Disney World’s newest dining and entertainment venue will officially open to guests on Thursday, October 1st! The Hurly-Burly is located along Crescent Lake at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, replacing Jelly Rolls which closed last year. You might be wondering, “What is a hurly-burly?” True to its theming, a hurly-burly is a vintage term for a “tumultuous uproar”.
The Hurly-Burly is open every evening from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Family-friendly hours are from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM with interactive bingo and trivia. The venue then switches to 21 and up from 9:00 PM until 1:00 AM with live music covering a wide-range of genres like modern vintage, Motown, Top 40’s, and hits from decades like the 70s, 80’s, 90s. There are no reservations for the Hurly-Burly and availability is first come, first served. The Hurly-Burly will be very be popular so plan to get there early and possibly wait for a table. There is also no cover charge for the night time entertainment.
In addition to the inside dining, you can enjoy the outdoor bar with a full menu and seating along the Boardwalk.
The interior of the Hurly-Burly is an elegant lounge from the turn of the century. The coral and turquoise colors plus brass shells and scallops, are reminiscent of the Atlantic seaside from a day gone by.
Unlike Jelly Rolls, the Hurly-Burly is all one level with the stage visible from every seat. Whether it’s an intimate cocktail table or a cozy booth, you immerse yourself in the entertainment.
The story goes, the Hurly-Burly was once the crown jewel of the boardwalk with its headliner, Polly Delmar, dazzling guests alongside the most celebrated vaudeville performers. A hundred years later, the Hurly-Burly is reopening its doors and paying homage to its iconic performers with their props and costumes proudly on display for today’s patrons.
You’ll notice Polly Delmar played up the coastal scene with her “siren sisters” and “maritime melodrama”. Be sure to look at the framed details which tell the history of the Hurly-Burly’s brightest stars. This influence transfers over to the current entertainment and menu with callbacks to Polly, a menu inspired by the New Jersey coast, and craft cocktails with regional ingredients and nautical names.
If you’re a Swiftie, you’ll be happy to find a lot of the color schemes and props are similar in theme to the “The Life of A Showgirl” album.
When you head back to the restrooms, the layout instantly feels familiar to Jelly Rolls but with gorgeous upgrades. There are ads for the Boardwalk eateries like Flying Fish, Boardwalk Ice Cream, and Trattoria al forno. You’ll also spot letters to and from the infamous Polly Delmar.
Dramatic Dining | Food Menu
The Hurly-Burly menu consists of sharable bites ranging in substantial to family-friendly. The Atlantic Seaside, Italian, and boardwalk classics influence the menu. While not a full-restaurant, you could easily get full by sharing the Meatballs and Roast Beef Sliders. Especially fun is the Theatre Concessions which are meant for both the young and young at heart. We were able to try a preview of select items and are happy to report, it’s all fantastic!
Creator of the Hurly-Burly menu, Chef Robby told us the Tomato Pie is his favorite dish – simple, great favor, and so comforting. The Tomato Pie is a must-order and considered to be the bread service of the Hurly-Burly. Chef Robby also told us the tomato gravy is inspired by how “nonna” would have made it, working for hours preparing for Sunday supper. While I’m not Italian, I recognize the strong words comparing the gravy to how grandma would have made it.
Meatballs in Tomato Gravy – (pictured top) veal, pork, and beef meatballs topped with tomato gravy, stracciatella cheese, pecorino Romano, and served with toasted focaccia – $15 (plant-based option available)
The meatballs are tender, almost bite-sized, packed with seasoning, with plenty of tomato sauce and cheese. The addition of the chewy focaccia makes this a filling shareable.
Oven-Roasted Shrimp – (pictured bottom) roasted in garlic and herbs, topped with sweet pepper-onion relish – $19
The shrimp is garlicky goodness, complimented by the sweet and tangy relish. I could honestly eat an entire serving by itself!
