreds of rooms with easy accessibility, Jellyrolls nonetheless is not viable at Disney’s BoardWalk.

As we first talked about final 12 months round this time when Massive River Grille & Brewing Works closed completely, Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Corridor had been each hanging on by a thread. Actually, 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 probably it’s that the remaining tenants will observe swimsuit and likewise shut up shope.

Massive 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 Canine, and some different minor adjustments. 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. Regardless 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 publish on a Saturday evening, with none follow-up from Walt Disney World. Nonetheless higher than the way in which Massive River went out!

Don’t maintain your breath on Walt Disney World revealing a alternative for Jellyrolls anytime quickly. Once more, Massive River Grille & Brewing Works abruptly closed round this identical time final 12 months, and it’s been radio silence from Walt Disney World since. We wouldn’t count on to listen to something from Disney for months. It wouldn’t shock me the least if there’s no announcement till 2026. Possibly 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 area in a complimentary method and opens one thing really bold to anchor this finish of the BoardWalk (the previous Massive River and Jellyrolls aren’t related, however they’re close to each other, so a single tenant that’s a break 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 High 10 Restaurant Substitute Ideas at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.

Armchair Imagineering apart, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see what replaces Jellyrolls in the long run. If we’re enthusiastic about this logically, what makes essentially the most sense is a sports activities bar & grill. One thing that’s a mixture between Jellyrolls, Massive River and ESPN Membership could be good. It could additionally fill an important position that’s now conspicuously absent from this space.

There are plenty of dads and different sports activities followers who get pleasure from watching “the massive sport,” and there’s not an excellent possibility for that that’s simply accessible from the parks. This spot is definitely 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 plenty of sense right here. Have the previous Massive 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 help for the final decade plus. Cake Bake Store may’ve gone on this finish and ESPN Membership may nonetheless be working in its outdated location had this been master-planned higher. After all, there’s solely a lot Disney can do with tenants abruptly ending their leases…however it additionally looks like Disney may’ve foreseen this. It’s not like Massive River or Jellyrolls had been doing gangbuster enterprise. And Disney clearly is aware of how a lot it’s charging for hire, and whether or not these third social gathering tenants are viable in the long run.

Actually, I’m extra questioning if something will exchange Jellyrolls, somewhat than what. Whereas it’s enjoyable to take a position in regards to the potentialities, it’s most likely additionally value analyzing the truth that Disney’s BoardWalk isn’t the counterprogramming to Disney Springs that it was envisioned again within the Nineties.

There are nonetheless instances when BoardWalk is totally hoppin’, however it actually isn’t an enormous hangout for locals. Walt Disney World’s restrictive resort parking guidelines have seen to that! Regardless that it’s simpler to park at BoardWalk than, say, Grand Floridian or Modern (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 foul day or don’t just like the reduce 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 in style (as a vacation spot, not a resort) than it was within the late 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 plenty of eating choices. BoardWalk, Yacht & Seaside Membership all have plenty of choices, and that’s to not even point out Swan & Dolphin, Swan Reserve, the entire 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 social gathering 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 social gathering 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 assume it’s the fitting transfer to arrange store right here. That you just’ll be the exception to the rule. Then once more, isn’t that sort 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.

When you’re a 3rd social gathering with the choice of going into Disney Springs, Flamingo Crossings, World Showcase, or right here…which might you select? The ‘lifeless’ finish of BoardWalk–could be a extremely robust promote for me. It could virtually need to be a singular and in style idea that is aware of it could possibly rise above the placement, fill tables regardless, and would like the decrease hire. (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 could be your ideally suited alternative for Jellyrolls? Anticipate different ideas on this finish of the BoardWalk to exit of enterprise in some unspecified time in the future within the not-too-distant future? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!