Next wave of Walt Disney Treasures? Update: Future In Doubt

[Big Disney Fan]

They never have?

Um. . . online petitions actually helped KP get the fourth season after Disney canceled the show. . .

Just thought I should point that out.

Okay, but that puts that in the minority because every petition I've seen has failed. Case in point: Mr. Toad at WDW. On that petition, when they failed, it said they tried to save that ride, but Disney execs just don't care about you. So more often than not, petitions are futile.

Besides, it could've been worse: it could've ended with more cartoons series unfinished.

[Big Disney Fan]

My suggestion is to mail a letter. Phone calls and e-mails are easily lost and/or ignored. Take the time to write a really well thought out letter and send it off to Disney.

Even those can be ignored, too. Don't get your hopes up on them listening to you. I'm no happier about this than you, but if I were you, I'd just stop whimpering about this all and just accept the inevitable. The rest of Donald's series just isn't gonna happen, get over it. Want to see the cartoons so badly? Then just spend the cash and buy the other DVDs they're on, even if they do have some cartoons already on the WDT. Another alternative is to catch them on YouTube. Believe it or not, some cartoons are up on there. My point is, the WDT is dead, you might as well get that into your head and NOTHING will change their minds, not phone calls, not e-mails, not postal letters, not nothing! JUST GIVE UP!!

[Elladorine]

Okay, but that puts that in the minority because every petition I've seen has failed. Case in point: Mr. Toad at WDW. On that petition, when they failed, it said they tried to save that ride, but Disney execs just don't care about you. So more often than not, petitions are futile.

Besides, it could've been worse: it could've ended with more cartoons series unfinished.

The whole point in a petition is for the fans to let a company know that a market exists for whatever it is they've decided to continue. If there is a strong enough response, execs will not completely ignore the fact that there may be money made on it but will obviously weigh in many other factors.

I'll agree that most execs don't really care about the fans, it's more about their assumptions on the average consumer. But to say petitions are pointless. . . well, I suppose they are if no one believes in them enough to bother backing them up.

[Big Disney Fan]

The whole point in a petition is for the fans to let a company know that a market exists for whatever it is they've decided to continue. If there is a strong enough response, execs will not completely ignore the fact that there may be money made on it but will obviously weigh in many other factors.

I'll agree that most execs don't really care about the fans, it's more about their assumptions on the average consumer. But to say petitions are pointless. . . well, I suppose they are if no one believes in them enough to bother backing them up.

Or maybe it's not the assumptions of the average customer, maybe it's something that's not animate, something green, wrinkly and made a bit of waxy paper. Besides, how do we write a strong enough response without getting irate? Look, I want the series to finish off with Donald as much as the next guy, but don't you think petitions are a bit impractical?

[Gurgi30]

They never have?

Um. . . online petitions actually helped KP get the fourth season after Disney canceled the show. . .

They also helped us get Figment back into Journey Into Imagination. Hopefully, the Dreamfinder will return some day as well.

[Big Disney Fan]

They also helped us get Figment back into Journey Into Imagination.

But not as we know him from before 1998.

[zuzu]

Even those can be ignored, too. Don't get your hopes up on them listening to you. I'm no happier about this than you, but if I were you, I'd just stop whimpering about this all and just accept the inevitable. The rest of Donald's series just isn't gonna happen, get over it. Want to see the cartoons so badly? Then just spend the cash and buy the other DVDs they're on, even if they do have some cartoons already on the WDT. Another alternative is to catch them on YouTube. Believe it or not, some cartoons are up on there. My point is, the WDT is dead, you might as well get that into your head and NOTHING will change their minds, not phone calls, not e-mails, not postal letters, not nothing! JUST GIVE UP!!

Perhaps...but Nothing ventured, nothing gained ! We have to try !

[Elladorine]

Or maybe it's not the assumptions of the average customer, maybe it's something that's not animate, something green, wrinkly and made a bit of waxy paper. Besides, how do we write a strong enough response without getting irate? Look, I want the series to finish off with Donald as much as the next guy, but don't you think petitions are a bit impractical?

My whole point was that their potential profits ride on decisions made over what they believe the average consumer wants. . . unfortunately, they seem to consider us hardcore fans as only a small percentage of the potentially given sales.

