Walt Disney Treasures- Recommendations?

[brotherbear]

After thinking this through for a while, I think I might buy my first Disney Treasure set. (Yay!) But I'm very indecisive about which one to get. So, I figured I'd ask my buddies at UD!! Considering I know a lot of you here have many (if not all) of the Disney Treasures, I was wondering which one(s) I should purchase first.

Oh, and the first thing I should tell you is as far as I know, I don't plan on collecting all of them. Not yet anyway. I'm thinking of buying a maximum of three by the end of this year. And, I don't think I want to buy the Mickey/Your Host../MMC/etc..yet. I'm primarily looking at Silly Symphonies (although apparently this one is hard to find. Or maybe it's OOP?), Disney Rarities, Complete Pluto, or More Silly Symphonies (when it comes out of course).

Another question I have: Do you guys know of any good places of where to purchase these? (preferably stores)? I know Best Buy carries the Treasures, but I'm wondering what other stores might. (In case they might just happen to have the Silly Symphony Treasure).

Thanks so much in advance!

-BB

[Escapay]

Two of the BEST Treasures sets came from Wave Three:

Walt Disney Treasures: On the Front Lines - quite simply, this is ESSENTIAL for anyone who wants to have at least one Treasures set in their collection. The shorts here are amazing, even if propogandic, but still entertaining.

Walt Disney Treasures: Tomorrowland - It's just part of the scifi geek in me.

I originally only planned on getting the Donald Treasures (and yet I still don't have Chrono Volume 2), but decided to get those that interested me as well, which is how I got Tomorrowland, On the Front Lines, and Complete Pluto (though that was more of an impulse buy). I'd love to have all the waves, but I doubt stuff like Mickey Mouse Club or Legendary Heroes will get much playability out of me, while Mickey Mouse shorts or Disneyland episodes will. It's more on a "if I see it at a good price, online or in a rare find at a store, I'll get it". Given the fact that many from Wave 1 and 2 are getting extremely high in price these days, I most likely will not get those until I've got a bigger wallet. Right now, my main priority Treasures-wise with what's available is getting Donald Volume 2, Rarities, and the forthcoming Your Host, Walt Disney and Hardy Boys.

Anyways, as for where to get them:

Wal-Mart: They don't usually stock them, though I've noticed that during holiday seasons, not only will they have the current wave, but sometimes have sets from previous waves (though stuff from Waves 1 and 2 are getting rare to find in brick-and-mortar stores)

Target: I've hardly ever seen a Treasures set at Target beyond the holiday seasons.

Sam Goody, FYE, and other Music/Movie stores: They will usually have the current wave, and maybe a few copies of the previous wave, but it's rare to find anything from Waves 1, 2, and 3 these days.

Best Buy: Will always have waves in stock, but I've noticed only stuff from waves 3 to now, though not complete waves. Best place for best prices when not in holiday season (they always seem to have them for $24.99)

Sam's Club/CostCo/BJ's/wholesale places: Usually will have the new wave for the holiday season, but come February, they're usually gone (gone as in sent back to make room for new releases, not gone as in everyone bought their stock)

GameStop/EB Games/Video Game Stores: Hard to believe, but sometimes I come across Treasures sets here. Of course, with my luck, it's always a treasure set I already have, so there's no point in buying another copy.

Pawn Shops: There's not many in my town, and I haven't been to them, but you may get lucky.

Online: Be extremely careful on e-bay and Amazon Marketplace. Best place I can recommend for buying authentic treasures is the UD Trade Forum, where you at least have some sense of knowing who you're trading/buying/selling with.

Escapay

[slave2moonlight]

These sets are limited editions, so the older ones will be hard to find in stores new, though you can probably find them used (probably without the tin most of the time). Silly Symphonies was wave 1, I believe. If you really want that one, seek it out while you can! It seems like you have a good idea of what you want. Read the reviews here and on Amazon.com, because many of them are very taste-specific if you are not a completist. I have them all, myself, but I'm a Disney fanatic.

Anyways, I agree with Escapay about "On the Front Lines!" However, it's surely not for everyone. A lot of military stuff on there, especially disc two. What makes it gold though, is that most of the stuff in that set hasn't been seen since it was released, even on the Disney Channel! And, if you are a WWII buff or a Disney buff, you'll really enjoy it.

