Jellyrolls Permanently Closing at Disney World

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Jellyrolls Permanently Closing at Disney World


Jellyrolls Permanently Closing at Disney World

Walt Disney World has confirmed that one other location at BoardWalk Inn will probably 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 nearly thirty years on Disney’s Boardwalk, Jellyrolls is making a move! Come celebrate with us into the spring season and keep your eyes on our social media for exciting 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 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.

According to the official Walt Disney World web site, Jellyrolls has working hours by a minimum of April 2, 2025. The piano bar opens night time at 7 p.m. and closes at 1:45 a.m. most nights. Of course, that is topic to vary–it’s totally doable that these are boilerplate hours and Jellyrolls will shut sooner. As all the time, Jellyrolls entry is proscribed to friends 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. Rather, that there will probably 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 operating by late April, our expectation is that Jellyrolls will be capable of hold on by a minimum of early May 2025.

However, that cowl cost will probably be one barrier to Jellyrolls getting an ongoing fond farewell from followers and locals–it’ll in all probability be one and executed 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 unique, and first opened in 1996. I’d actually be shocked 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 those that have been unfamiliar with it, Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar that encompasses a crew of gifted musicians dazzle friends with their in depth repertoire of songs spanning many years. 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 positioned on the finish of the Boardwalk closest to the Swan & Dolphin pathway. Parking is obtainable on the Boardwalk or on the Swolphin. You also can arrive by way of EPCOT’s International 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.

Although Walt Disney World has seen a revival of adult-centric bars and different choices within the final a number of years, that hasn’t all the time 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 almost 30-year historical past, Jellyrolls has developed a loyal fan following. That’s roughly 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 College Program individuals and youthful Cast Members, who obtained free entry at one time (possibly 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 quick access, Jellyrolls nonetheless is now not viable at Disney’s BoardWalk.

As we first talked about final yr round this time when Big River Grille & Brewing Works closed completely, Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall have been each hanging on by a thread. Honestly, I’m shocked they’ve each lasted this lengthy; there have been perpetual rumors concerning 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 seemingly it’s that the remaining tenants will observe swimsuit and likewise shut up shope.

Big River and Jellyrolls aren’t the one two closures at BoardWalk. Prior to that, each ESPN Club 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 Shop Restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers. That additionally added BoardWalk Deli, Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs, 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 combined bag.

Obviously, there’s no phrase but on any plans for a everlasting alternative for Jellyrolls. Even although 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 night time, with none follow-up from Walt Disney World. Still higher than the best way Big River went out!

Don’t maintain your breath on Walt Disney World revealing a alternative for Jellyrolls anytime quickly. Again, Big River Grille & Brewing Works abruptly closed round this similar time final yr, 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. Maybe we’ll luck into one thing on the 2025 Destination 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 Big River and Jellyrolls aren’t linked, however they’re close to each other, so a single tenant that’s a cut up restaurant idea would in all probability work).

If they’re on the lookout for free ‘Armchair Imagineering,’ there’s no scarcity of concepts in Top 10 Restaurant Replacement Concepts at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.

Armchair Imagineering apart, it’ll be fascinating to see what replaces Jellyrolls in the long run. If we’re fascinated by this logically, what makes essentially the most sense is a sports activities bar & grill. Something that’s a combination between Jellyrolls, Big River and ESPN Club could be excellent. It would additionally fill a significant position that’s now conspicuously absent from this space.

There are a variety of dads and different sports activities followers who take pleasure in watching “the big game,” and there’s not a fantastic choice 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 a variety of sense right here. Have the previous Big River function the restaurant aspect, and Jellyrolls might be the bar half.

It’s unlucky that this didn’t occur in 2019. Everything on this finish of the BoardWalk has been on life assist for the final decade plus. Cake Bake Shop might’ve gone on this finish and ESPN Club might nonetheless be working in its outdated location had this been master-planned higher. Of course, 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 Big 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.

Honestly, I’m extra questioning if something will change Jellyrolls, relatively than what. While it’s enjoyable to take a position concerning the potentialities, it’s in all probability 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! Even although it’s simpler to park at BoardWalk than, say, Grand Floridian or Contemporary (the Fort Knox of WDW), you’re nonetheless playing on the whims of the Cast Member on the safety guard sales space. If they’re having a nasty day or don’t just like the lower of your jib, you’re out of luck.

More than anything, that’s the most important drawback with the BoardWalk not serving as a secondary leisure space at Walt Disney World. Despite 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 site visitors wanted to maintain a restaurant row, however there already are a variety of eating choices. BoardWalk, Yacht & Beach Club all have a variety of 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 part else they’ve executed (or not executed) on the eating entrance within the final a number of years.

It would take an enormous quantity of hubris for a 3rd get together to take 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 appropriate transfer to arrange store right here. That you’ll be the exception to the rule. Then once more, isn’t that form of the restaurateur mindset? Around us, it’s simply nonstop turnover in high-rent areas–it’s baffling that the industrial actual property house owners handle to maintain discovering new tenants. But I digress.

If you’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 ‘dead’ finish of BoardWalk–could be a extremely robust promote for me. It would virtually should be a novel and common idea that is aware of it will possibly rise above the placement, fill tables regardless, and would favor the decrease lease. (Like the Cake Bake or ESPN Club.)

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Your Thoughts

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? Think that one thing will take its place on that finish of the BoardWalk anytime quickly? What could be your superb alternative for Jellyrolls? Expect 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 may help you reply? Hearing your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!

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