New ‘Stolen Kingdom’ Documentary Will Tackle the 2018 Theft of Buzzy From EPCOT
In December 2018, the Disney world was rocked when it was reported that a Buzzy animatronic had been stolen from the abandoned Wonders of Life pavilion.
For those of you who don’t remember, Buzzy was the star of Cranium Command, a fan-favorite attraction that ran in EPCOT’s Wonders of Life pavilion from 1989 until 2007.
The attraction took place inside the brain of a 12-year-old boy, where a bumbling soldier named Buzzy was in control. While much of the attraction’s story played out on a large screen, a large animatronic Buzzy sat in the theater, interacting with guests and guiding them through the action.
When Wonders of Life closed in 2007, the Cranium Command theater was left abandoned and intact. For the next eleven years, this is where Buzzy would stay.
The Buzzy Animatronic Was Reportedly Stolen in 2018
In December 2018, however, reports began to emerge on social media that the Buzzy animatronic had been stolen from within the pavilion. In May 2019, the speculation was seemingly confirmed when the Orlando Sentinel reported that the animatronic was still missing.
Later that month, former Disney employee Patrick Spikes was arrested for the theft of various Disney attraction props, including clothes taken off of the Buzzy animatronic.
Photo Credit: Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Spikes and his cousin Blaytin Taunton would eventually plead no contest to charges regarding the theft, but the whereabouts of the Buzzy animatronic was never publicly revealed.
‘Stolen Kingdom’ Will Investigate the Theft
Six years after Buzzy’s theft rocked the Disney community, executive producer Jake Williams and director Josh Bailey are set to debut their long-awaited documentary on the incident. Titled Stolen Kingdom, the film will debut at Slamdance Film Festival in Los Angeles next February.
Photo: IMDB
“‘Stolen Kingdom’ is a documentary that delves into the history of mischief, scandal, and theft at Walt Disney World, ultimately leading to the theft of an animatronic valued at nearly half a million dollars. The film features key figures from the park’s underground community, each sharing their unique stories,” Bailey explains in the documentary’s synopsis.
“As the narrative unfolds, early pranks and antics are shown to have inspired more recent crimes, culminating in a true crime mystery. What begins as a tale of friendship and passion ends with one lingering question: Who stole Buzzy?”
Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog
According to Williams, a trailer for Stolen Kingdom is forthcoming.