For the more casual Disney fan, I would recommend "Disney Rarities." Great collection of many of the shorts that aren't focused on Mickey and the gang and yet are still remembered warmly by those of us who grew up with the Disney Channel and Disney in general; the shorts that sort of took the place of the Silly Symphonies.

Those are two of my favorites. The others should be easy to choose from. I mean, you should know if you like Mickey, Donald, Goofy, or Pluto, and if you do or do not like them in black and white, or color. Goofy is a particularly nice set from amongst those, because it is all in one. You don't have to worry about when the next volume will come out, and it's some of Disney's funniest stuff! However, it also lacks the much needed "Play All" feature, if memory serves.

With the live-action stuff, again, you probably know if you are interested or not, and it sounds like you aren't too into it mostly. If someone was unsure though, I'd recommend trying to get ahold of the Davy Crocket set and at least one of the others. The Upcoming "Your Host, Walt Disney" probably being the best choice.

[adam_omega]

I personally loved "On The Front Lines" the best of all the treasures that I've purchased. It has a lot of nice extras and all of the shorts are quite good. And having "Victory Through Air Power" is just gravy.

I also enjoyed "Disney Rarities" a lot also mainly because of the wide variety of shorts included.

I also have The Chronological Donald vol. 1 and vol. 2. I can't say that I've watched much more than the extras on these (the Carl Barks profile was the reason I bought vol. 2). Sometimes the character specific collections can be...overkill.


Personally, I'd like to get the "Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studios" (because of 'The Reluctant Dragon' film) and "Silly Symphonies" sets, but keep holding off...

[Lars Vermundsberget]

I'll easily recommend all of the cartoons volumes - MM, DD, Goofy, Pluto. Since you don't feel the need to get them all, you shouldn't bother to look for the first Mickey and Silly Symphonies sets. If you can appreciate the historical aspect, the Front Lines set deserves a special recommendation. Although not the typical animation set, Tomorrowland is amazing.

[reyquila]

I'll easily recommend all of the cartoons volumes - MM, DD, Goofy, Pluto. Since you don't feel the need to get them all, you shouldn't bother to look for the first Mickey and Silly Symphonies sets. If you can appreciate the historical aspect, the Front Lines set deserves a special recommendation. Although not the typical animation set, Tomorrowland is amazing.

I only buy the animated ones!!! I highly recommend those!!

[NarniaDis]

As has been said, out of the 4 that I own, ON THE FRONT LINES is the best, but as was also said, its not for everyone

[gaysnappercarr]

Check your local and 'not-so-local' Borders.

I work at Borders and I'm always amazed when we get in some Treasures that were from a wave or two ago.

You can look online at a store's inventory, or call any store in the US, and ask them if they have a certain title in stock. Be sure to tell them that it's in a silver tin.
Our store offers free shipping, but I'm not sure if that's a store specific service or a chain-wide deal.

And just so this doesn't sound like an ad for MY store - lol - maybe Barnes And Noble does the same thing?

As far as WHAT Treasures to get:
Disney Rarities
On The Front Lines
Tomorrowland
- if ONLY for the EPCOT presentation film from Walt Disney, which I think anyone who says that they are a Disney fan should see.

[crunkcourt]

My personal favorites, so far, are On the Front Lines and Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio. However, I am kind of a history dork, and have always been interested in animation. I definately recommend starting a collection though, I've really enjoyed every one that I own.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

My personal favorites, so far, are On the Front Lines and Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio. However, I am kind of a history dork, and have always been interested in animation. I definately recommend starting a collection though, I've really enjoyed every one that I own.

To a lot of people it'll make sense to buy a few, without necessarily going for a complete collection. One poster even thought that the character-specific sets could be "overkill" sometimes. That's all right.

But to those of us who are into the history of Disney animation, simply looking up all of the Treasures is one of the best recommendations I can give. I've said something similar to this several times before and certainly will again. Despite a number of (minor) flaws, the Treasures line is the very best that's ever come from Disney to those who think the classic shorts are as important as the "Classic" features.

[PixarFan2006]

Just pick the ones that you think look good to you.

[brotherbear]

Wow! I didn't know that there was a Treasure for the WWII period! (with the whole propaganda-ish shorts!!) Thank you so much for pointing that one out!!

