A long-overdue construction project in Storybook Circus is showing real progress, and Walt Disney World Resort guests finally have visual proof that a new structure is taking shape.
New Roof Emerges in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park
The most tangible sign yet of Pete's Silly Sideshow's transformation surfaced on April 29, when WDWNT shared a photo revealing a brand-new two-toned red tent roof now towering above the construction barriers surrounding the building. After four months of walls and waiting, the replacement structure is visibly coming together in the Storybook Circus section of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park.
The deteriorating condition of the original tent had made this moment feel inevitable long before Walt Disney World Resort made it official. Visible tears in the roof had been attracting attention for months before the January closure, leaving little doubt that an intervention was on the way.
How It All Started
Walt Disney World Resort announced the indefinite closure of Pete's Silly Sideshow in January, citing refurbishment as the reason. The tent, which houses circus-themed character meet-and-greets with Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Donald Duck, was surrounded by construction walls almost immediately after shutting down. All four Disney characters were transitioned to outdoor meet-and-greet locations within Storybook Circus, where they remain available to guests today.
Big Top Souvenirs, the gift shop attached to Pete's Silly Sideshow and housed inside its own tent structure, is also caught up in the construction activity, with Disney seemingly planning to address that roofline as well. No reopening date has been announced for either location.
What's Different for Guests Right Now
Visitors to Storybook Circus during the refurbishment period will notice a small adjustment to the area's free “Smellephants on Parade” experience. The self-guided scavenger hunt, which normally sends Disney Park guests in search of eight scented elephant statues, has been temporarily scaled back, as two of the elephants are currently behind construction walls. For the time being, finding six elephants is all it takes to claim a free sticker.
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