Disney World’s 2026 BoardWalk Mystery Project Might Be Replacing Empty Restaurants (Plural).

Last holiday season, Walt Disney World announced construction starting around Thanksgiving and continuing throughout 2026 at the BoardWalk. At the time, the scope and scale of the work was a mystery (and technically still is unconfirmed), but we do have some new theories about what the project(s) might entail.

For starters, here’s the construction bulletin for BoardWalk that appears on the official Walt Disney World website:

Now through late 2026, refurbishment work will take place in select areas of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. While Guests may see or hear work during daytime hours, most Resort amenities—including dining, recreation, and merchandise locations—will remain available.

From January 11, 2027, through April 2027, the Luna Park Pool, the Luna Park Crazy Play Area and Leaping Horse Libations at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas will be closed for routine maintenance. Guests may see and hear work taking place during daytime hours. However, the Villas Pool and the Inn Pool will remain open for Guests to enjoy.

The Disney Skyliner will be closed for routine refurbishment January 24–30, 2027. During this time, complimentary bus transportation will be available.

Only the first paragraph is pertinent to this post. The Skyliner and Luna Park Pool closures were announced a while ago and are pretty much known quantities. (Regrettably, “routine maintenance” means Walt Disney World probably isn’t bringing back the Creepy Clown with Spaghettios Hair. But never let go of that dream!)

When this was first announced, the date range was late November 2025 throughout 2026, implying it was expected to last the duration of 2026, or at least, most of the year. Now that’s been changed to “late 2026,” which confirms our suspicions. It’s also taking place in select areas, plural, of Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Taking these two pieces of info together suggests it’s a fairly major project.

Back when this was first announced, we speculated about what the project might entail. And I’ve since made multiple visits to the Crescent Lake area to look for any visible signs of work to confirm or refute those theories. Most recently, about a week ago that resulted in a different post about Major Construction at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts During Year-Plus Refurbishment Project.

I didn’t see or hear anything at BoardWalk during my stroll around Crescent Lake, but it sounds as if I might’ve just missed it. A reader comment on a different post about projects at the Polynesian indicated that the path between BoardWalk and Disney’s Hollywood Studios was closed on April 13th, with construction trucks and an excavator blocking the walkway; that same reader circled back and reported that the walkway had reopened the next day (h/t to Eric).

I’ve heard similar reports of sporadic utilities work being done on the BoardWalk Villas side. It’s possible that this is what the construction warning posted by Walt Disney World on the official website encompasses, and that’ll be ongoing throughout the year in different areas. But there’s reason to believe that more exciting work than just that is happening…

In addition to scattered reports of utilities work, there have been the same inside the former Big River Grille & Brewing Works over the last few months. Guests have reported demolition and/or construction noise, and spotted workers hauling in and out materials. There’s also been a visible presence of vehicles and other equipment around the front of Big River. This has supposedly been ongoing since at least the winter, although I haven’t seen or heard anything firsthand.

More recently, there’s a new report that the same is happening inside Jellyrolls. That shows the interior has been gutted, with plumbing and utilities work being done. As with the Big River work, I haven’t seen or heard this during my visits to Crescent Lake; given the state of that interior, work has also been ongoing at Jellyrolls for at least a few months.

While a lot of the reactions to this news have been fans expressing disappointment, mine is more or less the opposite. My fear has been that Walt Disney World had no plans for these venues whatsoever, and would let them sit vacant indefinitely.

The entirely realistic worst case scenario from my perspective would be that this side of the BoardWalk was destined to have dead mall vibes until the Disney Vacation Club contracts expire in 2042. That’s a long time from now, but it wouldn’t be the first, second, third, etc. time that Walt Disney World let something sit abandoned in plain sight.

In case you missed it, Big River Grille & Brewing Works permanently closed over 2 years ago. The closure was abrupt, and even the employees who worked there didn’t know until the last minute. Walt Disney World previously teased something new for this venue, but that was ages ago and it seemed more like placating fans than reflecting an actual plan for the space.

