Magic Kingdom guests have been waiting months for one colorful Fantasyland favorite to return, and Disney has finally provided the biggest sign yet that the reopening is getting closer.
Big Top Souvenirs has been closed since February as crews worked on refurbishing the Storybook Circus gift shop. While Disney previously said the location would reopen later this year, there hadn't been many visible signs of progress for guests walking through Fantasyland. That's beginning to change.
With construction advancing and the shop's iconic entrance once again coming into view, Big Top Souvenirs appears to be entering the final stretch before welcoming guests back.
A Major Milestone for Storybook Circus
One of the most noticeable changes came this week as construction crews removed the striped scrim covering Big Top Souvenirs' signature entrance sign.
The colorful marquee, which faces Dumbo the Flying Elephant, has now been uncovered after spending several weeks hidden behind construction materials. The sign appears freshly repainted, although protective plastic still covers portions of the illuminated “Souvenirs” lettering.
Much of the construction scrim remains around the circus tent itself, but Disney already completed work on the building's new roof earlier this summer. Together, those updates suggest the lengthy refurbishment is steadily moving toward completion.
Disney has not announced a reopening date, but uncovering the main entrance sign is typically an encouraging sign that a project is nearing its end.
Could It Reopen Before Halloween?
The timing couldn't be more interesting.
Magic Kingdom hosts its first Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party of the season on August 7, just a couple of days away. Storybook Circus becomes a busy pathway during the event as families travel between Fantasyland attractions while enjoying trick-or-treat locations, entertainment, and character experiences.
Having Big Top Souvenirs open again would give guests another place to browse merchandise, cool off in the air conditioning, and grab sweet treats during the party.
Still, Disney hasn't confirmed whether the shop will be ready by then.
Although the latest construction progress is encouraging, visible work remains throughout the building. Protective coverings are still in place on portions of the sign, and sections of the tent continue to sit behind scrim.
Plenty of Construction Continues
Big Top Souvenirs isn't the only part of Magic Kingdom undergoing major changes.
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress remains closed for an extensive refurbishment that will update the attraction's timeline and presentation. In Frontierland, Disney continues transforming the former Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island into Piston Peak National Park while also preparing for the future arrival of Disney Villains Land.
Elsewhere, exterior work around Haunted Mansion appears to be wrapping up, while Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened earlier this year following its own lengthy refurbishment.
Rumors continue to swirl about a possible future refurbishment for Space Mountain, but Disney has not confirmed any plans.
For now, though, Big Top Souvenirs looks poised to become one of the next completed projects. While guests may have to wait a little longer, Fantasyland's colorful circus tent finally looks much closer to making its return.
