Say WHAT?! A New Disney True Crime Documentary (!!!) Is Premiering Next Month

Attention, true crime-loving Disney Adults, you’re about to get your ultimate crossover moment.

The 2025 Florida Film Festival will open on April 11th with the East Coast premiere of Stolen Kingdom, a documentary directed by Joshua Bailey. This documentary details the “black-market underground” of Disney memorabilia sales and the urban exploration community that’s developed around the resort’s closed and “abandoned” attractions, which converged with the theft of an animatronic from EPCOT.

Many in the Disney community likely remember the infamous 2018 theft of Buzzy, the star animatronic of EPCOT’s shuttered Cranium Command attraction. At the time, Disney reported both the figure and its distinct costume (a flight suit and jacket) had disappeared from behind the walls of the closed Wonders of Life Pavilion.

 

Eventually, a former Disney Cast Member-turned minor social media celebrity, Patrick Spikes, was charged with the theft. He pled no contest and was ordered to make restitution. Buzzy’s clothes were eventually turned in by NBA player and Disney super-fan Robin Lopez, who had purchased the items without knowing they’d been stolen. The figure itself has yet to be recovered.

The whole story is explored in Stolen Kingdom, which, according to its official synopsis, “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 exploration community, each sharing their unique stories. 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?”

The documentary will be screened as part of the festival at the Enzian Theater at 6:00 PM on April 11th, with a second screening at 7:00 PM at the Regal Winter Park Village.

According to Matthew Curtis, the programming director for Enzian and the Florida Film Festival, this year’s overall lineup “features an exceptional mix of provocative features, must-see documentaries and outstanding short films that truly offers something for every film taste in the Central Florida community.”

Stolen Kingdom, a documentary that tells the true crime story of the theft of Buzzy from EPCOT in 2018, is set to have its first East Coast showing at the 2025 Florida Film Festival. Stay tuned to AllEars for more on the film.

Extinct EPCOT: The Story Behind Body Wars

Are you interested in seeing Stolen Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below.

Post a Comment