Pete’s Silly Sideshow is now officially closed at Magic Kingdom.
The circus tent location in Storybook Circus became temporarily unavailable today, January 4, 2026, following a last minute schedule change announced by Disney earlier this week. The closure came one day sooner than originally planned, catching some guests by surprise.
With Pete’s Silly Sideshow now closed, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, and Goofy will continue meeting guests elsewhere in Storybook Circus. Disney has not yet confirmed exact locations or whether any changes will be made to the character rotation during the closure.
What’s Happening Behind the Scenes?
Disney has not officially confirmed the reason for the closure, but it is widely believed to be related to repairs to the Silly Sideshow tent. The tent structure was recently reported to have been torn.
Back in October, Disney filed permits covering work at Pete’s Silly Sideshow and Big Top Souvenirs, listing Birdair, Inc.as the contractor. Birdair specialises in tensile structures, including fabric canopies and large scale roofing systems, which strongly suggests structural refurbishment work is planned.
No Reopening Date Announced
At this time, Disney has not shared a reopening timeframe for Pete’s Silly Sideshow. The closure is listed as temporary, but no end date has been provided.
Guests visiting Walt Disney World in the coming days should plan accordingly if Storybook Circus character meet and greets are part of their plans. We will continue to monitor for updates and share more as Disney releases additional information.
