Stitch Has Vanished from World of Disney, and Disney Springs Regulars Noticed Fast
The Stitch statue that sat above a World of Disney entrance at Disney Springs has been removed with no announcement from Walt Disney World. The store went through sign replacement earlier this year, which leaves an exterior refresh as the likeliest explanation, though Disney has not confirmed a return.
The Stitch statue that has grinned down over one of the World of Disney entrances at Disney Springs is gone. There has been no announcement of the removal and no word on whether the character is coming back.
Key details
- What was removed: The large Stitch statue mounted above a World of Disney entrance
- Where: World of Disney, Marketplace at Disney Springs
- Announced: No, and Disney has not commented on a return
- Related work: The store went through sign replacement earlier this year
- Store status: Open and operating normally
What is missing
The statue sat above the World of Disney sign at one of the store's entrances, the blue alien grinning with his arms stretched out over the doorway. On a recent walk through Disney Springs it was simply not there. Nothing has replaced it, and the sign underneath is untouched.
A store already partway through a refresh
The removal may not mean much on its own. World of Disney went through sign replacement earlier this year, and a statue coming down during exterior work is routine. Character figures mounted outside take central Florida weather year round, and refurbishing one means taking it off the wall.
The alternative reading is that the statue is not coming back, which would be a quieter kind of change. Disney has not said either way, and until it does, both explanations fit what is visible from the walkway.
Why fans are buzzing
The buzz
Stitch is having an enormous run in the parks right now, which makes a Stitch statue disappearing from the front of the biggest Disney store on property land harder than it otherwise would. The character is on more merchandise than almost anyone else, and guests noticed the empty spot within days. A removal with no announcement invites the question of whether something is being replaced or retired, and Disney's silence is doing nothing to settle it.
What this means for guests
Nothing about shopping at World of Disney has changed. The store is open, the entrance is open, and the only difference is a photo spot that is not currently available. Anyone who had that statue on a Disney Springs photo list should skip it for now. If the piece is off for refurbishment it will reappear without ceremony, and that is the likelier outcome given the sign work the store has already been through this year.