Disney World Indefinitely Pauses Character Meet-And-Greets, Return Date Unknown
Four beloved Disney characters have been displaced indefinitely from their home at Magic Kingdom Park as construction continues, with no end date in sight. Pete’s Silly Sideshow closed January 4, 2026, for refurbishment, forcing Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Donald Duck to relocate to temporary outdoor meet-and-greet locations in Storybook Circus.
Tent Structure Being Dismantled
Disney Park guests witnessed the first major construction activity on Wednesday, when crews completely removed the top tent layer serving as the roof for Pete’s Silly Sideshow, according to BlogMickey. The removed section was the most visibly damaged before closure, showing multiple tears in the outer fabric.
Whether Walt Disney World Resort plans to repair or replace the tarp remains unknown. This appears to be the project’s first phase, with no scheduled completion date announced. Disney hasn’t disclosed whether Pete’s Silly Sideshow’s interior will be modified during the refurbishment.
Construction walls and scrim have surrounded the circus-themed building since January 4. January 3 marked the final day guests could meet characters inside the structure before the indefinite closure began.
Fabric Deterioration Likely Forced Closure
Pete’s Silly Sideshow showed visible wear in recent months, with numerous tears appearing in the outer fabric covering the internal scaffolding. The deteriorating condition of the tent-shaped structure likely prompted Walt Disney World Resort to announce the refurbishment in December, giving Disney Park guests advance notice of the temporary closure.
As of now, no reopening date exists for Pete’s Silly Sideshow at Magic Kingdom Park. The attached Big Top Souvenirs gift shop, also housed in a tent structure, remains open during construction.
Characters Continue Meeting Outdoors
The Astounding Donaldo, the Great Goofini, Minnie Magnifique, and Daisy Fortuna—the circus-themed character personas for Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, and Daisy Duck—continue greeting guests throughout Storybook Circus in outdoor locations. The My Disney Experience app provides current entertainment schedules showing where characters are appearing.
The indefinite closure means families planning Magic Kingdom Park visits in the coming weeks or months cannot count on Pete’s Silly Sideshow being operational. Without a projected reopening timeline, the indoor character meet-and-greet experience could remain unavailable through spring or even into summer 2026.
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