Jellyrolls, the shuttered dueling-piano club that was a mainstay of Walt Disney World’s Boardwalk resort for nearly 30 years, will make music again later this year.
Officials with the company, which rented its space at Disney’s Boardwalk, confirmed this week that Jellyrolls has lined up a new location less than 10 minutes from its former home. A grand opening is planned for late summer or early fall this year.
“We’re excited to continue the legacy we’ve had and do our thing,” said Amber Antel, director of operations.
At a dueling-piano club, pianists play and sing selections chosen by the audience — anything from classic rock to showtunes, country ditties to novelty numbers. Part of the fun is watching the performers’ versatility and ability to recall so many tunes from memory.
Jellyrolls is building out a commercial space in Lake Buena Vista, a stone’s throw from resorts, shops and restaurants that cater to both tourists and locals, Antel said. The new location will feature free parking — much closer to the business than the Disney setup — and the ability for patrons to be dropped off and picked up right at the front door by rideshare services, another change from the business’s days at Disney World.
It has been almost exactly a year since Jellyrolls closed at Disney; its final night of operation there was April 19, 2025. Disney has not revealed its plans for the space, which remains empty. But at the time, Jellyrolls officials said the hope was to reopen elsewhere.
Antel said it has taken so long to find a spot because Jellyrolls owner Michael Williams was determined to find just the right location. Construction already has begun to transform the space into an entertainment venue.
The business will retain many of the features that made it popular at Walt Disney World, Antel said, such as specialty cocktails and its signature popcorn. The club will remain restricted to those age 21 and older, and the song list will still forgo overly sexual or violent lyrics.
“We’re not going to change our standards,” said Scotty Kilwein, director of entertainment. “We want everyone to feel comfortable.”
He expects many of his fellow piano players from the Disney location to return when the new location opens. Several of them, including Kilwein, have been performing in the interim at special dueling-piano events around the area. Fans have been attending — and seeking information about a reopening.
“It’s really nice that they care enough to ask and keep showing up,” Kilwein said.
Patrons will notice improvements over the former location, Kilwein said, including more technologically advanced sound and lighting. Even the stage will be given a makeover and made more prominent.
“The room is being designed with the whole intention of the show being the focus,” he said. “It will be better for the musicians, and it will make everybody feel like they are part of the show.”
Jellyrolls fans can sign up to be notified of the official location and opening-date reveals at
jellyrollsorlando.com. Antel said she thinks music fans will find the new venue worth the wait.
“We wanted to give our clientele an even better experience,” she said. “We weren’t just looking for a new home, we were looking for the right home — one we intend to be in for a long time.”
www.orlandosentinel.com
