News Jellyrolls Announces Departure from Disney's BoardWalk at Walt Disney World

[JMcMahonEsq]

Do you mean see again? The original development of WDW as a resort (which was under Eisner and Wells) brought high end restaurants, pleasure island, original boardwalk, multiple golf courses, etc. - plenty to balance out kids and adults.

I will be honest i don't really look as having any relevance to how a business marketed itself over half a century ago, which is when WDW was first being developed. Not judging what was done back during those days for that market, as being "right" or "wrong" just irrelevant to the current market.

I also don't think that WDW won't have some offerings for certain older demographics, just that it won't be balanced. In fact i think it will generally be unbalanced, with the majority of money spent and offering being geared toward their target demo, with some additional offerings to tertiary markets.

 

[LSLS]

There are a ton of resorts/time shares/etc. just past Hotel Blvd, and the times I've hit bars around there, they have always been slammed. I wonder if they are moving somewhere over there. They wouldn't be on Disney, but close enough to still bring a bunch in.

At any rate, sad for the boardwalk. Even if this does turn to a jazz club in 5 years (which I will say I don't think is a good idea), you've basically killed off an entire half of the boardwalk for the foreseeable future with both places closed.

 

[Bocabear]

The Boardwalk really needs some new entertainment and a lower cost dining option...Now that Jellyrolls and the Big River Brewing are both closed, perhaps they could combine the spaces and create a big Jersey Shore Diner...and then do something with the Atlantic Dance Hall...

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

It's a 10 minute walk from Icon Park. I think it just closes.

What surprises me the most in ths thread is how many don't care it's closing. The second one is how many don't leave the bubble of Disney or Universal much.

I am not sure why you would be surprised.

While some people have attended and may have liked Jellyrolls, its not exactly a marque feature of the WDW experience. It's not so popular that you needed to control reservations to get in. You aren't seeing long lines of people every night waiting their turn to get into the place. It's also not that unique of an experience to WDW. Whether your talking about the old Jake Ivories in Boston, or Crocodile Rocks in Myrtle beach, if that is something someone wants to experience, your going to be able to find alternatives, and most likely a lot closer to home than WDW.

As to the second point, this is the one that i really don't understand the surprise. People are spending a lot of money to take a trip to go to WDW or Universal. The resorts, especially WDW makes it very convenient to NOT have to leave the bubble. Given that, why would you think many people would choose to leave? You are paying a premium to be in the bubble, why wouldn't you take advantage of the convivence as opposed to paying that premium, and then going offsite to do things you most likely could have done cheaper, and in other places?

 

[flyakite]

I haven’t been to Jellyrolls since the 90s. I had been to Howl at the Moon previously, and I just found them similar and boring after a few times. Just my opinion. I am surprised that it survived this long. I just looked up to see if the Atlantic Dance Hall was still open. It is. I last checked it out in the early 2000s and no one was in there. When it opened they were riding on the Swing Revival genre and all the guests were swing dancing and saw Michael Andrew/Swingerhead there. It was quite enjoyable. Maybe a jazz club in the old Jellyrolls will foster a calmer clientele who want to enjoy performers, while being able to hear their companions. Maybe better drink menu and some food. IMHO.

 

[Andrew C]

We need a hero...

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Any chance of building an "Adventurers Club" there?

Asking for a friend.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I will be honest i don't really look as having any relevance to how a business marketed itself over half a century ago

I’m not that old!!!!! Haha.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

It would work well in Downtown Orlando or Winter Park. Downtown had Howl at the Moon for many years that was a popular spot. A lot of redevelopment getting ready to get going along Church Street with the Westcourt project getting ready to break ground with a new concert hall outside the Kia Center.

I actually think a number of areas could work. Downtown Orlando for sure. I-Drive also, even with Pat O'Briens and Howl at the Moon being there. Even Winter Garden, 192 or Margaritaville. (Possibly Winter Park, though I'm not sure if it's the right clientele.) It will be interesting to hear if/where they are going.

 

[Jwhee]

It really is a shame that with over 30,000 hotel rooms at Walt Disney World, there’s going to be only one bar open past midnight. That’s an enormous number of guests, and you’d think there’d be more than enough demand to support a few late-night spots. Not everyone wants to call it a night right after the parks close—plenty of people would love to unwind, socialize, and enjoy some nightlife without having to leave property.

