Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, located outside EPCOT’s side exit near France, has always had a visually beautiful nightlife. When the sun goes down, the fun comes out. There are strings of lights over the water, creaky (and sometimes uneven) boards underfoot, carnival games, and restaurants marked by beautiful neon signs.
There was just one slight issue with Boardwalk; after walking out of dinner (if you were lucky enough to get a reservation) there wasn’t much to do, except walk. There’s Abracadabar, which serves as a side section to Trattoria al Forno, and a fun margarita cart to stop at. Other other than those two, there isn’t much nightlife, which is shocking for a boardwalk that feels so full of life, but ultimately would fall flat.
All of that changed in October of 2026. Hurly-Burly (Don’t worry. We’ll talk about that strange name), opened in early October, and it’s gave the boardwalk a much-needed breath of life.
Hurly-Burly Opening Week (and a Tip You’ll Want to Know)
We visited during Hurly-Burly’s opening week, fully expecting a long wait. Before heading over, we checked the My Disney Experience app, which told us there were no seats and no waitlist available. Not exactly encouraging.
We walked over anyway (we were already on the Boardwalk, after all), and the host had us seated within 10 minutes.
Important note: If the app says you can’t get in, don’t take its word for it. Walk over and see what a human can tell you. It worked for us!
So, What’s a Hurly-Burly?
As promised. “Hurly-burly” is an old word for commotion or uproar (Shakespeare fans might remember the witches in Macbeth waiting “when the hurlyburly’s done”). In Disney’s story, it’s also the name of a seaside theatre that has supposedly been sitting on the Boardwalk for nearly a century, staging vaudeville acts, ocean-themed shows, and over-the-top maritime melodramas.
When the theatre closed, the performers left their things behind. And that’s where the fun of the design starts.
The Design
If you remember Jellyrolls, the dueling piano bar that used to live here, you won’t recognize the place. Imagineers raised the floor to one level and added tiered seating, so every table actually gets a view of the stage (no more craning your neck over a crowd).
The whole room is dressed in deep blues and teals with pops of coral, and there’s brass on just about everything: picture frames, door handles, light fixtures. Look up and you’ll find a starry ceiling and jeweled chandeliers. It feels a little like an old Jersey Shore jazz club, and a little like a Disney Cruise Line lounge that somehow washed up on land.
The bar is the showpiece. Arched shelves glow behind a pale countertop, framed by blue cabinetry and gold trim. It’s the kind of bar you want to take a picture of before you even order (we took several).
The Story on the Walls
The walls are covered in what the performers supposedly left behind: old programs, tickets, telegrams, audition notices, costumes, and props. Most of it follows the theatre’s star, Polly Delmar, and it’s laid out in order. The lobby has posters from her early days as a young ingenue, and the main room and bar show her at her peak, with mermaid and maritime touches from her famous swimming act.
A few things to look for while you wait on your drink:
- Polly’s gloves and necklace, displayed under a mounted trident
- Props from the vintage posters, which show up in real life around the room
- Notes between Polly and the Siren Sisters, who stayed friends despite fighting over a shared dressing room
- Pearl, a puppet left behind by ventriloquist Mother Muriel, who is said to keep watch over the room (we’ll let you find her)
- A 1940 Magician Showcase sign-in sheet and telegram, which tie Hurly-Burly to the same disappearing-magicians mystery told next door at Abracadabar
You don’t need to care about any of the lore to have a good night here. But if you’re the type who reads every sign in the queue, you’ll love it.
[Photo/video: Polly Delmar posters and display cases]
The Stage and the Outdoor Bar
The arched stage anchors the room, with blue lounge chairs and little round tables facing it. It’s the first time in a long time the Boardwalk has had a real stage for live music at night.
Our favorite design choice, though, is outside. The walk-up bar along the Boardwalk is a real bar, not just a to-go window, and you can see straight into the room from it. People strolling by catch a glimpse of the band and the crowd inside, and suddenly that end of the Boardwalk doesn’t feel so empty anymore.
Food and Drinks
Don’t come to Hurly-Burly expecting dinner. There are no entrées here, just eight shareable small plates ranging from $11 to $21. The menu is a mix of Italian-American comfort food and classic Jersey Shore boardwalk snacks, and it’s made for picking at between sets. We came hungry and tried just about all of it (for research, of course).
The Small Plates
Mini Pretzels with Bacon-Cheese Fondue ($12). If you only order one thing, make it this. The pretzels are soft and very salty (in the best way), and the bacon-cheese fondue is the best dip on the menu. Save some, because you’ll want it for everything else on the table.
Roast Beef Sliders ($17). A good pile of shaved roast beef on slider rolls, with a horseradish-mustard sour cream that actually has some kick. The beef can run a little dry on its own, so our tip is to dunk it in that pretzel fondue.
