What is Jellyrolls like?

[leebee]

We are off to WDW to celebrate DD's 21st birthday in October. I know that Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar, but what exactly IS that? What happens at Jellyrolls? Is it just a dance club, or a bar, or what? We're staying at the Boardwalk Villas, so it would be convenient, that's for sure… but what do you DO at Jellyrolls? (and is there a cover charge, and are the drinks outrageously priced, and… any details will help!)

 

[briar_rose_59]

It's more of a bar than a "club", the only times I've seen anyone dancing were a couple individual people and usually only for one song or so. There are two piano players on stage at any given time that will play requests together. They rotate out every so often, I want to say every 30 mins or hour.
I believe cover is around $10 and I don't remember drinks being any more outrageously priced than anywhere else on Disney property. Also keep in mind they don't serve any food there other than (free) popcorn.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Jelly Rolls: (4/5/2014)
. . . food price value: B (for drinks)
. . . food quality: n/a
. . . food quantity per serving: C
. . . food prep speed: n/a
. . . food selection: n/a
. . . seating quantity: B
. . . seating comfort: B
. . . eatery atmosphere: B
. . . eatery convenience: C
. . . staff friendliness: C
. . . staff attentiveness: D
. . . character interaction: n/a

NOTE1: Jelly Rolls is an entertainment bar. Pianists play requests from the audience.
This is a copy of the Howling At The Moon locations. Drinks are pricey, but reasonably
priced for WDW. It is a non-smoking facility and they serve only snacks. Once the place
gets rockin' (about 9:30pm), it is great fun. There are two pianists playing continuously,
each hour the two swap for two new so music does not stop. They play 60's-70's-80's
oldies and no rap, raggae, etc. Really good for anyone over 21, and for us "older" folks.
Get there at least a half-hour before the music, as good seats go quickly.

NOTE2: This is a bar, and not a "dance club". Folks sit at the tables, although once in
a while someone will stand next to the table and boogie a little. The place is loud with
all the singing along with the tunes, so folks with noise problems should not attend.

 

[2minny]

We love piano bars, there are some great one's in our area. We went to Jellyrolls last trip and enjoyed it, but the performers that night did not engage the audience much. Great idea, good music, a bit of comedy thrown in, many songs are old classics that encourage singing-along. Fun idea, could be great with more engaging performers, and the crowd in attendance makes a big difference too.

 

[travelin' tigger]

I believe cover is around $10 and I don't remember drinks being any more outrageously priced than anywhere else on Disney property. Also keep in mind they don't serve any food there other than (free) popcorn.

Cover charge is now $12 per person.

It's a must for me every trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

Those of us that go to JRs frequently find that the audience members get plenty of interaction....especially those in the front.
It's a lot of fun! You can get particular songs played if you put the song title on a napkin and include a 'tip', then put it up on one of the two pianos. The higher the tip, the sooner the song gets sung!
Those of us from the Boston area love going.....Sweet Caroline and Dirty Water are two huge favorites there...you can always tell when 'Boston' is in the house!!!

 

[leebee]

Those of us that go to JRs frequently find that the audience members get plenty of interaction....especially those in the front.
It's a lot of fun! You can get particular songs played if you put the song title on a napkin and include a 'tip', then put it up on one of the two pianos. The higher the tip, the sooner the song gets sung!
Those of us from the Boston area love going.....Sweet Caroline and Dirty Water are two huge favorites there...you can always tell when 'Boston' is in the house!!!

Well, I grew up in Peabody, so Boston will definitely be in the house!! Our trip is for DD's 21st birthday, and we've always wanted to try Jellyrolls, so this might be the trip!

 

[wilma-bride]

We've been to Jellyrolls a few times now. It's one of those things that is propbably more fun with a bigger group but it is definitely a fun night out.

We will be there with a fairly big group on Saturday 25th October

 

[U2_rocks!]

I have danced a lot in Jellyrolls! The place to do it, if it's a rocking night, is up by the bar. They have some seats along a rail overlooking the stage area (on the way to the restrooms) and there's usually space for some people to dance there. When there's a big crowd there are people standing in that area anyway, so dancers don't stick out.

One of the things I enjoy about Jellyrolls (and some people may not like this) is the funny interaction with the audience. For example, when they make you stand up and do the actions to various songs like the Unicorn Song and the song about the tree. Depending on what people are celebrating, the entertainers can have lots of fun with that too. e.g. I have seen a bride-to-be get called up on stage to sit on a stool, and then as many men from the audience that they could persuade had to come up and gather round her on one knee and sing a song to her. They have done mildly embarrassing things to birthday celebrators too. It's all in good fun, if you like that sort of thing.

