Disney Cuts Back on DVD

[slave2moonlight]

In regards to bonus features, I'm not allowed to reveal details from the Disney Home Video consumer research forum I was recruited for, but suffice to say, the general public's views do not parallel those of true Disney and film fans/DVD collectors. Most folks keep saying that they don't want to pay more money for extras they aren't going to watch, despite the fact that Disney's 2 disc and single disc releases have rarely held much of a price difference. Fact is, most of the public uses Disney DVDs as babysitters and little else. It is disturbing to learn how few people know the difference between a Disney Platinum release and a rerelease of Fox and the Hound with one or two additional extras....

No, Disney's problem is that they've been charging too much for their media product to begin with. Case in point: SRP of $40 for the 3-disc version of Wall*E. That's actually MORE than the SRP for the 2-disc Blu-Ray version.

I've bought collector box sets containing multiple seasons of a TV series for other titles brand new for less than $40.

Disney generally charges $5-10 higher than standard SRP for ALL their products. It's like just because it's Disney they think they can charge more for their product--like that somehow justifies charging consumers a higher price. That kind of marketing mentality sickens me.

I don't care what kind of marketing research they do, but this explains why their DVD sales were down last year. It wasn't just a poor economy that affected sales. I think consumers are finally becoming fully aware that Disney DVD/BR product is overpriced when compared with other titles on the market.

I've never had any trouble finding Disney DVDs at prices comparable to other titles. Of course, I usually buy them the week they come out. My only gripe is that they never go down in price, like most other DVDs. They just go back into the vault. Well, the animation anyway. The live-action has seen price drops recently.

[leuchtmuschel]

The Disney Company should learn from the era of Eisner that pressing the economic squeeze to gain profit is the wrong way. Walt Disney himself was always going “the extra mile” to the customers in every action he did.

I mean disc art is no waste! Every disc is a magical ticket to Disneyland! Disney should handle every ticket with care customers put into the “slot doorway” to Disneyland.

I think that “Disney’s fast play” will do a great job for average customers on supplement content. They can view easily all the extra stuff while the fan can explore the content on disc itself and found everything.

I think there is a careful thinking and planning to do if one extra should be done in high or standard resolution. Trailers, TV specials, old Laserdisc content only need SDTV in good quality. SDTV saves space on a Blu-ray disc and there is a good chance to make a film with extra content on one disc.

People need information about treasures in the past in promotions! I cannot be that only fans have the expert know-how to notice Disney treasures! Average people need a fair chance to notice amazing productions in quality Disney has made in the past.

[MattDean]

Goofystitch,

Any chance you can post pics of the Oliver and Poppins discs? I'm interested in seeing what they are like without their usual (practically special feature worthy) disc art.

Matt

[SpringHeelJack]

Oh. Okay. Then I just won't buy their stuff. Big whoop. There's very little coming out I really want / don't already have by this point. If they scale back on premiums, then I just won't buy their crap. Simple.

Of course, there's always going to be the Reyquilas out there going "Disney re-re-released 'Dumbo' with no special features but a slipcover? I'M BUYING!!!" so I don't think Disney will be losing sleep over losing my money.

[tlc38tlc38]

I don't really see this as new news. Disney has been "cutting back" for a while now, especially with bonus features. I don't really see the trend getting worse than it already is. This does make me wonder if The Black Cauldron special edition will ever see the light of day.

[Sotiris]

This is hilarious. Reducing the bonus features content even more? Please, don't take away that precious interactive kids game

I just hope they won't turn their Platinum Editions into single discers as well

[Lazario]

But think about it, how much money do they really save by having blank looking discs and not putting inserts. The later, I understand how, but why include all these advertising inserts instead.

The colourful disc art is actually quite a bit more expensive than single colour generic "art". Even if it is only .10 cents more to make a colourful disc art, that adds up when you're making millions of copies of a dvd.

I am still confused as to why they haven't realized that slipcovers are very expensive and really don't add any value to the product. If they are trying to make the film stand out... The cardboard stands covered in characters from the film they usually send out with bigger releases should be attention grabbing enough.

The chapter inserts being taken away is kind of annoying, but less so on bluray releases because they have the double sided cover that usually has the chapter listing on the back.

But I agree that they should stop wasting so much money on the "interactive games" and pop star videos.

I thought the whole reason they put on the pop star music videos is to get kids to buy into the Disney stars' latest CDs and TV show DVDs and other forms of merchandise...

Anyway, would it save them money if they STOPPED forcing DVD titles out of print? Leave them around longer, they make more money on them. Right? Wrong?

[DisneyJedi]

I just hope they won't turn their Platinum Editions into single discers as well

Oooh, they had better not!

[tlc38tlc38]

I just hope they won't turn their Platinum Editions into single discers as well

Oooh, they had better not!

