Walt Disney World has updated its plans for maintenance at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, the popular character meet-and-greet area in Magic Kingdom’s Storybook Circus. What was previously scheduled to close on 5th January 2026 will now begin its temporary shutdown one day earlier, with the last day of operation now 4th January 2026.

This seasonal closure is part of a refurbishment project affecting the circus-themed space where guests typically meet beloved Disney characters like Donald Duck, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, and Daisy Duck in themed costumes.

During the downtime, Disney has indicated that the affected characters won’t disappear from the park entirely — they’re expected to continue greeting visitors at alternate locations around Storybook Circus while work is underway.

At present, Disney has not released a firm reopening date for the Silly Sideshow experience. The park’s current schedule extends through late February 2026 without showing the attraction back in service, which suggests it could stay closed for a significant portion of the early year.

This revision to the closure timing comes amid several other refurbishments and operational updates at Magic Kingdom, making it especially important for guests planning early-year visits to double-check attraction availability.