Oh, and even if they don't save everything that has ever been petitioned, do you have any better suggestions? Maybe it's not practical to get one's hopes up on a petition but I feel it's a lot better than sitting on our keisters and complaining that nothing can be done.

[Gurgi30]

They also helped us get Figment back into Journey Into Imagination.

But not as we know him from before 1998.

Is the ride as good as it used to be? No

However, you stated that petitions never work. I was just pointing out an example where it helped us get back a loved character that never should have left.

[goofystitch]

I hate the comments being made about the live action Treasures releases running the series into the ground. I mean, since day 1 the Treasures have been an outlet for both live action and animated vintage Disney fare. Remember the first wave? Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphonies, Disneyland, and Davy Crocket. That's half animated and half live action. That seems to be the way Disney has treated most subsequent waves of the series as well. I do agree that there is much more demand for classic Disney animation than for classic Disney live action, but it's not fair to blaim the content for the demise. Disney probably should have lowered the edition size on some of the live action volumes to avoid them sitting on the shelves. And I do admit that Elfego Baca/Swamp Fox didn't appeal to me at all, but after watching it I loved every minute of it. So what I'm saying is that people shouldn't point blaime at the content of the Treasures and say that the live action stuff should have been released a different way, because since day 1 the Treasures were designed for live action and animation. However, I do agree that the final wave that we should ask for should contain the remaining Donald cartoons and the rest of the Disney rarities.

That being said, thanks to everyone who posted contact info. I will deffinatley be writing away later today.

[Big Disney Fan]

However, you stated that petitions never work. I was just pointing out an example where it helped us get back a loved character that never should have left.

Okay, maybe I should say hardly ever. I'm just saying that more often than not, petitions rarely succeed.

Maybe if all else fails, we can petition the entire Donald series to be put on the Legacy series. That is, if the WDT doesn't come out this year.

[Big Disney Fan]

I will deffinatley be writing away later today.

I certainly wish you a lot of luck on the letter... you'll need it.

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Well, after all, trying IS the first step towards failure...

[TM2-Megatron]

I hate the comments being made about the live action Treasures releases running the series into the ground. I mean, since day 1 the Treasures have been an outlet for both live action and animated vintage Disney fare. Remember the first wave? Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphonies, Disneyland, and Davy Crocket. That's half animated and half live action.

The live-action stuff of the first few waves were a bit different...

- Davy Crockett, although it didn't appeal to me personally, at least contained the series in its entirety
- The Disneyland USA set at least contained the first episode, and the program itself is more historically significant to Disney fans than the Swamp Fox and other stuff that was released later on
- Behind the Scenes and Tomorrowland were basically themed sets, and very self-contained without leaving any significant material out... they were also much more historically significant
- Even the Mickey Mouse Club set, although I didn't buy it either, constrained itself to the very first broadcast week; and in that way made it seem like a cohesive set, despite only being a portion of the show
- Your Host, Walt Disney (along with Tomorrowland) is almost like a continuation of Wave 1's Disneyland USA... and the three of these sets are almost akin to other running titles throughout the various Treasure waves (Donald, Mickey, etc.)

Elfego Baca/The Swamp Fox, Spin & Marty, and The Hardy Boys on the other hand, however enjoyable for some, didn't really belong in the Treasures... particularly if their inclusion prevented us from getting the rest of Donald and the Educational/Rarities before the line was axed. It would've been much easier to release them in another format, which also probably would have allowed for the entire runs to be released together. Personally, I do blame these sets for the Treasures line ending before the rest of the animated material was released. Although had I known what would've resulted, I still probably wouldn't have bought the few Treasures that aren't on my shelf (Davy Crockett, The Mickey Mouse Club, Elfego Baca/The Swamp Fox, Spin & Marty, & The Hardy Boys).

[netenyahoo]

What a downer to come to the board and read this today. I sent off an email to Disney about it. I am really upset as I really look forward to the Treasures every year and get excited to find out what would be released next. I have purchased or had gifted to me every single set. I will say the live action ones except the Disneyland one have not been my favorities, but I have enjoyed them all and want all the Donald shorts. I really hope the home video person who decided to cancel the series changes his or her mind. I think one final wave is fair to ask for. It will sell well making the company lots of money and making fans and collectors happy.