I think On the Front Lines is one I definately want to buy. I have seen shorts made during the WW2 period, only they were Looney Tunes shorts, and I actually loved the ones I saw. Mainly for their historical value. Anyway, I tried to search for this set, and it seems that a lot of stores have taken it off their system! (Amazon as the exception, and they're not even selling it new anymore!!) I've been searching for it for a couple of hours now, and I can seem to find it on a store website!! (Again, I'd definately prefer to buy it in person, not through the internet). I actually tried to call BestBuy, and I asked the girl on the phone if she had the "On the Front Lines" Disney Treasure DVD set. She seemed confused, and I explained that the set was in a metal tin. So, she went and looked and she said that they didn't have it. So I asked which Treasures they had. She said she didn't see any tins out there. (!) Now, I know that cannot be true, because I was just in there like a week or so ago, and I destinctly remember seeing Mickey-B&W Vol. 2, Mickey Mouse Club, and also (maybe) Disney Rarities. And there were plenty to spare. So either my BestBuy has Treasure sets that have feet and mysteriously ran away, or the person I was talking to had NO IDEA what I was talking about. So, has anyone seen a copy of "On the Front Lines" recently in their BestBuy store? Or any major chain store (for that matter)??

If I can find On the Front Lines, that will be an automatic buy. But I think I'm also going to buy More Silly Symphonies when that comes out next month. I'm really sad that the first one came out in the (I think) First Wave, so now it is impossible to find, and expensive at that. So I'm going to wait for the first volume of Silly Symphonies until I either save up the $$ to buy it online, or until I (by some miracle) find it at Gamestop or some used DVD/Music/Video Game store.

I'm also debating Disney Rarities. But we'll see. I might buy "Behind the Scenes at the Disney Studio" instead, because I'm thinking about becoming an animator eventually. (HOPEFULLY at Disney, if I can manage it!) And it might give me some sort of an insight to the studios.

Again, thank you so much for all of your opinions!!

-BB

[MichaeLeah]

So, has anyone seen a copy of "On the Front Lines" recently in their BestBuy store? Or any major chain store (for that matter)??
-BB

brotherbear,

I am glad you have come to realize (or at least I hope you have) that only you can determine what Disney Treasures you should buy. Everybody likes different Disney Treasures. For example, I have only purchased the Rarities, Tomorrowland, and Davy Crockett. Most people on this website would probably think I am nuts for my selection. I just totally ignored Mickey Mouse! Anyway, as has been said, you need to read the Treasure reviews and decide for yourself what Treasures you should buy.

As far as locating the older Treasures: there are very few of them out there. There is no way anyone on here can assist you in finding them if you want to purchase them in person. The location of these DVDs is completely sporadic so you are going to have to just go out and investigate.

[Escapay]

For example, I have only purchased the Rarities, Tomorrowland, and Davy Crockett. Most people on this website would probably think I am nuts for my selection.

People who own Tomorrowland aren't nuts.

But, we will have to take away your tins until you buy On the Front Lines.

Escapay

[Loomis]

I'd probably say "all of them", but I can see from your first post that you are less interested in the live action stuff and more in the animated shorts.

Out of the still technically in-print titles, and by that I mean readily available, I can't recommended Disney on the Frontlines enough. It is chock full of historical shorts, and it is certainly a different side to the Disney we see here in the comfort of 2006. Probably one of the few Treasures I have managed to sit down and watch in one or two sittings. From that same token, Rarities is also invaluable as a piece of Disney history.

My personal interest at the moment is Disneyland and the parks, and for this reason Disneyland USA, Tomorrowland and the forthcoming Your Host are the ones that pique my interest the most.

You may not be interesting in the live action, but neither was I until I watched Davy Crockett. I was an instant convert, and the Elfego Baca episodes are almost as good I think.

Unfortunately, most of the really good animated shorts are OOP. My absolute favourite of these is The Complete Goofy, which isn't entirely complete, but it comes pretty close. It certainly has the widest variety of shorts, as Goofy managed to get around over the years. If you can track it down, and are willing to pay for it, then I highly recommend.

[slave2moonlight]

Never assume the employees at Best Buy (or anywhere else, really) know what they have. If you're lucky, they'll at least check the computer, but they don't seem to do that very often. Anyways, "On the Front Lines" shouldn't be impossible to find in a store, but you may have to go to the more expensive stores, like huge bookstores that have DVDs too (Barnes and Noble, Borders), or Hastings Entertainment Store if you have one, and Best Buy also is very possible. I haven't seen Front Lines there lately, but I noticed recently that a lot of Best Buys seem to have pulled boxed sets out of storage or something and have some out of print stuff on the shelves this month. Last week, I saw a lot of Disney Treasures, including from previous waves, plus some of the non-thin pack X-Files sets (my sister is desperately looking for a non-used Season 3 to complete her collection, but doesn't want a thin-pack, but they didn't have that one).

