The Story Has Shifted at Disney’s Boardwalk
Over the last decade, Disney’s Boardwalk has been steadily transforming.
The shift arguably began back in 2016, when Flying Fish underwent a significant reimagining and AbracadaBar debuted along the waterfront. That move signaled something important. Disney leaned into immersive storytelling and more elevated, Disney‑controlled experiences rather than generic nightlife. It was an early sign that BoardWalk’s identity was evolving.
In more recent years, the transformation accelerated on the east end of the promenade. ESPN Club became The Cake Bake Shop. Ample Hills gave way to BoardWalk Ice Cream. BoardWalk Bakery evolved into BoardWalk Deli. Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs arrived. One by one, that side of the waterfront found a more polished, cohesive identity.
Then attention moved to the central retail corridor. Screen Door General Store, Character Carnival and Thimbles & Threads underwent a coordinated refurbishment. New flooring, brighter lighting and a cleaner aesthetic refreshed all three storefronts together. It was not a simple touch‑up. It was a clear visual reset.
Those changes unfolded in phases, and they felt intentional.
Now, that same sense of forward movement has reached the stretch once anchored by Big River Grille, Jellyrolls and the Wyland Gallery.
Walk the BoardWalk today and the shift is unmistakable. Construction hedges line the corridor. The art gallery is closed. Big River sits dark. Jellyrolls is gone. Even the restrooms behind the former gallery remain shuttered while work continues daily behind the scenes.
This does not read as routine maintenance. It feels like the next phase of a larger plan.
What Closed — And Why It Signals More
Big River Grille closed in 2025.
Jellyrolls ended its long run.
Wyland Gallery quietly disappeared.
Individually, any one of those closures could be explained away. Together, they create a pattern.
Disney rarely allows multiple adjacent spaces to sit dormant without a broader plan in place. When utilities are affected and interior work continues daily, it usually points to something larger than refreshed flooring or cosmetic updates.
In other words, this corridor is not simply waiting for a new tenant.
It appears to be preparing for something more cohesive.
A Shift in Identity
Historically, this portion of the BoardWalk leaned into nightlife. Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall pulled in late‑evening crowds. Big River supported that rhythm with casual dining and house‑brewed beer.
However, Disney’s recent direction suggests a different priority.Across property, third‑party operators have gradually been replaced by Disney‑controlled concepts. Dining has become more curated. Experiences feel more intentional. Even the refreshed retail spaces reflect a cleaner, more unified aesthetic.
Seen through that lens, the Big River and Jellyrolls corridor feels less like an isolated closure and more like a strategic reset.
What Could Disney Be Planning for 2026?
While Disney has not released official plans, several possibilities rise naturally from what we can see.
First, the combined footprint of Big River and Jellyrolls offers significant square footage. That space could support a large signature dining concept, one designed and operated directly by Disney.
Second, the area could pivot away from nightlife and toward elevated, family‑friendly evening experiences. The east end now skews upscale and polished. A cohesive dining anchor on this side would balance the promenade.
Third, infrastructure work may signal deeper redevelopment tied to long‑term resort positioning. The continued presence of the nearby Disney Vacation Club preview center suggests Disney still views this stretch as valuable real estate, not an afterthought.
None of this is confirmed.Yet the visible activity suggests intention rather than pause.
This Is Part of a Larger Evolution
It is important to remember that BoardWalk’s transformation did not begin this year.
Our Thoughts
Disney BoardWalk Redevelopment Plans may not be officially announced, but the signs are visible. Multiple closures. Ongoing interior work. Utility disruptions. Strategic phasing.
Taken together, they suggest forward movement rather than vacancy.
Whatever replaces Big River, Jellyrolls and the Wyland Gallery will shape the tone of Disney’s BoardWalk for years to come. The question is not whether something is coming. The question is how bold Disney chooses to be.
And when that reveal finally happens, it will likely make perfect sense of the transformation we are watching unfold right now.
