The theft of a beloved EPCOT animatronic, the deception of an NBA player, and the dastardly journey of two thieves through Disney World’s underground tunnels carrying stolen props worth half a million dollars – this is the story of an infamous Disney World heist and the mysterious disappearance of Buzzy.
In 2018, a social media account called Backdoor Disney started posting behind-the-scenes photos of Walt Disney World, including a snapshot of Buzzy, a 300-pound pilot animatronic from EPCOT’s defunct Cranium Command attraction. The picture below specifically raised alarms at Disney, given Buzzy had been reported stolen months prior.
The Backdoor Disney account was traced back to a Disney employee: 24-year-old Patrick Spikes. During police interrogation, Patrick denied stealing Buzzy but revealed the animatronic’s clothing had been sold by someone for $8,000. Unbeknownst to him, police had already been tipped off that Patrick was sharing pictures of Buzzy’s clothing with fellow Disney employees, leading to an unsuccessful lunge for his phone.
The police raided his home, discovering a trove of stolen Disney props including wigs, dresses, and a tiara from the Haunted Mansion. Full-time Disney adult and part-time NBA Center, Robin Lopez, turned out to be an unsuspecting buyer of these stolen treasures, purchasing over $10,000 worth.
The investigation revealed that Patrick and his cousin had infiltrated Magic Kingdom using a fake employee ID, pillaging attraction after attraction as they navigated the parks’ subterranean utilidors.
Following Patrick’s taunting posts of Buzzy’s severed head, he was arrested on burglary, fencing, and grand theft charges. Though Spikes and his cousin evaded jail, they faced probation, community service, financial penalties, and a permanent ban from Disney properties.
Commenting on the case, Patrick said Disney has worse security than Walmart, and he simply didn’t understand the severity of his actions. What’s Patrick going to do next you might ask?
“I’m going to Disney World,” Patrick exclaimed to a reporter outside of court.
All of Disney’s stolen items have been recovered, but one: Buzzy’s whereabouts remain unknown to this day.
Is Patrick hiding Buzzy somewhere, or was his disappearance a mere accounting error by Disney?
Let me know your thoughts, and follow along for more crazy stories of Disney history.