One of my personal favorite Disney World Resorts is Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Even if you don’t stay at the hotel, you can visit the BoardWalk that has fun entertainment and plenty of food options. As a local, I grab food at the BoardWalk at least once a month (but usually more!).
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
Unfortunately, there are a lot of changes going on right now that are leading to fewer options. While I’ll be there even if Trattoria al Forno is the only restaurant open, lots of guests might be skipping the BoardWalk starting in November. What exactly is happening there?
First up, our beloved Jellyrolls closed earlier this year! This was a fun bar with dueling pianos playing some of the best music we’ve heard on Disney property. While Jellyrolls has promised to reopen somewhere else, we haven’t received any updates.
Jellyrolls
This building is a big space, and we’ve been wondering what is coming into the space. Because of the stage, it could turn into another bar with entertainment or some sort of themed dining dinner show like Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue. We love Hoope-Dee-Doo, but with its location at the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, it’s not the easiest location to access. EPCOT is next door to the BoardWalk, so your guests can walk right through the park to get here.
Hoop Dee Doo
Promenade Fine Art Gallery, also on the BoardWalk, is closing its doors on October 19th. No details have been announced where they are moving, or even if it was somewhere on Disney property, but this store was filled with gorgeous art that we loved to check out. It’s one of our stops we go to when we’re missing EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts.
Promenade Fine Art Gallery
Maybe Disney is putting their own art store in? They have The Art of Disney at Disney Springs and the American Pavilion in EPCOT, so this could be coming to the BoardWalk as well. Maybe it could be a whole other store, too.
The David Doss pop-up in American Adventure
The resort’s main store, Screen Door General Store, just finished its recent renovations to update it, so it’s not like Disney isn’t putting love into the BoardWalk. Within the past few years, the Cake Bake Shop and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs have opened, too.
Screen Door General
Last year, Big River Grille & Brewing Works closed, and ever since, the building has remained empty. We’re assuming this will turn into another restaurant, since it’s uncommon for Disney to close a restaurant and then turn it into something else, but we haven’t received any details on this either.
Big River Grille & Brewing Works
We love the BoardWalk, but it always surprises us when stores and restaurants are closing and leaving us with empty buildings. Hopefully, Disney has master plans somewhere (which we all know they probably do), and they’ll tell us soon what’s coming into the space. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more.
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What’s your favorite spot on the BoardWalk? Tell us in the comments!
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Why stay there? Location? No, you can stay at the resorts across the water and still walk to Epcot. I’m from the Mid-Atlantic so I’ve stayed at boardwalk resorts in my state–not really appealing to me. They put in a bakery that average families can’t afford. The dance hall is a ghost town. Don’t know what they can do to bring people back. Maybe LOWER prices or specials to get people to try it.
They definitely need more food options. There are enough restaurants that are on the high end (when combined with Yacht Club, Dolphin and Swan.. somewhat Beach Club). We need normal every-day restaurants there that have a good menu for everyone and good breakfast options would be nice too. I miss ESPN.
Trattoria being the only restaurant open? The Cake Bake Shop and Flying Fish are both open and are outstanding.
I would bring back a Sports bar on the Boardwalk. There are only 2 left, Rik’s Sports Bar at Coronado Springs and City Works at Disney Springs. After a hot day in the parks, it’s good to kick back and relax in a sports bar for us Disney Adults. I certainly won’t be going in the cake shop.
Flying Fish is still on the Board Walk, which is a great Place. On the pricey side but well worth it.