[UncleEd]

A couple of thoughts…


1.) Get Jim Hill to announce this. He has a large following. Also get the word out on Animated-News.com.


2.) Why were there waves with only 3 titles? If they had done 4 we would have had everything.


3.) Wasn’t Zorro released through the Disney DVD club?

[Big Disney Fan]

- Davy Crockett, although it didn't appeal to me personally, at least contained the series in its entirety

That's because there were only five episodes released; the rest were more than five. The Mickey Mouse Club set featured five as well, the entire first week.

[Big Disney Fan]

What a downer to come to the board and read this today. I sent off an email to Disney about it. I am really upset as I really look forward to the Treasures every year and get excited to find out what would be released next. I have purchased or had gifted to me every single set. I will say the live action ones except the Disneyland one have not been my favorities, but I have enjoyed them all and want all the Donald shorts. I really hope the home video person who decided to cancel the series changes his or her mind. I think one final wave is fair to ask for. It will sell well making the company lots of money and making fans and collectors happy.

Well, maybe if all else fails, maybe we can petition the Donald series for release in the Legacy series.

[Escapay]

Want to see the cartoons so badly? Then just spend the cash and buy the other DVDs they're on, even if they do have some cartoons already on the WDT.

Donald Cartoons not available on any Disney DVD (OOP or in print):

Clown of the Jungle (1947)
Bootle Beetle (1947)
Wide Open Spaces (1947)
Drip Dippy Donald (1948)
Daddy Duck (1948)
The Trial of Donald Duck (1948)
Tea for Two Hundred (1948)
Donald's Happy Birthday (1949)
Winter Storage (1949) - also includes Chip 'n Dale
Honey Harvester (1949)
All in a Nutshell (1949) - also includes Chip 'n Dale
The Greener Yard (1949)
Slide, Donald, Slide (1949)
Hook, Lion and Sinker (1950)
Dude Duck (1951)
Test Pilot Donald (1951) - also includes Chip 'n Dale
Bee on Guard (1951)
Let's Stick Together (1952)
Uncle Donald's Ants (1952)
The New Neighbor (1953)
Rugged Bear (1953) - also includes Humphrey the Bear
Canvas Back Duck (1953)
Spare the Rod (1954)
Grin and Bear It (1954) - also includes Humphrey the Bear and J. Audobon Woodlore
Flying Squirrel (1954)
No Hunting (1955)
Bearly Asleep (1955) - also includes Humphrey the Bear and J. Audobon Woodlore
Beezy Bear (1955) - also includes Humphrey the Bear
Up a Tree (1955) - also includes Chip 'n Dale
Chips Ahoy (1956) - also includes Chip 'n Dale
How to Have an Accident in the Home (1956)
Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)
How to Have an Accident at Work (1959)
Steel and America (1965) (commercial)
Donald's Fire Survival Plan (1966)

Goofy Cartoons not available on any Disney DVD (OOP or in print):

Freewayphobia No. 1 (1965)
Goofy's Freeway Trouble (1965)

Huey, Dewey, & Louie Cartoons not available on any Disney DVD (OOP or in print):
Scrooge McDuck and Money (1967)

Not to mention a wealth of other cartoons that haven't seen a proper release...

My point is, the WDT is dead, you might as well get that into your head and NOTHING will change their minds, not phone calls, not e-mails, not postal letters, not nothing! JUST GIVE UP!!

Thanks for being so supportive and optimistic.

2.) Why were there waves with only 3 titles? If they had done 4 we would have had everything.

It was an alternation between four titles and three titles, which I also didn't see the point in. However, if they were to keep with the 4/3/4/3... pattern, we would have only seen three treasures this year. I'm guessing that since "Your Host" took awhile to get the materials ready, that it was a last-minute addition to the set and a way to end the series on a high note.

3.) Wasn’t Zorro released through the Disney DVD club?

Yes, the first season was released as five volumes, and also as a boxset I believe. I'm not part of DMC but I'm sure I read it somewhere.

Escapay

[Lars Vermundsberget]

It was an alternation between four titles and three titles, which I also didn't see the point in.

It's not my impression that this was really intended. I seem to remember that the Front Lines set was supposed to be included in wave 2, but was then cancelled or really postponed, pretty much at the last moment.