After more than six months behind construction walls, Big Top Souvenirs at Magic Kingdom is showing all the outward signs of a shop nearly ready to welcome guests again. The Storybook Circus gift shop closed on February 20, 2026, for an extensive refurbishment, and Disney has said it will reopen later this year — though no specific date has been announced.
The progress visible on the exterior is encouraging. The tent covering that gives the shop its circus-tent look was removed early in construction, leaving the underlying structure exposed for months. By July, a new tent had been installed. More recently, the exterior scaffolding came down entirely, a refreshed Big Top Souvenirs sign has been uncovered, and several construction walls have been swapped out for rolling planters. Fresh mulch has been added around the Storybook Circus area, and a planter near the entrance — previously blocked by barriers — is visible again.
Big Top Souvenirs has been part of the New Fantasyland area for roughly 14 years, offering Disney merchandise, collectible pins, snacks, sweets, and cold beverages in a circus-inspired setting. It's one of the larger retail locations in that corner of the park, so its months-long absence has been hard to miss. Nearby, Pete's Silly Sideshow — another Storybook Circus spot that underwent its own refurbishment — already returned in June.
With the tent up, scaffolding gone, and signage revealed, the construction zone feel around Big Top Souvenirs has faded considerably. The main thing still missing is an official reopening date from Disney. Until that announcement arrives, guests should keep an eye on Disney's park updates for confirmation.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
This report was originally published by Disney Fanatic.
