Good news for anyone who’s been missing the circus character group at Magic Kingdom. Pete’s Silly Sideshow finally has a reopening date after being closed since January for refurbishment.
This is the spot in Storybook Circus where guests usually meet Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Donald Duck, all dressed up in their fun circus-themed outfits. It’s been one of the more popular meet and greet stops in the whole park, mostly because you get four characters in one place instead of running around to separate lines.
Pete’s Silly Sideshow reopens Saturday, June 27, 2026, with hours from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
How We Knew It Was Getting Close
If you’ve walked past the construction walls in Storybook Circus lately, you probably noticed things moving fast these past few weeks. A new tent roof went up back in April, then more recently the scaffolding and scrim covering the building came down. Banners showed up on the sign shortly after that, and crews have been spotted working on the wait time boards behind the walls too.
All of that pointed pretty clearly to a reopening being close, and now we finally have the actual date.
While the venue’s been closed, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy have been meeting outside in Storybook Circus instead. That’ll likely change back to the indoor setup once the doors open again Saturday.
Why the Timing Is Actually Great for The Character Location
Pete’s Silly Sideshow doesn’t just matter for regular park days either. This building also hosts meet-and-greets during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so reopening it now gives Disney plenty of time before those events ramp up later this year.
There’s also just the timing of right now. Magic Kingdom gets packed in the summer, and Florida heat this time of year is no joke. Having another indoor, air conditioned spot open up is honestly a nice break for anyone trying to get little kids out of the sun for a bit. You get the AC, you get some character photos, and you get a few minutes to recharge before heading back out.
What’s Still Closed
Big Top Souvenirs, the shop right next door, is a different story. It closed back in late February for its own refurbishment, and there’s still no reopening date for it.
There has been progress there too though. The tent exterior came off completely by mid March, and a brand new bright blue tent roof went up recently. It hasn’t been pulled tight and secured yet, so that’s probably still a few weeks out.
Still, it’s nice that one half of Storybook Circus is getting back to normal even while the other half finishes up. Pete’s Silly Sideshow reopening means guests don’t have to wait on both projects to wrap before things start feeling normal again in that corner of the park.
If you’re planning a trip soon, mark down June 27 and get ready to meet Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy back where they belong.