I definitely agree with folks who recommend "Disney Rarities" if you are into animation! I always wanted to be a Disney animator myself, though I was a little discouraged when I couldn't go to one of the colleges that had a "Disney Program" (this was when Disney animation was still a BIG deal, but starting on the downward slide), and when I was done with school (with an art degree but no animation training), Disney was firing most of its animators and focusing on computer animation. So, I'm 31 now and am just starting to get work as an illustrator (working on a graphic novel now, my first non-min. wage job, ha, and am set to do a Christian children's book next), and I still wonder if I might try to get into Disney animation later. But I don't know if I should go back to school for animation first, or if I'll be considered too "old" either way... Ah, but I digress, you definitely should get the Walt Disney Studios set if you want to be an animator, though so much has changed that it is probably going to be more for historic value than to learn stuff you will actually use, ha.

Of course, if you plan on being a Disney Animator, I'm surprised you don't want all the animation related sets, though I understand if the issue is money more than anything. I've only managed to get all the Disney Treasures so far because MOST of them have been given to me as Christmas gifts from my parents, ha. I'm hoping that will be the case again this year, though I have no idea how I'll be getting the new "Disney Legacy" line... I have been making 50 percent ownership deals with the books I am working on, so I still don't actually get paid or have a steady income of any kind. I'm shooting for getting rich along with the authors rather than getting paid a fee for doing half the work, ha. I only have cash for DVDs and other things when I get the rare painting commission. I'm still looking forward to making enough money in a year to actually have to file income tax again, ha, but that should be soon... 2007 should be the year of slave2moonlight!!! Ha.

Anyways, as for the Tomorrowland DVD set, this is the one I think I should step in and warn you about, if only because it is getting so many recommendations here. The thing is, I suspect that many people would find it VERY boring. Not all of it, but much of it. It is more about 1950's science lessons than anything, and if you've seen any 1950's educational films, you know how those can be. There's some similar stuff on the Front Lines set (but most of the shorts on it are awesome, especially the propaganda stuff). Tomorrowland is great if you are a Disney completist, a science fanatic, someone who must have every bit of Disney animation out there, or really get a kick out of the 1950's/60's views on the future and science and all that stuff. Of all the sets, I think this one is the most "Not for Everyone." However, I still LOVE it. And, as someone previously posted, the EPCOT film is very interesting if you are very into Walt and the parks, and EPCOT, and the original concept of EPCOT (which is what this film goes into). It's pretty interesting and a little freaky even. But, overall, I think this set is only for the HARDCORE Disney, 50's Retro, or Science fanatic.

Oh, one more thing about On the Front Lines. If you like that, you may want to pick of that new reprint of "Disney's Gremlins" hardcover storybook that just came out!

[Ting Ting]

Quick question. If you order a Walt Disney Treasures set off of Amazon, does it come with the tin?

[Escapay]

Quick question. If you order a Walt Disney Treasures set off of Amazon, does it come with the tin?

All authentic sealed treasures should come with a tin, except for the CostCo boxset (Waves 1 and 2), which were tinless.

Escapay

[Ting Ting]

All authentic sealed treasures should come with a tin, except for the CostCo boxset (Waves 1 and 2), which were tinless.

Escapay

Cool beans! Thanks.

Even though I think slipcovers are pointless (though I used to a slipcover fanatic ), I think the tins are pretty much a necessity with the Treasures.

[dvdjunkie]

I may as well add my two cents here, for whatever its worth. On The Front Lines is a total must-have, and then I think that from there you should get the current four that are coming in this next wave, and then search for the others. Be patient, and diligent, and don't give up. And calling your local Best Buy store is usually a waste of time. I have watched people who work there answer the phone, and tell someone "Let me put you on hold and I wll look" - and then they will finished whatever paperwork they were working on, or whatever, and then pick up the phone and tell the customer "I didn't see any" or "No we are not carrying that title at this time". It may sound dumb, but they do that at most stores that I have ever watched their phone service people.

My favorites so far in the waves have included Davy Crockett, Silly Symphonies, Rarities and all the single subject animated collections, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto.