The VOID, which is tucked away in the Marketplace area of Disney Springs and also has a location at Disneyland Resort’s Downtown Disney district, has been something of a hidden gem for guests, boasting an impressive Star Wars experience as well as a Wreck-It Ralph experience as well.
And though both locations of The VOID closed temporarily with the rest of Disneyland and Walt Disney World in March, we had assumed that it would eventually reopen when it was safe to do so. However, it looks like that may not actually happen.
The VOID is getting kicked out of Downtown Disney
Image: The Void
Earlier this week guests who walked past The VOID noticed that a Notice of Event Default and Lease Termination from the Disney Operating Participants Department has been posted on the doors of the Downtown Disney location of The VOID.
The notice cites a breach of the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures license, saying that The VOID must stop using any Disney intellectual property (IP), Disney promotional material, trademarks and/or confidential information.
Image: Disney
And without this IP, The VOID cannot reopen, which effectively shuts this location down, permanently. Though there has been no confirmation, it could be possible that rent and/or licence payments were not paid due to the COVID-19 closures, which resulted in The VOID losing their license. And while its strange that Disney would just cut off this operating participant immediately after missing payments (they have been a presence at Disney for the past two years), it looks like this is almost certainly the end of the road for their partnership at Downtown Disney, and potentially Disney Springs as well, since they are owned by the same parent company.
Could The VOID recover?
Image: The Void
Though Disney fans best know The VOID for its Disney locations, this company existed before it became part of the Disney family, and has developed attractions for other amusement operators over the years, including a Ghostbusters experience at Madame Tussaud’s.
However, these previous projects were not exactly the most successful and The VOID experienced management and money issues before they signed a contract with Disney in 2018, which saw Disney making a small investment in the company and giving The VOID prime retail real estate in Orlando and Anaheim, and access to their library of IP.
Unfortunately, now that it looks like Disney and The VOID’s partnership is at an end, this VR company will need to go back to the drawing board when it comes to creating content, and hopefully they will be able to eventually recover from the 1-2 punch of COVID-19 ans the loss of Disney as a partner.
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
As always, while this situation is evolving, all travelers should check out the CDC’s official site here, which has information on the virus and how to prevent its spread.
Theme Park Tourist COVID-19 Complete Coverage: No Parking Trams or Minnie Vans at Walt Disney World Reopening I Cirque du Soleil: Drawn to Life Still Hoping to Debut This Year at Disney Springs I Walt Disney World is Making HUGE Changes Right Now in Preparation for Reopening I 5 Things You Need to Know Happening at Disney Springs Right Now I Disney Parks Hit Capacity Limits for Opening Week as Orange County Confirms Reopening I The 16 Major Theme Park Projects Now Officially Cancelled, Delayed or Slimmed Down (June 27, 2020) I The 16 Major Theme Park Projects Now Officially Cancelled, Delayed or Slimmed Down (June 27, 2020) I Disneyland Theme Parks Will NOT Open Next Month