A little over one year later, Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar closed in April 2025 after nearly 30 years on the BoardWalk. According to Jellyrolls management, the decision was made to move to a new location in Orlando. This didn’t come as a huge surprise, as Jellyrolls had been struggling for a while and Walt Disney World rent is expensive.

Earlier this month, Jellyrolls revealed that it would be opening a new location in Lake Buena Vista, only 10 minutes from its former home. That strongly suggested it’d be coming to one of the Disney Springs hotels…or that Jellyrolls management was playing fast and loose with the LBV location or 10 minute distance.

Both Big River and Jellyrolls were Walt Disney World institutions of sorts, opening in 1996 along with the rest of the BoardWalk. These vacancies have been concerning for the ‘health’ of that end of the promenade, where Atlantic Dance Hall is pretty much the lone survivor, and seems to itself be hanging on by only a thread.

Big River and Jellyrolls aren’t the only two departures from Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Yet another closure hit this same side of the BoardWalk, as the Promenade Fine Art Gallery closed permanently last fall. No word yet on a replacement for that, either.

It’s telling that Walt Disney World has had 3 businesses go bust at BoardWalk in the last 2 years, and several more before that. Both ESPN Club and Ample Hills went out of business during the COVID closure. The volume of vacancies has been the foundation of our aforementioned fears. Not only because they suggest something systemic with the BoardWalk, but also because it’s harder to sign on a new tenant to a dead mall.

Fortunately, the opposite end of the BoardWalk where the first departures occurred already has been reinvigorated by Cake Bake Shop Restaurant by Gwendolyn Rogers and (to a much lesser extent) Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs. When signing on new tenants, Disney can point to those successes. That’s clearly the blueprint for likewise reinvigorating the ‘dead’ end of the promenade, too.

Obviously, nothing has been confirmed as of yet for the former Big River or Jellyrolls vacancies, but Walt Disney World wouldn’t be actively working on these venues if there weren’t concrete plans for them. Disney might remove some of what was left behind by the previous tenants, but there’d be no incentive to do work to the extent of what’s been reported and pictured.

This means that Walt Disney World has either firm plans for an in-house concept and/or third party tenants that have already signed leases and made commitments. It’s actually a bit surprising that there wouldn’t be an official announcement already given the apparent stage of work.

Although these venues probably are not looking at 2026 opening dates, the first half of 2027 does seem like it’s within the realm of possibility. (And even late 2026 isn’t completely far-fetched given the construction warning.) Purely speculative, but maybe Walt Disney World didn’t like the way Cake Bake’s lethargic pace became a punchline, and is opting to announce closer to completion.

It’s also possible the news is being dictated by the third party tenants (assuming these projects aren’t in-house Disney concepts, which is probably a safe bet for at least one of them). Or that Walt Disney World is holding it for D23 Expo, or a smaller event prior to then. (Even the most exciting concepts probably don’t meet the bar for D23 scale news, but Cool Kids’ Summer is right around the corner. A smaller scale slate of announcements during that kickoff event would align with past precedent.)

It’ll be interesting to see what (if anything–despite audible/visible work, nothing is confirmed or even rumored!) replaces Jellyrolls and Big River Grille & Brewing Works. Logically, what makes the most sense is a sports bar & grill. A mix between Big River and ESPN Club would be perfect for one of the spaces. It would also fill a vital role that’s now conspicuously absent from this area.

There are a lot of dads and other sports fans who enjoy watching “the big game,” and there’s not a great option for that that’s easily accessible from the parks. This spot is easily accessible from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as 10 resorts that cater to a wide range of demographics. A sports bar & grill makes a lot of sense here. Have the former Big River serve as the restaurant side, and Jellyrolls can be the bar half.

It’s unfortunate that this didn’t happen in 2019. Cake Bake Shop could’ve gone on this end and ESPN Club could still be operating in its old location had this been master-planned better. There’s only so much Disney can do with tenants ending their leases, but perhaps Walt Disney World could’ve foreseen the closures based on rents and receipts. It’s not like Big River or Jellyrolls were doing gangbuster business. Disney has a pretty good idea of whether third party tenants are viable.

