The Disney Vault: Announcements, Discussion, & Questions

[Jake Lipson]

Okay, isn't it about time for Disney to announce what's going out of print in January?

I mean, we know from previous patterns that "Aladdin" and its sequel 2-pack will probably be vaulted, but what about other things? Except for Lion King in 2004 and Toy Story in 2003, Disney almost always discontinues a few things at once (as in, from multiple different properties.)

Ie: 1/31/2002 saw the discontinuation of Snow White Platinum, Pinocchio Gold, Mulan Gold, and both of the inital Tarzan releases.

1/31/02 took Peter Pan, both Fantasia films and a bunch of cheapquels.

Etc.

So - it's almost December here, and we know Disney loves to make a big deal about these types of discontinuations, so why haven't they said anything yet?

As usual, it would make a good holiday season push as people rush to get them; I know I intend to ask for whatever soon-to-be-OOP DVDs that I don't have and I want as holiday gifts. And then in January, the people who get DVD players for the holidays will get those as they begin to build their collections and get them as a last chance oppertunity.

So why hasn't Disney said anything about this yet? And does anybody know what else besides the Aladdin series is going to bite the dust in January?

[musicradio77]

I'm not sure yet. I remember Anchor Bay released half of the Disney films in both DVD and VHS formats. These films from Anchor Bay are still out of print, because they don't make Disney films by a different company anymore, the rights to half of the Disney films that AB released goes back to Disney where it belongs.

[Robin Hood]

Which ones do you guys think will go out of print?

I think Aladdin, Aladdin 2, Aladdin 3 and Alice in Wonderland will all go out of print.

[Escapay]

I remember Anchor Bay released half of the Disney films in both DVD and VHS formats. These films from Anchor Bay are still out of print, because they don't make Disney films by a different company anymore, the rights to half of the Disney films that AB released goes back to Disney where it belongs.

And what does THAT have to do with what films we are speculating are going out of print in January 2006? Completely unnecessary trivia bit that we already knew, musicradio.

Anyways, they already announced TENG going OOP in August 2005 to make way for the lesser release, along with quietly putting Dumbo and Treasure Planet OOP. Aladdin and the sequels are a given for January 2006, but based on DVDs currently released, I'm guessing the following will be announced OOP come January 2006...

Most Likely:
Aladdin - it's due for the vault.
Aladdin 2-Movie Collection - wherever the original goes, the sequels goeth.
Hunchback of Notre Dame - headscratching going on here by some UD'ers, but we've all speculated that there may be a 10th Anniversary Edition in 2006, and it could be OOP in Jan, and re-released in October with The Little Mermaid's PE. They've always released a new SE with their PE's (Snow White had Dumbo, BATB had something, Lion King had Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin had Mulan, Bambi had The Incredibles, and Cinderella had two lesser releases)
Hunchback 2 - IF and only IF Hunchback is being set for the vault (only to be released later in a better edition), the sequel follows (hopefully it'll stay in the vault where it belongs).

Possibly:
Alice in Wonderland - Even though it was stated that their new 2-disc SE's (or in Alice's case, ME) wouldn't be taken out of print, we've been lied to before by BVHE.
The Fox and the Hound GC - talked about this in the thread about its sequel/midquel. They may put the GC out of print simply to pave the way for a new edition (be it the same disc content but no longer bearing the GC banner or a SE with a handful of extras)
The Great Mouse Detective - wouldn't it be cool to have Anniversary editions for both GMD and HoND???
Hercules GC - Like Mulan, it went OOP for about a year or two before it came back as a 2-disc SE, so putting it OOP in Jan. 2006 primes it up to be re-released as a 2-discer (SE or Anniversary Edition) in 2007.
Lilo and Stitch - MAYBE, just maybe, we'll have this OOP so they can release the oft-delayed 2-disc SE with Leroy and Stitch...

They don't seem to put their live-action titles OOP unless it's being replaced by a newer edition. Though some OOPs are somewhat questionable (the Dalmatian movies for example). But methinks that they may pull the Mighty Ducks films in order to re-release it with the rumored D4 in 2006 or 2007. And with the new Remember the Titans edition coming out, the current one will likely go OOP.

Escapay

[Wonderlicious]

I believe that Aladdin went OOP in England two months ago, along with all the 2 discers that were labeled collector's editions. Of course, I think the 2 disc edition thing had to do with Disney's lack of publicity towards the things; BVHE UK only give publicity to the "family" editions, as no adults like Disney, right? Dorks...

As for films going in the US vault, I can imagine all of the Aladdin related DVDs (non Princess Collection) and possibly Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Hercules and Mary Poppins. I'm also quite surprised that there's been no announcement yet as well.

[jamminjake245]

Yeah, Aladdin has been out for a while now and I think it is time to go back in the vault for 6 years or so. Aladdin has been the longest released Platinum Edition for a while so it may be placed behind that steel door any day now.

[2099net]

Alice in Wonderland - Even though it was stated that their new 2-disc SE's (or in Alice's case, ME) wouldn't be taken out of print, we've been lied to before by BVHE.

I don't know about you, but my Alice ME came with a "available for a limited time only sticker", so this is almost certainly on the cards.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

How about Mulan? It was released at almost the exact date as Aladdin, so could it possibly be OOP by 1-31-06?

I still have yet to pick up Alice or Mulan! Hopefully I'll swoop them up like The Lion King sequels!

[Pasta67]

I think it's safe to say that Aladdin and it's sequels are going OOP. Fox & the Hound and Hunchback are likely cantidates as well. If not those, then I'd say Mulan or Alice will be discontinued. It's too early for Hercules.

I really hope the recent discontinuations of Dumbo & Treasure Planet meant something.

