Hurly-Burly opened at Disney's BoardWalk on October 1, and Walt Disney Imagineering has now shared a closer look at the storytelling woven into the design of the new lounge — from the name itself to the props, posters, and theming details tucked into every corner.
The posts, shared on Instagram by WDI, break down the layers of story that give Hurly-Burly its identity. There's a lot more going on in there than a first visit might reveal.
The Name
"Hurly-Burly" is an old English phrase meaning tumultuous uproar — and according to WDI, it was chosen to reflect the playful pandemonium of a live audience bursting into applause. It fits the venue's identity as a seaside vaudeville theatre where performance and audience energy are inseparable.
The Star of the Show: Polly Delmar
The lounge has a central character: Polly Delmar, a fictional vaudeville performer billed as the Toast of the Coast. Her story plays out across the walls of the lounge in chronological order as you move through the space.
Key Polly Delmar details spotted throughout:
- A large vintage performance poster for "Polly Del Mar — Comedy & Coastal Cabaret" hangs in a gold frame, billing her show at Hurly-Burly
- Her red gloves and pearl necklace are framed and displayed on a nearby wall as though genuine stage memorabilia
- An early banner introducing Polly Delmar as a "Famous Mermaid" — part of the show "Vaudeville by the Sea" — is visible near the bar
- A sign for "The Illustrious Pearl" references another chapter in her story
The props and set dressing chronicle her career, with the story building as you explore further into the space.
The Theming Details
WDI's posts highlight the nautical and theatrical details layered throughout the design:
- Seashell-shaped lights line the stage front — a nod to both vaudeville theatre tradition and the venue's coastal theme. WDI notes these shell-shaped footlights were common in seaside theatres of the era
- Gold seashell motifs appear across the bar fascia, the awning trim on the exterior, and as decorative props throughout the interior
- A ship's wheel and wave cut-outs are displayed in one of the arched display niches, alongside a fish-scale wallpaper pattern in teal and gold
- Pearl-shaped light fixtures hang as pendants, carrying through the Polly Delmar pearl motif
- "Vaudeville by the Sea" show posters feature nautical puns and imagery consistent with the BoardWalk's coastal identity
- Pearl the Puppet — a puppet character from one of Hurly-Burly's fictional past productions — can be spotted on display to the right of the bar, among a collection of props from previous shows including trunks, vintage fans, and instruments
- The exterior hand-painted sign above the entrance reads "Cocktails, Bites, Cabaret" — WDI confirmed this is hand-painted, not printed
The Bulletin Boards
Two framed bulletin boards in the back hallway add another layer of story. They feature audition notices for past Hurly-Burly productions — including a production of The Tempest — notes from Polly herself, a theatre sign-in sheet, and ads for fictional BoardWalk businesses including references to Trattoria al Forno and a boardwalk ice cream shop.
The Exterior
The wave-like roofline and teal color scheme of the building were intentional design choices — WDI notes that oceanic imagery runs through the exterior architecture as well as the interior, with wave-like lines and colors visible across the entire building facade.
Hurly-Burly is open daily from 4pm to 1am at Disney's BoardWalk. The full menu and pricing are available here.
WDWMAGIC Intelligence
Answers from our archive, with sources
Newsletter
Get Walt Disney World news delivered to your inbox.