As for Jelly Rolls, some argue it wasn’t always packed, but if they’d ever been there on a Friday, Saturday, or especially a Sunday night, they’d know that wasn’t the case. It had a loyal crowd and great energy on busy nights. Plus, they did zero advertising for the place. Imagine how much more traffic it could’ve had with just a little promotion.

No one’s asking for the wild days of Pleasure Island to make a full comeback—we just want some enjoyable things to do in the late evenings. A couple of laid-back bars with live music, maybe a lounge with a cool vibe, or even extended hours at existing spots would go a long way. Instead we will get a "Jazz Club" that will close at 11:30pm and serve $20 cocktails that need to be reserved 60 days in advance.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Someone could really make a killing opening a fun nightclub/lounge on 535 right off Disney property.

 

[Tha Realest]

No one’s asking for the wild days of Pleasure Island to make a full comeback—

speak for yourself

 

[Alice a]

speak for yourself

Seriously. I live in downtown Charleston, SC, which is pretty much nothing but high-end shopping and food/bars since gentrification hit.

In its heyday, Pleasure Island was a must-do every trip, but we’ve never been to Disney Springs.

Since our stays are now only 2-2.5 days every other year or so, we usually book at Crescent Lake hotels to maximize time. We’re not park commandos.

This is sad. Atlantic Dance Hall is really nothing more than a wedding/event venue anymore, Big River (which had terrible food) is gone with no news of a replacement, and now Jellyrolls is leaving.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I’m not that old!!!!! Haha.

I

I’m not that old!!!!! Haha.

I didn’t mean you were half a century, I was referring to when WDW first opened in the 70’s.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I
I didn’t mean you were half a century, I was referring to when WDW first opened in the 70’s.

But they kept operating that way through 2001 at least.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

But they kept operating that way through 2001 at least.

I would have to go back and see what was being offered then vs now, but i will be honest even that is 25 years ago, and i don't think its the same market then as now.

Also, and again haven't done any checking, I would hazard a guess the offering/marketing weren't balanced. There might have been more spending/focus on different demos, but the core spending is always going to be geared to a certain market.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I would have to go back and see what was being offered then vs now, but i will be honest even that is 25 years ago,

2001 is when things began to change after 9/11. Even River Country was open until then. Many people think it had a life span as short as the wave machine at the Polynesian.

But for the purposes of this discussion - Pleasure Island was still having nightly fireworks until 2005.

Like most things with modern Disney, I’m not suggesting we should still have pleasure island as it was. But the Iger era doesn’t get the special things that work and tears them out and rebuilds.

Back to this discussion- I’m wondering if Disney is taking over this space to make a restaurant and “jazz club” that will satisfy the contract with swan and dolphin so they can close Atlantic City Dance? Cause that would make sense and with that entire space available - Disney could make something cool if they wanted to. (Jellyrolls, Preview center, and Big River)

 

[Basil of Baker Street]

If you're looking for something to do in the evenings, we regularly offer exclusive after hour park events and special ticketed parties.

Sincerely,
The Walt Disney World Resort

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

2001 is when things began to change after 9/11. Even River Country was open until then. Many people think it had a life span as short as the wave machine at the Polynesian.

But for the purposes of this discussion - Pleasure Island was still having nightly fireworks until 2005.

Like most things with modern Disney, I’m not suggesting we should still have pleasure island as it was. But the Iger era doesn’t get the special things that work and tears them out and rebuilds.

Back to this discussion- I’m wondering if Disney is taking over this space to make a restaurant and “jazz club” that will satisfy the contract with swan and dolphin so they can close Atlantic City Dance? Cause that would make sense and with that entire space available - Disney could make something cool if they wanted to. (Jellyrolls, Preview center, and Big River)

I don't think that would be a bad idea. With swan and dolphin looking to increase its convention profile, it would make sense for Disney to have something to cater to that market, and the location at Jellrolls/ACD would be perfect. Plus if Disney things the market is there, it would be much better to have WDW owned locations in those spots to collect the revenue, as opposed to just getting rent.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Plus if Disney things the market is there, it would be much better to have WDW owned locations in those spots to collect the revenue, as opposed to just getting rent.

If that is how Disney management wanted to operate they wouldn’t have leased out the cake bake space or the corn dog cart.

Not to mention the majority of Disney Springs.