[Robin Hood]

As for films going in the US vault, I can imagine all of the Aladdin related DVDs (non Princess Collection) and possibly Alice in Wonderland, Bambi, Hercules and Mary Poppins. I'm also quite surprised that there's been no announcement yet as well.

I have a strong feeling that Bambi won't be put in the vault next year because of Bambi II.

[Jake Lipson]

The ones they take OOP to replace with an SE within the year are discontinued without much noise -- Hunchback at least will go OOP soon and not be promoted as such because the SE will be coming shortly. Hercules though is an interesting possibility, though I doubt they'd bother to draw attention to such an old and crummy disc; I expect that it will be go quietly sometime soon too to make way for a new SE in 2007.

As per 2003's revised release schedule, all Platinums from Lion King forward are now supposed to stay in print for 2 years, so Bambi's sticking around another year or so (give or take.)

Alice in Wonderland and Dumbo are both amongst the very few titles that have never been taken out of print as a stunt before (ie, except when they were replaced with new editions) so I'd expect Dumbo to show up again fairly soon and Alice to stay where she is on store shelves.

I could however see Disney taking Brother Bear out of print to drum up intrest in its cheapquel, especially since that has become a huge hit on DVD for them and has well eclipsed its theatrical take in the home market.

Hmm.

[Lucylover1986]

Hopefully Hocus Pocus will be taken out of print so we can get a special edition of it finally. Whenever they pull it out of print we'll get it that upcoming Halloween.

[Luke]

I really hope the recent discontinuations of Dumbo & Treasure Planet meant something.

Actually, the latest check of Disney's retail database showed that <i>Dumbo</i> was back in circulation again. Not sure why it disappeared earlier, but I'm not convinced its return means that a re-release isn't forthcoming. <i>Treasure Planet</i>, on the other hand, is still missing from the listings, but I think it being revisited soon is considerably less likely, though certainly not impossible.

[Pluto Region1]

Great thread! Thanks for posting this. Had no idea I had to worry about a set of Disney DVDs going out of print.... so where does Disney announce the stuff they are taking out of print?

[Jake Lipson]

Where? They just issue an announcement to the press, which I'm sure Luke will detail for us as soon as he gets wind of it. But generally speaking they usually take something out of print on January 31 every year and will have a big last-chance-to-buy campign first to get sales driven up. You should have time to get them first, as that's the idea. I just wish we'd be told what the heck they are this year....

[Pluto Region1]

Where? They just issue an announcement to the press, which I'm sure Luke will detail for us as soon as he gets wind of it. But generally speaking they usually take something out of print on January 31 every year and will have a big last-chance-to-buy campign first to get sales driven up. You should have time to get them first, as that's the idea. I just wish we'd be told what the heck they are this year....

They actually announce it in the press and they say, "better hurry up and buy these before they are retired to the vault." This I gotta see.... I'll watch for Luke's announcement.

But I gather from reading here that they don't always do a big push like that.... So they are sneaky about retiring some of them quietly as those are the ones they plan to rerelease shortly in a different version? What would be the point of being quiet about retiring it if they bring out another version? Why not announce "last chance to buy," get everyone to buy it, and then rerelease it and market as a new improved version so you would feel you needed to buy the new version?

I am such a sucker for this "last chance, in the vault" routine. I have been buying what I can (Mulan, Mulan II, Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Alice In Wndrlnd, Dumbo, Aladin I, Bambi, Cinderella, etc) in the last 3 mos. - I haven't even watched them, I am like a chipmonk stocking them in the closet for the winter.... mine, mine, mine....

[danamichelle]

I overheard an employee at the disney store telling a customer that the disney store will not be getting anymore copies of BAMBI. I don't know if there is any truth to this or not.

[my chicken is infected]

I hope they don't put Mary Poppins OOP. That movie's NEVER been OOP since Disney first started releasing home videos.

[Escapay]

But I gather from reading here that they don't always do a big push like that.... So they are sneaky about retiring some of them quietly as those are the ones they plan to rerelease shortly in a different version? What would be the point of being quiet about retiring it if they bring out another version? Why not announce "last chance to buy," get everyone to buy it, and then rerelease it and market as a new improved version so you would feel you needed to buy the new version?

For some titles, yes they push the advertising towards "It's going in the vault! get it while you can!". Mainly the platinums and some SE's. But for the lesser releases that get an upgrade, they quietly pull it out simply so they can advertise "Coming to DVD for the FIRST TIME on a 2-disc special edition". Those bastards like to push "FOR THE FIRST TIME" or "FOR A LIMITED TIME"...

The re-release of Tarzan as a one-disc Not-So-Special-Edition was pushed as COMING OUT OF THE VAULT with much fanfare, though it was perhaps overshadowed by the mass marketing done for Cinderella.

I expect that the GC titles pulled this January will go with no fanfare at all, I doubt Disney wants the consumers to grab as many copies as they can of a lesser edition only to screw them over some months later with the brand-spanking-new 2-disc edition. Then again...they screwed everyone over on The Emperor's New Groove by pulling the good 2-disc edition and replacing it with a crappy single-disc a la Tarzan...

Escapay

[Escapay]

I hope they don't put Mary Poppins OOP. That movie's NEVER been OOP since Disney first started releasing home videos.

Well technically it went oop every time they released a new edition...

The 1983 white clamshell (geez, I sound like Disney Guru) went OOP when they started releasing the movie in the Black Diamond Series.

The Black Diamond edition went OOP when it was released in the Masterpiece Collection.

The very first DVD edition (non-anamorphic barebones that was also Disney's first live-action Disney DVD release, I believe) went OOP when Mary Poppins became Gold Collection.

And of course, the Gold Collection went OOP when they put out the 40th Anniversary Edition.

Escapay