Hurly-Burly Is Officially Open

Hurly-Burly opened on October 1st in the former Jellyrolls space, bringing live entertainment back to a prominent spot along the BoardWalk. The new venue is inspired by an old seaside theater, with vintage boardwalk details, cocktails, small bites, and entertainment that changes throughout the day. During the afternoon, families can participate in things like trivia, games, and other host-led activities. Later, Hurly-Burly shifts into more of a nightlife venue with live music.

Hurly-Burly

And there is one VERY important thing you need to know before you head over. Hurly-Burly is family-friendly until 9 PM. After 9 PM, the venue becomes a space for guests 21 and older. So, if you’re bringing the kids because somebody in your family has been training for Disney trivia like it’s an Olympic event, you’ll want to arrive earlier.

Hurly-Burly is open from 4 PM to 1 AM, and there’s also a walk-up beverage window that opens at 11 AM.

Walk-up window seating

If you’re planning to check out the lounge itself, your phone can save you from wandering around the BoardWalk asking, “How long did they SAY the wait was?” every seven minutes. Use the Walk-Up Waitlist feature in the My Disney Experience app. Save yourself the headache.

Hurly-Burly

And because Hurly-Burly gives people another place to eat, drink, and stick around for entertainment, it isn’t just adding another restaurant to the BoardWalk. It’s giving everyone another reason to stay. And the BoardWalk already had PLENTY of those.

The Cake Bake Shop

Few Disney restaurants have inspired quite as much discussion over the price of a piece of cake. The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers brought an elaborate restaurant to Disney’s BoardWalk, while the neighboring Cake Bake Shop Bakery gives guests a chance to grab cakes, pies, macarons, cookies, and other desserts to go.

Inside The Cake Bake Shop Bakery

You might go there to investigate whether a very expensive slice of cake is actually worth it. We go there for the peanut butter mousse pie. Repeatedly.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie

Look, some moments in life call for careful financial analysis. Retirement planning. Buying a house. Picking health insurance. Standing in front of peanut butter mousse at Disney World is not one of those moments. We tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Pie Cup, and that thing lives in our brains rent-free. Do yourself a favor and grab one while you’re there.

Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs

Then there’s Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs. The BoardWalk kiosk serves hand-dipped corn dogs ranging from the classics to some truly unhinged seasonal creations.

Jalapeño Popper at Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs

Blue Ribbon can fire up a masterclass-level corn dog. But we need you to understand our priorities here. If you see anything on the seasonal menu mentioning deep-fried Hawaiian Rolls in any capacity, GET IT. We are not exaggerating when we say we literally dream about those fried Hawaiian Rolls. And they’ve gotten seasonal versions, too. Case in point: Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Fried Hawaiian Rolls and Haunted Hawaiian Rolls.

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Fried Hawaiian Rolls

This is not the time to compromise on vacation. You did not fly to Orlando, walk 19,000 steps, and spend half your day refreshing My Disney Experience just to be restrained around fried bread. Order it and thank us later.

Dinner Is Basically Covered

And those are hardly your only food options. In fact, if you want the full rundown, we’ve got an entire guide to the restaurants at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. You can sit down for seafood and steaks at Flying Fish, grab Italian food at Trattoria al Forno, or stop for sandwiches and baked goods at the BoardWalk Deli (that Reuben does NOT disappoint).

Reuben Sandwich

AbracadaBar is also a strong option for people who hear “Disney World vacation” and immediately starts looking for the nearest lounge. (Hi. It’s us. We’re people.) You can grab ice cream, pizza, drinks, bakery treats, or keep wandering until another snack inevitably convinces you that you’re hungry again.

Red Velvet Cake

The BoardWalk understands a fundamental Disney World truth. You weren’t hungry, then you smelled something. And now, you’re holding a receipt.

The BoardWalk Games

The BoardWalk isn’t just restaurants stitched together with planks; part of the appeal is that Disney has kept pieces of that old-fashioned seaside boardwalk atmosphere alive. There are midway-style games along the promenade, where you can test your skill, win prizes, and discover whether anyone in your family handles losing a carnival game with dignity.

