Big Top Souvenirs Reopens Friday at Magic Kingdom After a Six Month Refurbishment, With a Tent Full of Circus Treats

The blue construction wall in front of the big top was up so long that it started to feel like scenery. It came down earlier this month, and the tent itself reopens this week. Disney has confirmed that Big Top Souvenirs reopens on Friday, August 21, ending a refurbishment that has kept the Storybook Circus tent closed since February.

Disney announced the date with a promise of "sweet surprises and tasty treats," and a teaser image that is almost entirely dessert.

The teaser image Disney used to announce the reopening. A grey Dumbo caramel apple with candy ears and a yellow hat sits at back left, next to a Dumbo shaped sandwich cookie with rainbow sprinkles on a red pedestal. A large cinnamon sugar Mickey churro caramel apple stands at center on a red and yellow circus drum, beside a pink, yellow and blue Mickey marshmallow pop. Two cupcakes sit at left, one with pink frosting, a red Minnie bow and white chocolate ears, one with white frosting, sprinkles and candy stars. A red and white striped cup of cinnamon dusted Circus Chips sits at right, with a few chips spilled beside it. Photo: Disney via WDW News Today.

What is in the teaser

WDW News Today, which reported the date on Thursday morning, lists some of the items in Disney's image: a Mickey Churro Caramel Apple, a Dumbo Caramel Apple, a Dumbo Sandwich Cookie, Marshmallow Pops, Cupcakes and Circus Chips. Blog Mickey adds that those treats will be sold at Big Top Treats, the confectionery counter that shares the tent with the merchandise floor, and that the counter is coming back alongside the shop.

Blog Mickey, which reported the announcement the same morning, frames the closure as a six month refurbishment and says that as far as it knows the work was limited to replacing the tent roof.

Six months of refurbishment

Big Top Souvenirs has been closed since February 20. Scaffolding went up over the tent, and a blue construction wall ran across the front of the building, partly blocking the view of the shop's marquee from the walkway beside Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

How the tent looked earlier this month. The teal and white striped big top rises behind a solid blue construction wall, and white plastic sheeting still covers the Souvenirs lettering on the central red panel, leaving the words Big Top clear above it. The smaller flanking signs for Exciting Toys, Amusing Mementos, Cotton Candy and Caramel Apples are visible above the wall, and guests walk past on the Storybook Circus pavement. Photo: WDW News Today.

The sign came back first. On August 9, WDW News Today reported that crews had pulled the protective plastic off the Souvenirs section of the marquee and swapped the blue walls for rolling planters, revealing the sign in its entirety. The outlet noted that it is the shop's main marquee, at the entrance that faces Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

The restored marquee with the plastic off. The red and gold sign reads Big Top in blue letters above Souvenirs in silver marquee lettering studded with rows of round bulbs, flanked by smaller panels reading Exciting Toys, Amusing Mementos, The World's Most Amazing Gifts, The World's Tastiest Treats, Cotton Candy and Caramel Apples. A small Ticket Booth sign sits below the marquee, and a line of brown wooden planters on casters, topped with hedges, has replaced the construction wall. Photo: WDW News Today.

WDW News Today reported on Thursday that the scaffolding came off the exterior last week as the refurbishment comes to an end. Pete's Silly Sideshow next door was covered by the same refurbishment permit and reopened in June, leaving the big top as the last piece of the project to come back.

Where it sits

Big Top Souvenirs is the large circus tent in Storybook Circus, the Fantasyland section that also holds Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Barnstormer and Pete's Silly Sideshow. It is a combined merchandise and confectionery space, and the reopening teaser leans hard on the confectionery half.

If you are heading to Magic Kingdom this weekend, the tent is open again from Friday. Disney has not published a menu with prices for the treats in the teaser image, and the lineup shown there may not be the full list. Blog Mickey's summary of the announcement lists cake pops among the returning treats as well.

Sources

• WDW News Today, "Big Top Souvenirs Reopening Date Revealed at Magic Kingdom With New Menu Items"
• Blog Mickey, "Disney Announces Big Top Souvenirs Reopening After Six-Month Refurbishment"
• WDW News Today, "Big Top Souvenirs Sign Fully Revealed After Restoration at Magic Kingdom"

Image credits: teaser image Disney via WDW News Today; construction wall and restored marquee photos WDW News Today.