Meatballs in Tomato Gravy. Veal, pork, and beef meatballs in a true Sunday-dinner red sauce (yes, gravy), topped with stracciatella and Pecorino Romano, with toasted focaccia for mopping up. There’s a plant-based version too, so nobody at the table gets left out.
Oven-Roasted Shrimp. Garlic and herbs, finished with a sweet pepper and onion relish that tastes like it came off a boardwalk sausage stand. A lighter plate that helps balance out all the bread and cheese.
Tomato Pie. A nod to the Jersey Shore classic: focaccia with tomato sauce, oregano, and Pecorino Romano. Simple, but easy to keep reaching for. You can ask for a plant-based version.
Antipasto ($21). The priciest plate on the menu, with sliced meats, burrata, Pecorino Romano, marinated vegetables, breadsticks, and toast. The cured meats were the highlight, but the rest didn’t quite live up to the price compared to the other plates.
Theater Concessions. A little sampler of three meatballs, a sugar cookie, and buttered popcorn. It’s the most on-theme thing on the menu, and a fun pick if you’re there with kids before 9 p.m.
Mini Apple Cider Doughnuts ($11). Served with a miso-caramel sauce that’s salty, sweet, and a little unexpected. A nice way to end the night, especially with an Overture in Orange on the side.
The Cocktails
The drink menu is where Hurly-Burly really shows off. Specialty cocktails run $17 to $21, almost every one has a theatre pun for a name, and every drink that came to our table looked great.
Caramel Corn Old Fashioned ($21). The signature drink, and it earns the spot. Woodford Reserve, caramel corn, and Bitter Truth Decanter Bitters, served with a little side of caramel corn (which did not last long). It’s sweeter than a classic Old Fashioned, but it still drinks like one.
Quality EntertainMint. Diplomático rum, demerara, lime, mint, and Angostura bitters, topped with prosecco. Basically a sparkling mojito, and way too easy to drink on a warm Florida night.
Bubble Brava! Chinola passion fruit liqueur, an Italian amaro, lemon, and prosecco. Bright and tropical, with just enough bitterness to keep it from being too sweet.
Mertini. Plymouth Navy Strength gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters. The cleanest (and strongest) drink on the menu. If the rest of the list sounds too sweet for you, this is your order.
Off-Book Bramble. Fords gin, crème de mûre, lemon, and blackberry. Fruity, tart, and a gorgeous deep purple in the glass.
La Taquilla Picante. Ghost Blanco tequila (the spicy one), lime, orgeat, and rose water, with a spiced nutmeg rim. The most unusual drink of the night: floral, nutty, and warm all at once.
Overproof Amaretto Sour. Lazzaroni amaretto with a boost of Old Forester 1920 bourbon and lemon. It tastes like the amaretto sour you remember, with a lot more backbone.
The Atlantic Review. Hangar One Mandarin Blossom vodka, Cointreau, orange juice, and Sprite. Easygoing and citrusy.
Cherry-Vodka Limeade. Tito’s, Amarena cherry, and fresh lime. A grown-up cherry limeade, and perfect for walking the Boardwalk.
If you don’t want to commit to a table, the Bubble Brava!, La Taquilla Picante, Off-Book Bramble, and Cherry-Vodka Limeade are all sold at the walk-up window too. Wine starts at $11 a glass, and beer runs $8.50 to $13.
Overture in Orange (non-alcoholic). A frozen orange drink topped with sweet cream that tastes exactly like a Creamsicle. It’s one of three zero-proof specialty drinks, and honestly, we’d order it even if we were drinking.
Before You Go
A few things we wish we’d known before our first visit:
- Hours: Hurly-Burly is open daily from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- It has two personalities. Until 9 p.m., everyone is welcome, with family-friendly trivia, games, and Disney music bingo. After 9 p.m., it’s 21 and up (bring your ID), and the live music runs until about 12:30 a.m.
- The music changes nightly. Bands rotate between Motown, Top 40, and ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s hits, often reworked with a vintage twist.
- There are no reservations. It’s walk-up only, so lines can build after 9 p.m. (And remember: ignore the app and walk over anyway.)
- Parking fills up fast. If the Boardwalk lot is full, you may be sent to park at Hollywood Studios and ride over.
The Verdict
Hurly-Burly is exactly what the Boardwalk was missing. It’s a gorgeous, story-filled room with a great cocktail list, easy snacks to share, and live music that keeps the Boardwalk buzzing long after the fireworks are over. Our advice? Order the pretzels and a Caramel Corn Old Fashioned, grab a seat facing the stage, and stay for one more set.