How to Tell if Your Dvd is Fake/Bootleg or Is This Dvd Real?

[MonsieurJackSkellington]

Any ideas of a reputable places to find say The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King etc? Any hints from Disney as to when these will be re-released from the Vault?

Tamara

Here are the dates Tamara my friend, enjoy.
Keep a hold of your classic DVDs though my friend as they are timeless
treasures.

Hi there,
I have the dates for all the Disney Classic re-releases.
They are all confirmed & used as a stepping stone for the new
DisneyDVD/Blu-Ray revolution.

They are as follows,

The Jungle Book - March 2oo7
101 Dalmations - October 2oo7
Pinocchio - March 2oo8
( BluRay exclusive starting 2008 ) :
Snow White - October 2oo8
Peter Pan - March 2oo9
Beauty & The Beast - October 2oo9
Sleeping Beauty - March 2010
The Lion King - October 2010
Fantasia - March 2011
Aladdin - October 2011
Bambi - March 2012
Cinderella - October 2012

Lady & The Tramp & The Little Mermaid are not listed, though expected
to follow in the same manner.

Bon huit

[271286]

Just started collecting the R1-Platinum line, and I just got Snow White ($27) and Beauty and The Beast ($28) off Ebay, both new and selad, the BatB with the original slipcover... So it's not impossible to find authentic OOP's for a good price...

[consultant]

I just decided to expand my collection from Platinum and Treasures to include all 44 (45 with Chicken Little?) Animated Classic Movie Releases. I figured it would really be neat to have a chronological representation of all the animation movies Disney has released on my shelf. Of course in 40 years when I'm approaching 80, I'll need double the shelf space to accomodate all the new stuff. I'm not really interested in the live action (Poppins and Tron are pretty cool releases though) as I like the allure of the art form of the hand drawn animation.

Anyway, outside of the Platinum Collection I'm not too anal about getting genuine Buena Vista OOP products but I avoid anything out of Asia, and anything without inserts or non-Region 1.

So I've found a lot of sellers selling Gold Collection Titles on E-bay in the $10-$20 range. Stuff like Aristocrats, Robin Hood, Black Cauldron, you name it. They are US sellers with huge histories and approval ratings of 99%+. They advertise their products as sealed Region 1 products from US Distributors, so use terms such as genuine and authentic, but they typically don't use terms such as OOP or original Buena Vista Release. So is there actually an aftermarket of unauthorized US Produced Region 1 Disney DVDs, identical in packaging (except for maybe the stickers on the shrink wrap) to the original Buena Vista releases or are these surplus Buena Vista releases that these sellers are getting their hands on? And if they are US reproductions, does it really matter that much?

I just thought some of these 70's releases would be much harder to find, especially sealed.

[consultant]

Oops, obviously they didn't have DVD's back in the 70's. I meant I expected that some of the older releases I though would be hard to find and a cheap cost but they are all over E-bay from reputable buyers so I was a little surprised/skeptical.

[consultant]

I recently acquired several Gold Collection titles. All of them, on the cover, the Gold Collection is in metallic gold. However on the Sword & Stone I noticed it is just yellow, not metallic gold. And it is a locking (white) case. Is this a non-legit copy or was this one in the Gold Collection they didn't make the 'Gold Collection' label metallic like the others?

[The Lizard King]

I recently acquired several Gold Collection titles. All of them, on the cover, the Gold Collection is in metallic gold. However on the Sword & Stone I noticed it is just yellow, not metallic gold. And it is a locking (white) case. Is this a non-legit copy or was this one in the Gold Collection they didn't make the 'Gold Collection' label metallic like the others?

Post pictures. All of the Gold Collection DVDs that I have are metallic. It's the Limited Issue DVDs that are plain yellow.

Run it through DVD Decrypter to see what region code the disc is. If it is anything other than Region 1 (and maybe 4), then it's a boot.

