Guests exploring the Storybook Circus section of Magic Kingdom may notice a small change to one of the area’s most charming activities. Disney has quietly updated the map used for the “Smellephants on Parade” scavenger hunt, reducing the number of elephants visitors need to find.
The adjustment comes as construction continues in this part of Fantasyland, where refurbishment projects have temporarily blocked access to certain areas.
For guests who enjoy discovering small interactive experiences throughout the park, Smellephants on Parade has become a fun way to explore Storybook Circus. The activity launched in 2024 and quickly became a favorite among families, especially those visiting with younger children.
The concept is simple. Guests pick up a map and a sheet of stickers from Cast Members near the entrance of Storybook Circus. From there, they search the land for colorful elephant statues placed throughout the area. Each elephant represents a different scent, inspired by classic carnival treats.
As guests locate the elephants, they place the matching sticker on their map. Once every statue is found, they can return the completed sheet to receive a special reward sticker known as a “Whiff-sistant” badge.
Recently, however, the scavenger hunt became slightly shorter.
Because construction walls now surround parts of Storybook Circus, two of the Smellephant statues are temporarily inaccessible. Those statues are located near Big Top Souvenirs, an area currently affected by nearby refurbishment work.
Rather than shutting down the activity completely, Disney updated the map so that guests only need to find six elephants instead of the original eight.
The two scent locations currently missing from the map are caramel apple and cotton candy. Both of those statues normally sit near the entrance to Big Top Souvenirs, which is partially blocked off while work continues nearby.
Even with those changes, the activity still functions exactly the same way. Guests can explore Storybook Circus, search for the remaining elephants, and collect their prize sticker once the hunt is complete.
The construction impacting the scavenger hunt is part of ongoing work around Pete’s Silly Sideshow. The circus-themed building closed earlier this year for refurbishment, and construction crews have been repairing parts of the structure.
Before the closure, sections of the tent’s outer fabric had started showing signs of wear, prompting Disney to begin repairs. Since then, workers have removed portions of the roof covering as part of the refurbishment process.
At this time, Disney has not announced when Pete’s Silly Sideshow will reopen.
While the building remains closed, the characters that previously appeared inside have moved to outdoor locations around Storybook Circus. Guests can still meet Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, and Daisy Duck, though their greeting spots have shifted throughout the land.
For now, the Smellephants activity continues to give families something fun to do while exploring the area. The only difference is that guests will find six elephants instead of eight.
Once construction wraps up and blocked areas reopen, the missing statues could return to the scavenger hunt map.
Until then, the activity remains a simple and enjoyable way to add a little extra adventure to a walk through Storybook Circus.
