Recycling the Magic - resale store near Orlando with Disney props, signs, costumes & more

[Clyde Birdbrain]

Today I visited an absolutely incredible store! Recycling the Magic, located just west of Orlando at 16415 W Colonial Dr in Oakland FL specializes in buying, selling, and trading Disney props, collectibles, and cast member exclusives.

The store is packed with amazing treasures from Disney parks around the world. I spotted a window from a Main Street bakery, a Splash Mountain ride vehicle, tons of vintage signs, cast member costumes, blueprints, Imagineering hard hats, and so much more. It felt like stepping into the Disney archives.

A lot of the cool things were pretty pricey, but it is really fun to look around. I think they opened just a few months ago. Here are some photos.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

 

[TalkingHead]

Did they actually take an Epcot film reel and slice it up to sell four 35mm frames for $35? Lol Less like an archive than a Disney autopsy room.

 

[Gelatoni]

Did they actually take an Epcot film reel and slice it up to sell four 35mm frames for $35? Lol Less like an archive than a Disney autopsy room.

it could have been damaged those are prone to burn through or just gernal fading over the years. there are typically multiple copies. would have been nice if they had sent it off to be digitized for people to see first but money i guess.

 

[Comped]

Not a huge fan of this place. When they were in Lakeland Antique Mall's old location they were always the most expensive out of all Disney-related vendors). The owners have always made a big deal out of going to old/dying/dead imagineers and their families (and others out primarily in CA) and buying their collections for as cheap as possible. Most items are hilariously overvalued, especially after the owners (who I've spoken to a bit) moved to their new location. Prices went up by 20% minimum except on the rare item the primary owner has no idea how to price (which are unfortunately getting fdewer and fewer).

That's how I got a retired Imagineer's DLP opening medallion (with a letter hand signed by Marty Sklar in the envelope) for $10 in Lakeland. Just the medallion now sells in her shop for $20, no name associated, envelope, or letter... Basically thew only thing that hasn't gone up is the buttons, and they were massively cut in terms of stock from Lakeland. The crazy thing is that she had a very good deal with the ol antique mall (and could have easily dominated the nww, smaller, location if she had moved with them), but broke off and went to her own place over how much she was paying to the operators of the antique mall... Which, based on the fact that I continue to recognize stock from the opening days of the place, was a bad choiice. Price were aleady high, but going alone pushed them into something I cannot afford except as a gift to myself. As a collector that hurts, especially as someone who collects with preservation in mind. (I'll save my argument that her pivot to get social media coverage, be it when she was at the antique mall or otherwise, drove up popularity and prices to the point where collecting many Disney artifacts is essentially unaffordable, even for those with very good money, for another day.)

I have heard the place isn't doing too well (for various reasons), but I will occasionally check in to see if prices have dropped... Just in case.