Hurly-Burly entertainment: What to know before you go to Disney’s BoardWalk

The curtain is about to rise on a new era of entertainment at Disney’s BoardWalk.

Hurly-Burly officially opens Oct. 1, but what you’ll find inside depends largely on when you visit. The new dining and live entertainment venue welcomes families for games and activities from 4-9 p.m., then shifts into a 21-and-over nightlife experience with live music after 9 p.m.

Attractions Magazine attended a preview of Hurly-Burly and experienced both sides of the new venue, from Disney character and music bingo to live performances spanning Motown, decades of popular hits and vintage-style arrangements.

Before you pick a night — or bring the kids — here’s what to know about entertainment at Hurly-Burly.

If these walls could sing

Disney’s BoardWalk has been part of my life for years. Growing up in the Orlando area, I spent plenty of nights at Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall. When AbracadaBar opened, it became my hidden gem to show dates, friends and visiting family.

Now I’m a mom, and the BoardWalk’s newest venue has me looking at it from both sides. I previewed Hurly-Burly ahead of its Oct. 1 opening in the former Jellyrolls space.

In short, Hurly-Burly changes Disney’s BoardWalk for the better!

It’s designed to welcome families for games and trivia during the day, then shift to live music for guests 21 and older after 9 p.m. With Atlantic Dance Hall ending its regular public nights, I wanted to see what this new chapter offers the kids who visit the BoardWalk now—and the adults who still want a night out.

Hurly-Burly preview: A look at both sides of the show

The Sept. 25 media preview showed how Hurly-Burly will work for both audiences. Disney demonstrated some of its daytime and nighttime entertainment, offered samples from the menu and showed how specialty drinks are made.

Representatives from Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Live Entertainment, and the food and beverage team spoke with Attractions Magazine and other attendees.

Atmosphere and decor

Disney describes Hurly-Burly as a nostalgic seaside theater, a fitting premise for its waterfront spot at Disney’s BoardWalk.

As I stepped into the new venue, the layout evoked memories of my younger years when the boisterous dueling pianos of Jellyrolls filled my ears. Gone are the sticky floor and dark walls.

Now deep teal walls and red curtains frame a stage for live performers. Lounge tables give the room the feel of an intimate club, while a large “Hurly-Burly Theatre” sign anchors the space.

Related: Hear from Disney Imagineering on the lore and details of Hurly-Burly.

Hurly-Burly entertainment schedule and overview

Entertainment is at the heart of Hurly-Burly, but the experience changes throughout the evening. From opening until 9 p.m., the venue welcomes guests of all ages for host-led games and activities. At 9 p.m., Hurly-Burly becomes 21-and-over and live bands take the stage, with a different style of music depending on the night.

Here is the weekly entertainment schedule shared during our preview:

• Sunday: Sia and the Tin Pan — Modern Vintage
• Monday: Top 40
• Tuesday: Velvet Soul — Motown
• Wednesday: Velvet Neon — music from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s
• Thursday: American Sirens Trio
• Friday: Top 40
• Saturday: Velvet Soul — Motown

Attractions Magazine previewed three of Hurly-Burly’s musical acts, and each brought a distinctly different sound to the stage.

Velvet Soul delivered the Motown sound with “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” before moving into Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

Velvet Neon jumped across decades, including “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” and Santana’s “Smooth.”

The Modern Vintage performance from Sia and the Tin Pan Alley Band offered perhaps the biggest musical contrasts. The set opened with the early 20th-century standard “Ain’t We Got Fun,” then reimagined more contemporary hits in a vintage style, including Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life.” The group closed with a jazzy take on Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”

Each of the acts we previewed was wonderful, and I would happily return for any of them. Given a choice, though, I personally plan to prioritize the Modern Vintage performances or American Sirens, a group already well known in Orlando’s themed entertainment scene.

That’s just a style preference on my part, as I really enjoy jazz in an atmosphere like this.

Kid-friendly fun before 9 p.m.

Hurly-Burly isn’t exclusively an adults-only nightlife destination. From 4-9 p.m., the venue welcomes guests of all ages with family-friendly entertainment before transitioning to its 21-and-over live music experience.

The kids’ entertainment was only a short portion of our preview, but we got to play Disney Music Bingo, hosted by Lee — a name that conveniently rhymes with Hurly-Burly.

The game offered a good example of what families can expect during the earlier hours: something interactive enough to get kids involved while parents can still enjoy the lounge atmosphere, food and drinks. Other activities may vary, so the experience during the family-friendly portion of the evening may not be identical from visit to visit.