Mini Pretzels – served with bacon-cheese fondue – $12
Tomato Pie – focaccia topped with tomato sauce, oregano, and pecorino romano – $11 (plant-based option available)
Roast Beef Sliders – shaved roast beef and horseradish-mustard sour cream on slider rolls topped with everything seasoning – $17
Chef Robby said the Roast Beef Sliders are bound to be a guest-favorite and I see why! The flavor from the sweet, caramelized onion and horseradish, all on the fluffy bun is just perfect.
Antipasto – sliced meats, burrata, pecorino romano, and marinated vegetables served with focaccia bread and breadstick crackers – $21
Theatre Concessions – trio of meatballs, sugar cookie, and buttered popcorn – $12
Mini Apple Cider Doughnuts – served with miso-caramel dipping sauce – $11
The Apple Cider Doughnuts have a chewy, cake consistency with just enough cinnamon sugar and I am shocked how much I liked the addition of miso in the caramel sauce. It gave it the most subtle bite and Unami flavor.
Splashy Sips | Drink Menu
Road to Fame – (pictured left) an Atlantic Coast-inspired whiskey sour made with Michter’s Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, Laird’s Straight Applejack Brandy, and lemon juice – $21
Mertini – (pictured right) Plymouth Navy Strength Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambery, Hella Cocktail Co. Orange Bitters – $19
Cherry-Vodka Limeade – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Amarena Cherry, cold-pressed lime juice – $17
Caramel Corn Old Fashioned – Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, caramel corn, The Bitter Truth Decanter Bitters – $21
The Caramel Corn Old Fashioned is a solid, classic cocktail that is made to order with a single, large ice cube. The caramel corn flavor is very subtle but the addition of the sweet, crunchy treat between sips just makes sense.
Overture in Orange – (non-alcoholic) nostalgic frozen treat made with Minute Miad orange juice and topped with sweet cream – $6.99
This might be one of the best non-alcoholic drinks I’ve had at Disney in a long time! The frozen orange juice is light and tart, making it refreshing and not overly sweet. Mix it with the sweet cream and finish it with the candy orange slice and it’s a perfect sweet treat. If you like orange juice, you will absolutely love the Overture in Orange!
Entertainment
From 4 PM – 9 PM daily, enjoy trivia and bingo led by a lively host. We played a round of bingo where the character was announced by playing a song clip from their Disney animated film. The game was interactive and reminded me of the beloved activities on a Disney Cruise. This is an especially great option for taking an afternoon break while staying at the Boardwalk.
The Hurly-Burly performers are some of the most talented at Disney World with a wide-range of music styles. Each of the groups does a great job involving the crowd making it an experience everyone will enjoy. A preview of the Hurly-Burly included a short set from three of the ensembles and I’m sure we’ll have more details about the entertainment schedule when the Hurly-Burly opens on October 1st.
Sia and The Tin Pan Alley Band – Sundays
If you’ve enjoyed the Tip Top Club at Jollywood Nights, you’ll love Sia and The Tin Pan Alley Band. Along with her trio, Sia sings big band style versions of modern songs like “It’s My Life” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!”
Velvet Soul – Tuesdays and Saturdays
Velvet Soul brings the Motown era back to life performing songs like “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”, “Aint Too Proud To Beg”, and “Superstitious”.
Velvet Neon – Wednesdays
Velvet Neon covers popular songs from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. You might hear songs like “Don’t You (Forget About Me” and “Smooth”.
The recent updates to the Boardwalk including refreshed rooms and the addition of both the Hurly-Burly and The Cake Bake Shop, really round out the resort offerings and make it one of the most enchanting resorts at Disney World! We can’t wait to see even more updates with the coming changes to Big River Grille and Atlantic Dance Hall. If you’re interested in a stay at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, including the ability to walk to EPCOT and take advantage of evening Extra Magic Hours, Dreams Unlimited Travel is available to help book and plan the details of your vacation! Reach out to today to learn more and request a fee-free quote.
