Stolen Kingdom - An Exhibitory Retrospective

And of course, this feels like the most phenomenal time to remind any reader nearby with what feels like a mouse-signal that I am a central Floridian. I have spent enough time here since childhood and currently live here (and have been stuck here for over fifteen years), and it feels only right to attribute part of this magazine - which is, of course, so truly my heart and my soul - to what is local and nearby me in order to elevate experiences that are not always of the most musical…a couple of muses on the magazine — who would’ve thought!

I’ve had the idea bouncing around for Local Legends since early April of 2025, but didn’t necessarily feel all the most correct about pushing my thoosie agenda onto the magazine at the time. The very recent passing of Adam the Woo pushed me to do this, as he was a huge inspiration and cannon fodder for my special interest. Again, for those who do not know, I am on the spectrum (if you didn’t realize… I feel like that’s pretty given). My special interest is defunct mouse-land in central Florida (California doesn’t have as much room in those parks as we do!). I love everything with the lens of nostalgia, but everything they attempt to hide. I could talk about all of this for hours, and again, I’m choosing to.

I heard about the art show a few days before, being held at the Space Station in Orlando via Patrick Spikes’ twitter. Admittedly I do dislike stroking an ego that doesn’t need it (respectfully - I like the guy!) but I enjoy the hell out of his account.

I’m not going to get into the Buzzy review - that’ll be another time . If you care to read my thoughts about the relevant Stolen Kingdom film (I did go to film school, if you need credentials?), you know they’re linked.

Described as a “Dosney (We’re going RTGame Style here - I’m not messing with the mouse as a passholder.) Blackmarket”, mentioning the urbex that I so adore, and the items that I would bite a curb to have in my posession? Yeah, it’s a no brainer that I’m sat in the car on the way to go see them, dragging my roommate nearly by his ear to not be alone on the walk in.

Wonders of Life children’s pavilion play-map

This was, needless to say, the most incredible display of love across time I have ever seen. Items on loan from Spikes, the Mesa Verde Times, and other kind souls that had my heart rate nearly exploding. I was so truly overjoyed, and it meant the world to me to smell the original L’orange scent from Horizons. It somehow meant more to be able to watch the VHS footage from the tape itself. It was a very special time to be alive to me, and was overall an entire museum of dedication to my special interest. It was one of my most favorite days being in Florida across all these years, and it will remain that way for my livelihood. Autism is a blessing, not a curse.

Being able to see the food pieces from Horizons, the Fantasmic gloves, the blueprint reprints (assuming), and the original Dreamfinder animatronic pieces? I was in heaven, and need anyone reading to know this.

Dreamfinder’s animatronic pieces

This served as the biggest hype piece for the indie film of the same vein, entitled Stolen Kingdom, directed by Josh Bailey. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Bailey recently to speak about the move at its premiere in Tampa, as I had been unable to attend the Orlando showing in April. Life will always find a way, and so will my special interests.

Horizons Lorange Prop + Spray

And to dabble on the Buzzy bit? I don’t believe Spikes has the animatronic in his possession, and I’ll put that on record here before anything else.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to those who had items on loan for the time period they were available at Space Station. Thank you to those with an exploratory heart, and an archivist soul like myself. Thank you across all explorers for our shared passions and drive…even if it has meant the expense of the WoL pavillion.

And with that? I’m going to Disney World.

Lots of Love,

Caity T.