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!
In my big family vacation to Disney World in the 90s, we stayed at the Boardwalk not too long after it had opened. At 12 years old, it was the first time my parents really let me wander off on my own as long as I stayed on property, and I remember the Boardwalk itself so vividly because I could go down there by myself. There were constant entertainment acts, lots of people, color, lights, and music. It felt amazing just being there, and I’d sit and watch it all while eating my Boardwalk Fries.
All that to say – I agree. It’s dead now, and news of construction is a huge positive because I’d love to see it come back to life. Heck, it’s themed to a similar area as Main Street in Magic Kingdom – you could open an Arcade there (20 bucks per hour all you can play), maybe a little theater that plays Disney Classics, get those silly photo booths where they swap out your head with Luke Skywalker and there’d be lots of revenue coming in to support crowds that would also want more places to eat. Also love the idea of a Sports Bar for the energy, even if *I* would never be the target demographic. Your other article really hit on a lot of wonderful ideas…I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed that something actually good comes of this…
I want to see a fast casual pizza restaurant at the Boardwalk. I can imagine a pizza restaurant similar to Pizza Moon (at Epic Universe) with delicious, unique pizzas and an amusement park or circus theme.
We are DVC members at Boardwalk. We bought there specifically because of the lively activity on the Boardwalk. Very disappointed, more like a ghost town. It was part of the package and sales pitch. Little by little DVC benefits and perks are disappearing. Thanks for your blog. So informative.
I was always surprised they never had a Nathan’s type fast food joint on the Boardwalk. Hot dogs and fried seafood! They could even do their own hot dog eating contest.
If they wanted to stay on theme, they could go for something like the old Child’s chain of restaurants that was at its peak in the 1920s and 1930s. The former Child’s building on the Coney Island Boardwalk is amazingly still there and looks to me to be a nice fit for the Boardwalk aesthetic. I wouldn’t be surprised if Brooklyn native Robert A. M. Stern took inspiration from it when designing the Boardwalk, especially for the decor of the lobby.
You are correct on so many levels. You did mention Trader Sam’s which is always a draw to the point that you can’t get in. Remember another venue that had similar appeal…Adventurer’s Club? I’m not sure it’s the right fit for the Boardwalk, but something like that with cocktails AND entertainment would certainly be a draw…if they figure out the parking!
I love your idea of a Geyser Point or Wailulu type restaurant at Boardwalk. We go out of our way to eat at both of those places on our trips. Offering take out like Geyser Point would also solve some issues for those seeking a quick service type offering.
You say 10 resorts, but nightlife on the Boardwalk like JellyRolls and ESPN is really only easily accessible from the 6 Crescent Lake resorts. We considered going to the Boardwalk when we stay at Pop Century but never do because the Skyliner shuts down too early.
As a fellow night owl, I wish the Skyliner were open later, but I think 11 pm is sufficient for most guests. That’s as late as Disney Springs is open on weeknights.
Not sure if the moment has passed, but food halls really gained popularity (multiple popular local vendor “stalls” but permanent, all in one space) – could that be their solution to a more “upmarket” quick service that has boardwalk adjacent vibes? I could also easily see that being too logistically complex for Disney to invest in. I’m personally just rooting for something with an ambitious theme/entertainment value or at least maximalist dedication like Cake Bake.
Tom, you really put your finger on something important, the BoardWalk doesn’t feel like it’s being guided by a true master plan. And that’s what makes it so puzzling. This is a company that can design entire immersive lands down to the smallest detail, yet the BoardWalk, one of the most naturally social, walkable spaces on property… feels like it’s evolving in pieces rather than as a cohesive vision. They will fly imagineers to the jungles of Brazil to scout ideas for Tropical America, but can’t send someone to see what really works at boadwalks.
What makes great boardwalks work, whether it’s Atlantic City, Navy Pier, Wildwood, Venice Beach, or even smaller-scale main streets like Waynesville, Galena, or Bardstown, is intentional layering. There’s a rhythm to them: food, entertainment, movement, energy. You don’t just visit, you wander, you discover, you linger. There’s always something pulling you a few steps further down.
That’s the opportunity here. The BoardWalk already has the bones, it just needs a clearer identity and a plan to bring it to life.
A thoughtful mix of dining and entertainment would go a long way. Right now, if you want to catch a game, it’s oddly inconvenient getting over to Rix, which shouldn’t be the default solution. A well-placed sports bar integrated into the BoardWalk itself would instantly create a social anchor, especially during evenings and big events.
And then there’s the atmosphere. Live music could completely transform the space, not just contained indoors, but something that spills out onto the promenade. Think acoustic sets in the evening, a little bit of that House of Blues energy, where the music becomes part of the environment rather than a destination you have to commit to. That kind of ambient entertainment is what makes places feel alive.
The dining lineup could also lean more into personality. Not just more options, but the right ones, places people go out of their way for. I’ll say it again: something like Portillo’s would absolutely thrive here it if combined woth other venues. It’s recognizable, it’s fun, it’s high-energy, and it fits that casual, social boardwalk vibe perfectly.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about adding more, it’s about connecting what’s already there with a clear vision. A BoardWalk should feel like a continuous experience, not a collection of stops. With the right master plan, it could easily become one of the most dynamic and memorable areas on property.
Totally agree, but I think a big part of the problem in master planning it is that Disney wants third party tenants for these spaces. I’m sure they’d take Portillo’s as a tenant, but that’s not completely their choice. So they might have to settle for something like a CityWorks (not that exactly, but something like it).
I still think Disney can be accused of taking its eye off the wheel with BoardWalk and not having better foresight about future vacancies. And they also could very easily put their own perfect-fit concepts into these spaces, as opposed to waiting for ‘good enough’ tenants.
I really don’t know what they can do in that space without public parking. Or how they can have public parking for the Boardwalk without a lot of people trying to use it as a hack for DHS and Epcot…
I agree, if enough people are parking at Disney Springs to avoid parking fees at the parks that it merits policing of who can access the resort buses during busier times, the Boardwalk becoming less restrictive for cars seems unlikely.
The difference is that Disney Springs cannot charge for parking and it doesn’t behoove them to make any changes to the system there.
By contrast, BoardWalk could introduce parking validation pretty easily. Adding that layer would both prevent people from exploiting the loophole and make parking easier and more predictable.
This is the first I heard the jazz club suggestion which would be awesome! I know I’m in the minority but the Half Note Jazz Club would be a dream come true. Though I’m sure it’s not what Disney would choose. I feel like a really immersive bar/lounge would be great. Speakeasy? Wine bar? Cat Cafe?? Or, maybe something like what Universal has done with the Coconut Club, but with the intention from the start to change the themeing for holidays and special events.
The restrictive parking policy at Boardwalk does limit its availability to locals. Boardwalk would also benefit from a fast casual restaurant where the prices are not so high.
You know, Tom, for years I never understood how people could be afraid of clowns since they are all about clowning around for laughs,.. and then I saw the Boardwalk pool clown,..