BoardWalk games

These games may not become the centerpiece of your seven-day Disney World vacation, but it’s a fun way to spend the evening, and competitive families can get out their angst while tossing basketballs or blowing up water balloons.

The Entertainment Comes Out at Night

The evening is when the BoardWalk really starts feeling like the BoardWalk. Once the sun goes down, you’ll frequently find street performers and variety acts entertaining guests along the promenade. That’s part of what makes this area so different from a normal Disney World resort. You don’t necessarily need a reservation, or a park ticket, or even much of a plan.

Cast Members

You can get dinner, wander outside, watch a performer for a while, grab dessert, sit by Crescent Lake, and decide what happens next. And now Hurly-Burly adds another layer of entertainment indoors, with family games earlier in the evening and live music after dark. This fun spot has quickly become one of the BoardWalk’s major entertainment anchors.

You Can Rent a Surrey Bike

Disney rents Surrey bikes around the BoardWalk and Crescent Lake, giving you the opportunity to pedal around one of Disney World’s prettiest resort areas. This sounds charming. It IS charming. It can also become a small exercise in group dynamics.

Surrey Bike at Disney’s BoardWalk

You will learn things about your travel companions. Who pedals, who CLAIMS they’re pedaling, who starts giving navigation instructions despite traveling on what is essentially a loop. Still, if you want something to do during an afternoon outside the parks, it’s a classic BoardWalk activity. Maybe just do it before the corn dog.

Location, Location, Location

This might be the biggest reason the BoardWalk stays so busy. It’s conveniently located next to so many things! The BoardWalk sits within walking distance of EPCOT, and it’s also connected to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the surrounding EPCOT-area resorts by walking paths and boat transportation.

Disney’s BoardWalk

That means the crowd here isn’t limited to people staying at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas. You’ve got guests walking over from EPCOT, people staying at Yacht and Beach Club or the Swan and Dolphin, diners heading to reservations, and visitors making a special trip for Cake Bake Shop, Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs, AbracadaBar, or now Hurly-Burly.

Disney’s BoardWalk

And then there are the people who innocently say, “Let’s just walk around the BoardWalk for a little while.” Those are the ones you have to watch. Three hours later, they’ve had a cocktail, eaten a corn dog, and are heading back to their hotel carrying a bakery box they didn’t intend to buy.

It Works Without a Park Ticket

That’s another big part of the BoardWalk’s appeal. Disney World vacations are expensive, and not every day needs to revolve around a park ticket. You can easily turn an evening here into its own event. Have dinner, rent a Surrey bike, play a few midway games, watch the street performers, grab a drink, and end up with dessert. Then, because vacation math works differently, probably get another dessert later.

Thundering Surf Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae

Now Hurly-Burly gives you one more reason to stick around. That makes the BoardWalk a potential destination on arrival days, departure days, resort days, or any night when you want something fun to do without joining thousands of people packed in for a nighttime spectacular.

Caramel Corn Old Fashioned

And Disney isn’t finished changing this area, either. We’ve been watching several major changes unfold around the BoardWalk, including additional dining and shopping updates.

The BoardWalk Is Probably Going To Get Busier

Disney’s BoardWalk has always had a way of quietly sneaking into a vacation itinerary. Maybe you made a dinner reservation, or you’re staying nearby. Maybe you wandered out of EPCOT through International Gateway thinking you’d stop for one drink before heading back to the hotel (never a bad idea!).

We’re in LOVE

And then along the way, you’ve eaten a corn dog, watched a magician, spent a questionable amount of money at a bakery, and somebody is trying to convince you that a Surrey bike sounds like a good idea.
Hurly-Burly makes the BoardWalk even more of a destination. So if you’re planning to spend time at the BoardWalk, expect it to be busy. Use the Walk-Up Waitlist if Hurly-Burly is part of your plans, keep that 9PM age cutoff in mind, and give yourself a little breathing room during the busiest evening hours. And while you’re wandering the BoardWalk, get the peanut butter mousse pie!

We’ll continue watching all the changes happening around Disney’s BoardWalk, so stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news, restaurant reviews, and planning updates!