 

[MannyB]

We are off to WDW to celebrate DD's 21st birthday in October. I know that Jellyrolls is a dueling piano bar, but what exactly IS that? What happens at Jellyrolls? Is it just a dance club, or a bar, or what? We're staying at the Boardwalk Villas, so it would be convenient, that's for sure… but what do you DO at Jellyrolls? (and is there a cover charge, and are the drinks outrageously priced, and… any details will help!)

We enjoy Jellyrolls a lot. It is simply a dueling Piano bar. The best way to describe it if I was talking to a friend,

" The cover charge is fairly steep and drinks are not cheap. Everyone essentially remains seated tapping their feet and singing along as the very talented piano players take requests on napkins... arranged in order by the monetary tip given with the request.. and play their versions of the songs. They mix it up, interact with the crowd, and even have the occasional person come up on stage."

The crowd generally never gets to raucous and would best be described as 'Parents very happy to have their kids asleep and needing a drink'. The crowd typically filters out fairly early as those parents go back to their room to get ready for another long day at the parks.

We consider jellyrolls a must do, especially with a group of people who want to see the more adult side Disney has to offer.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've been to Jellyrolls a few times now. It's one of those things that is propbably more fun with a bigger group but it is definitely a fun night out.

We will be there with a fairly big group on Saturday 25th October

I so wish I could be there, with my dd, that night. She turns 21 on Oct 25!!! Going to JRs is a huge deal for her. Raise a glass in Kate's honor, will you?

Well, I grew up in Peabody, so Boston will definitely be in the house!! Our trip is for DD's 21st birthday, and we've always wanted to try Jellyrolls, so this might be the trip!

Be sure to represent us all then. My dd wishes she could be there for her 21st...but that's not going to happen. She'll be in school then. Ah well.

 

[DisneyDarling13]

I'm so excited to try Jellyrolls out! I've never been before but it sounds like such a fun time!! We have a group of 8 that will be going!

 

[NYDisGuy]

I may be in the minority but I didn't really like Jellyrolls that much. I feel like crowds make or break this place on any given night. The night we went there were a group of drunk kids basically moshing in the front row to Journey. It's really the only place on property (besides the desolate dance hall) that you can go for entertainment which I think is why it gets so much praise.

 

[leebee]

I so wish I could be there, with my dd, that night. She turns 21 on Oct 25!!! Going to JRs is a huge deal for her. Raise a glass in Kate's honor, will you?
Be sure to represent us all then. My dd wishes she could be there for her 21st...but that's not going to happen. She'll be in school then. Ah well.

Actually, DD turns 21 at the end of September. For years, she's been hoping to celebrate her 21st by doing/drinking her way through the food and wine festival with us. It's so cool… both her best friend and her boy friend have offered to come too, but she always says no, this one's for just her and us!
We are going over her October break, and she's skipping 2 days of school (no biggie, she already knows the classes and profs, and they are OK with it) to do this.

It sounds like Jellyrolls might be the way to spend the evening on our AK day. It'll be fun, new, different… and just downstairs from our room (staying at BWV)- and we'll toast Kate's b-day, too, just a little bit early!

 

[JennyDrake]

A mixed review for me. The music and pianists were terrific. The place is MUCH smaller than I expected and if you are not there early you will NOT get a seat. This a 6 or 7 years ago and a margarita (not top shelf) in a "wedding punch" plastic cup was $7.95!!! It was also ridiculously FRIGID with a/c. My friend and I had an OK time, but I imagine it would be great with a small group.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I've been to Jellyrolls many many times! Definitely one of the best nighttime activities in all of Walt Disney World...usually.

Be warned that if a group of Cast Members are there, they will get the majority of the attention and their songs have more of a chance of being played. We tipped the gentleman $5 with our song request and we watched him toss it to the side with no mention, just to go back to the one table (a group of people he clearly knew) to make inside jokes and play only their songs. This type of thing happened 2 times out of about 20, but it happens...

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Also keep in mind that it's just drinks (all served in plastic cups) - the only food served was popcorn. so get some food in before you go and have all those drinks...

At least they stopped allowing smoking awhile back. They were able to have smoking because they didn't serve food.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

and here I am thinking it's a tasty doughnut!