TLK

[Escapay]

Recently (I'd guess since September), Disney's been re-issuing their Gold Collection Titles (and any title with a metallic banner) in both sidesnap cases and non-metallic banners. I've seen several at video stores and such, so yes, they're legit.

Escapay

[kbehm29]

I have a new question on this topic.

Do you count your bootleg or burned DVR's as part of your collection?

I have a bootleg copy of Treasure Planet - which I got accidentally from E-bay (thought I was buying the real thing). I do NOT count it as part of my collection. I have it on my wishlist to buy the real thing someday (waiting for a re-release).

I also cannot stand burned DVD's. I need the "real thing". I do not count any of these (and I only have very few) as part of my collection.

[Escapay]

The only bootleg I have is Song of the South, which I count in my collection simply because it's the only movie I'd bootleg for given its current distribution status (aka none).

Escapay

[kbehm29]

The only bootleg I have is Song of the South, which I count in my collection simply because it's the only movie I'd bootleg for given its current distribution status (aka none).

Escapay

I'd agree. If that's the only way you can get the movie, even if it's bootleg I'd consider it part of my collection.

I just HATE the fact that I have a bootleg of Treasure Planet. I don't even have it on the same shelf as the rest of my Disney DVD's. When I get the real one, I will throw it away - or maybe give it to my mom for my kids to use while they're over there.

[mikemgmve]

I have a new question on this topic.

Do you count your bootleg or burned DVR's as part of your collection?

I have a bootleg copy of Treasure Planet - which I got accidentally from E-bay (thought I was buying the real thing). I do NOT count it as part of my collection. I have it on my wishlist to buy the real thing someday (waiting for a re-release).

I also cannot stand burned DVD's. I need the "real thing". I do not count any of these (and I only have very few) as part of my collection.

The only bootlegs I have are Peter Pan, and Little Mermaid - Movie which will eventually be re-released as Platinums. I don't really wish to spend $40 on a sub-par dvd when a new release is around the corner. I have the film to watch it if I want. So.. I guestt I include them in my collection. These dvd's are definitely manufactured somewhere - they aren't burned discs, and look good enough for the time being until I get NEW releases from the real thing.

[dvdjunkie]

Several years ago I went to a Computer Show at Cal Expo in Sacramento, when I lived in California, and I bought 17 Disney DVD's for $8.00 each. They included Pinocchio, Lady and the Tramp (Widescreen), Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sword in the Stone, Cinderella, Great Mouse Detective, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time (unedited), Fantasia (DTS Soundtrack), Jungle Book, The Aristocats, World's Greatest Athlete, Gus, Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Adventures of Merlin Jones, and The Absent Minded Professor. I still have these in my collection, and have since purchased all those have come out in 2-disc editions. My LATT was a full widescreen in 2-channel stereo, and Sleeping Beauty was in Pan & Scan (Yuck!!). Fantasia was truly in DTS sound and it is probably the best of the lot. I find myself playing it more than the official release in the Fantasia Anthology Box set.

Bootlegs are very worthy purchases from a reputable dealer. All the ones that I have have great cover artwork, they are all in white keep cases, and are unedited except for Pinocchio which starts right out with the scene of the book Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket opening the pages. I think that for the most part the color are brilliant, and the sound is immaculate. You are given a choice of Taiwan subtitles or no subtitles.

I say get them as long as they are priced right. I bought several more Disney titles off of eBay and have been totally satisfied with all of them.

[Mr. Toad]

Yes, I count them, although I have disposed of most of them as I got the real release(Bambi, Cinderella). The only one remaining in my collection is Song of the South

[2099net]

Bootlegs are very worthy purchases from a reputable dealer. All the ones that I have have great cover artwork, they are all in white keep cases, and are unedited except for Pinocchio which starts right out with the scene of the book Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket opening the pages. I think that for the most part the color are brilliant, and the sound is immaculate. You are given a choice of Taiwan subtitles or no subtitles.

