Storybook Circus Big Top Stripped to Frame as Disney Moves Character Meets Outside

Safety concerns with aging tent fabric are driving a long refurbishment with no reopening date.

Overview

Publications reported Tuesday that crews removed the Big Top’s fabric roof and sides, leaving the steel frame behind construction walls and themed scrims.
Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy now meet outdoors in Storybook Circus, with spots near the Big Top entrance and by the Fantasyland Railroad station.
Disney lists Pete’s Silly Sideshow as temporarily unavailable in the My Disney Experience app, and outdoor greetings pause during bad weather.
The move follows January’s early closure of Pete’s Silly Sideshow after guests noticed tent tears, stretched seams, and support poles pressing through the fabric.
With no timeline announced and permits pointing to extended work, some Smellephants on Parade statues are blocked by barriers and the scavenger hunt is partly modified.