I think the platinums will stay 2 discs and normal rereleases will only be one disc.

[drfsupercenter]

Yeah, really... with the vault thing...

Kids are always being born so parents will always want Disney movies. You know how many people I know who would buy The Lion King if it was still in print?

[blackcauldron85]

The thing with the Vault is that it's supposed to encourage people to buy the movies *now*, not have the mindset of, "Oh, I'll pick it up later," and 'later' becomes 2 years later...Disney wants their money now, darnit!

[Escapay]

The thing with the Vault is that it's supposed to encourage people to buy the movies *now*, not have the mindset of, "Oh, I'll pick it up later," and 'later' becomes 2 years later...Disney wants their money now, darnit!

Veruca Salt:
Gooses! Geeses!
I want my geese to lay gold eggs for Easter

Mr. Salt:
It will, sweetheart

Veruca:
At least a hundred a day

Mr.Salt:
Anything you say

Veruca:
And by the way

Mr. Salt:
What?

Veruca:
I want a feast.

Mr. Salt:
You ate before you came to the factory

Veruca:
I want a bean feast!

Mr. Salt:
Oh, one of those

Veruca:
Cream buns and doughnuts and fruitcake with no nuts
So good you could go nuts

Mr. Salt:
You can have all those things when you get home

Veruca:
No, now!!

I want a ball
I want a party
Pink macaroons and a million balloons
And performing baboons and ...
Give it to me
Rrhh rhhh
Now!

I want the world
I want the whole world
I want to lock it all up in my pocket
It's my bar of chocolate
Give it to me
Now!

I want today
I want tomorrow
I want to wear 'em like braids in my hair
And I don't want to share 'em

I want a party with room fulls of laughter
Ten thousand tons of ice cream
And if I don't get the things I am after
I'm going to scream!

I want the works
I want the whole works
Presents and prizes and sweets and surprises
Of all shapes and sizes
And now
Don't care how
I want it now
Don't care how
I want it now

albert

[my chicken is infected]

I think Albert has the best reply in this thread.

[Elladorine]

That song is gonna be running through my head all day.

[Flanger-Hanger]

See Albert when you posted that the first time it was amusing but it loses it's luster the second time around. The 3rd or 4th time it will be funny again.

[UmbrellaFish]

I don't really see this as new news. Disney has been "cutting back" for a while now, especially with bonus features. I don't really see the trend getting worse than it already is. This does make me wonder if The Black Cauldron special edition will ever see the light of day.

I agree, it seems like they're just stating the obvious.

Maybe, though, this does add validity to the theory that the "Are You 23?" campaign has something to do with a fan convention or special fan releases. Disney expects we'll be upset so they decide to release exclusive material only for us? Leave the one disc Platinums to the mom and dads in need of a babysitter?


On a side note, I played Mr. Salt in a production of Willy Wonka Jr., and, unfortunately, I know that entire song by heart.

[DisneyFreak5282]

Yeah, really... with the vault thing...

Kids are always being born so parents will always want Disney movies. You know how many people I know who would buy The Lion King if it was still in print?

I completely agree. I understand that the Vault was intended to make people buy the DVDs ASAP, but think about it. If a baby was born recently, what TRUE Disney classic could the parents buy on DVD NOW for their child? I mean, like a classic Disney film, from the '90s and before? The only ones that come to mind for me right now are Mary Poppins, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, The Jungle Book, and 101 Dalmatians.

Plus, think of all the people who sell their older Disney DVDs (like Snow White or Beauty and the Beast) nowadays to get much more than the average $20 that would be spent in the stores. Imagine if the DVD was still in print, all those people that would be buying the DVD (not to mention how many bootleggers would be broke right about now), and Disney would be making tons of money (because technically there ARE some people who refuse to take a chance with getting these DVDs through eBay) that they are technically losing to the bootleggers (and people who resell their DVDs - the same $20 - $25 that was spent on somebody else's copy sold on eBay or sold as previously viewed at FYE or pawn shops could have gone towards a new copy had the certain DVD still been in print).

Sorry if you have read another post by me in which I have said something to this effect, but I've felt this way for such a long time.

[The_Iceflash]

I think they should keep the "vault" but not force DVDs out of print so quickly. Didn't Snow White go out of print in a matter of months?

[Escapay]

See Albert when you posted that the first time it was amusing but it loses it's luster the second time around. The 3rd or 4th time it will be funny again.

Not many opportunities call for "I Want It Now!", unfortunately.

albert

[disneyfella]

Maybe, though, this does add validity to the theory that the "Are You 23?" campaign has something to do with a fan convention or special fan releases. Disney expects we'll be upset so they decide to release exclusive material only for us? Leave the one disc Platinums to the mom and dads in need of a babysitter?

What is this "Are You 23" campagin? Is there a Disney DVD convention that I don't know about 0_o.