A quartet of beloved Disney characters will relocate from their current Fantasyland home starting in 2026 as Walt Disney World Resort prepares for scheduled maintenance work.
Beginning January 5, guests won’t find Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, and Goofy at their usual Pete’s Silly Sideshow spot. The character meet-and-greet building will close temporarily for refurbishment, affecting both the “Meet Dashing Disney Pals as Circus Stars” and “Meet Daring Disney Pals as Circus Stars” experiences that have welcomed park visitors at this location.
Maintenance Work Planned for Early 2026
The refurbishment stems from permit applications Walt Disney World Resort filed in October for the Pete’s Silly Sideshow building. Observable damage to the exterior tent structure likely prompted the maintenance request, though Disney hasn’t provided official commentary on the project’s scope or specific repairs planned.
Walt Disney World Resort’s official website confirms the closure but hasn’t announced when the character location will reopen to Magic Kingdom Park guests. The refurbishment timeline remains unspecified at this time.
Big Top Souvenirs will remain accessible throughout the construction period. The retail and Quick-Service snack location is attached to the character greeting area, but it will apparently not be impacted by the scheduled work.
Where Magic Kingdom Park Guests Can Find Characters During Refurbishment
Disney Parks fans won’t lose the opportunity to meet these four classic characters during their Magic Kingdom visits. Walt Disney World Resort’s website indicates the characters “will be greeting guests in Storybook Circus” while their regular meeting spot undergoes repairs.
The exact location within Storybook Circus hasn’t been disclosed, and Disney hasn’t released a greeting schedule for the relocated characters. Whether The Astounding Donaldo, The Great Goofini, Minnie Magnifique, and Daisy Fortuna will maintain their circus-themed costumes during this transition also remains unconfirmed.
Central Florida Disney Park guests arriving after January 5, 2026, can access current character greeting information through the My Disney Experience app. The mobile platform provides updated schedules and locations for character appearances throughout Magic Kingdom Park.
Disney Dining will continue to monitor this story and provide updates on the refurbishment progress of Pete’s Silly Sideshow, along with other developments at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and EPCOT.
Which Pete’s Silly Sideshow character is your favorite? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