I say get them as long as they are priced right. I bought several more Disney titles off of eBay and have been totally satisfied with all of them.

When DVDJunkie is out, I say you should break into his house and steal his posessions. His DVD equipment may be preowned, but the color and sound through it is immaculate. Take his possessions and you will be totally satisfied with all of them.

[memnv]

I have never bought any bootlegs, but I do copy all my kids movies including Disney that I own on DVD. Worked out good this week, my wife does day care and our copy of Scooby-Doo 2 snapped luckily it was a copy, so I still have the origional. I love DVDshrink and DVDDecrypter

[reyquila]

The only bootleg I have is Song of the South, which I count in my collection simply because it's the only movie I'd bootleg for given its current distribution status (aka none).

Escapay

Same here!

[MinnieMe]

I agree- I only count Song of the South- I had gotten Snow White and Aladdin bootlegs by mistake but replaced them as soon as I could and threw out the boots.

I also have a Garden State bootleg and I want to get the real thing at some point. I don't really count it as part of my collection, but sort of do... I mean it works, and you can't tell by the cover, but I know- so I'll replace it eventually.

[disneyhunter]

Hello I am new to the forum and was very pleased to hear that UltimateDisney.com ever existed as I am an avid DVD collector and just recently have I (stupidly) ever bought DVDs off eBay, Amazon, and CoyoteGo. Just recently I bought several Disney OOP DVDs and suspect that I have fell victim to several bootlegged/burnt/copied DVDs.

The first one I bought was Pinocchio Limited Issue for $25 off Amazon and the cover print looked like a reprint and the DVD cover was a bit "grainy and light". The case (white) was really cheap feeling as well. Does this sound like a fake to any of you? I hear that the Limited Issue became the Gold Collection not too long after so maybe the one I have is legit?

The second one I bought off Amazon was Snow White and the Seven Drawfs (Platinum Edition) for $45 and this one was wrapped as well with the inserts. However my question falls on the questionability of the artwork corner of the cover, it is really curvy and round right after the "n" of the Platinum Edition spelling on top of the case cover because most Disney DVD covers are more full round toward the edge of the DVD case.

Third, I bought 101 Dalms for $10 (sucker - me!) and it had DTS on top of the DVD case cover. NOW that's a FAKE- I read somewhere that Disney NEVER has created a DTS label on top of any of the DVD case covers.

Tips:
1) Again, NEVER buy any DVDs with DTS labeling on the case cover

2) Beware of a seller with multiple copies of the same title bc not that many OOPs ever exist within one seller's territory to my best knowledge unless it was a store or something.

3) Also beware of sellers that still use "stock photo" as opposed to real ones -- ASK for an orig photo before buying! If they refuse to provide or not be responsive, ax him/her move on to the next seller.

4) Never buy any Disney DVDs for lower than $15 really.... think about it. Unless it was USED or in relatively poor condition.

5) For american buyers: DO NOT buy international. period!

6) Do not buy from a seller with many neg feedback. Check http://www.toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs for eBay sellers as many withdraw comments but here you can find them all!

7) For american buyers: Region 1, all the way!

Watch out for how sellers may claim the item is Gold Collection, Limited Issue, Special Edition (keep an eye out on case color- white or black)....

Additionally, I think I have a good question ... where/how can I identify the TRUE case color of a Disney movie? For example, I want to buy Peter Pan Limited Issue- most sellers have that in a white case, but I have seen few in a black case! Most Disney animated cases are black to my knowledge (correct me if I am wrong).

Sorry for the long post and I think it's important to spread the word and keep Disney up and running and down with the "pirates"! Hopefully you may be able to add to my list of tips and/or especially answer my questions. Thank you in advance and for the warm welcome to your Disney world!

[memnv]

I believe some of the disney animated have been in white cases. I know for sure the herbie movies are but there not animated, I will have to look at my others, I think Jungle Book2 may be a white case

[volcano070127]

Yea I know that also because I own the herbie fully loaded dvd!