One entry at the top of wishlists among guests who actually stay at the BoardWalk, or anywhere around Crescent Lake, for that matter, is another counter service restaurant. While I wholeheartedly agree that this is a seemingly obvious need, I’m skeptical that Disney sees it that way.

Large-scale food courts are a feature of all Value and Moderate Resorts, but not Deluxes. There’s probably a reason for that. Whenever we visit the marketplaces over at Yacht & Beach Club, they aren’t that busy, which could be because they’re underwhelming but could also be due to a lack of demand. Having access to so many dining options all around Crescent Lake, not to mention a short walk away in World Showcase, probably is a significant limiting factor on demand.

If BoardWalk is going to get a fast casual restaurant, it probably needs to be one with “magnet” status that can draw guests from the parks and surrounding resorts. Something like Portillo’s or D-Luxe Burger, both of which were suggested in our list of Top 10 Restaurant Replacement Concepts at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. (Along with lots of other ‘Armchair Imagineering’ about other potential concepts to revitalize the BoardWalk.)

Otherwise, the safe bet is another lounge. Not a jazz club, as some fans have speculated (although both ideas are great), but another concept similar to Geyser Point or Wailulu Bar & Grill. In between counter service and table service, efficient, family friendly, and indoor/outdoor water views. I also wouldn’t rule out something like Trader Sam’s, especially if it offered a merchandising component that was a license to print money (like tiki mugs).

While it’s fun to speculate about the possibilities, it’s also worth acknowledging that Disney’s BoardWalk isn’t the counterprogramming to Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs) that it was envisioned as back in the 1990s.

There are still times when BoardWalk is absolutely hoppin’, but it certainly isn’t a huge hangout for locals. Walt Disney World’s restrictive resort parking rules have seen to that. It’s easier to park at BoardWalk than a monorail loop resort, but it still isn’t simple or straightforward, and comes with the risk of being denied entry.

More than anything else, parking is the biggest problem with the BoardWalk not serving as a secondary entertainment area at Walt Disney World. Despite the local population of Central Florida exploding in the last decade, the BoardWalk is less popular (as a destination, not a resort) than it was in the late 1990s. (This might upset Jellyrolls and Big River fans, but I would argue appeal of the tenants is the second biggest issue. Perhaps even the #1 problem.)

It’s sad that Walt Disney World has allowed BoardWalk to languish, and there’s really no good excuse for it. Whatever problems the BoardWalk has are self-induced by Disney, and fixable with different choices. (There’s no reason they can’t handle parking differently, making it simpler and predictable!)

Here’s hoping whatever is happening in these venues is an acknowledgment of that, and Walt Disney World has big plans to breathe new life into the promenade with brand-new dining concepts and more. There’s a ton of untapped potential at the BoardWalk; the replacements just need to be unique and worth guests and locals going out of their way to seek out.

Even with minimal parking, the BoardWalk is connected to thousands of hotel rooms via the Skyliner gondolas, and there are another few thousand rooms that are walkable in the Crescent Lake Resort Area–many of which house high-spending convention guests.

Even more significantly, the BoardWalk is within walking or boat distance of both EPCOT’s International Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As the strong demand for Cake Bake (despite its high prices) has demonstrated, the right concept can do big business at the BoardWalk.

The district could certainly sustain a new tenant or two, they just need to be exciting concepts that will draw guests, beyond those staying at BoardWalk. With the right additions, business could boom at the BoardWalk, helping elevate the area to destination-worthy ‘Second (Disney) Springs’ status.

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Your Thoughts

Think replacements for Jellyrolls and Big River are actually in the works, and the construction/demolition inside those venues is what the construction bulletin for now through late 2026 concerns? Any predictions for the potential replacements? What is most needed in the Crescent Lake Resort Area? Think something more adult would help revive the BoardWalk, or should Disney focus more on family-friendly options for BoardWalk? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!