Special versus Platinum Edition

[consultant]

Are the Special Editions on the Disney Movie Clib identical to what Amazon is referring to Platinum Editions? Are they the same boxes and UPCs? Or does one say special and one say platinum? Any difference or advatange, example are Bambii, Aladdin, Lion King, Beauty & Beast.

[AwallaceUNC]

The short answer is yes, they are the same. Like most good questions about Disney (and especially Disney DVDs), you can find the answer on the website. A detailed explanation of the various Disney release types can be found here: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/releasetypes.htm

-Aaron

[consultant]

I already read that document. The thing that is confusing are the pictures of the front of the cases. Some show Platinum Edition and some show Special Edition. If there are indeed two different labeling schemes it seems owning one that says platinum edition with the silver metal stripe is a little more desireable despite them being the identical discs.

[MinnieMe]

I already read that document. The thing that is confusing are the pictures of the front of the cases. Some show Platinum Edition and some show Special Edition. If there are indeed two different labeling schemes it seems owning one that says platinum edition with the silver metal stripe is a little more desireable despite them being the identical discs.

Not entirely sure what you mean... Lion King, Bambi and the others you mentioned all come in Platinum Editions.. none of those are "Special Editions". Ones that were released in a "Special Edition" are sometimes 2 discers and are almost like Platinums (Brother Bear, Mulan, Sleeping Beauty) then others are 1 discers that are somewhat less "special" but are still called Special Edition (Peter Pan, Tarzan, Oliver and Company).

Ones that were released as Platinum Editions were not released as Special Editions too so there is no way they could be labeled different but be "identical discs."

Here's the list of all of the animated classics and how they were released: http://www.ultimatedisney.com/ultimateclassics.htm

If you've got to pick between "Gold Collection" or "Limited Edition" and "Platinum Edition" or "Special Edition" pick the Platinum or Special. If there's a "Collector's Edition" (Tarzan, Emperor's New Groove: The Ultimate Groove, Atlantis) pick the CE.

[goofyestes]

I know exactly what they are referring to! I am a little confused by it, too. On the Disney Movie Club's site, it says special edition for all the dvds that should be platinums and some of the photos of the movies don't show the platinum cover. Do all the dvds that say special edition that should be platinums come as platinums from the DMC? I would think so, but I haven't ordered the all so I can't answer that question. I did order Aladdin and it is the platinum edition (from DMC). Maybe someone who has ordered the other platinums from the movie club could answer about them.
Niki

[AwallaceUNC]

Ah, I see now. Disney often issues early promotional artwork for its Platinum DVDs. These almost always label it as a "Special Edition" and advertises something like "First Time on DVD." Why do they do that? Who knows. It gets changed to "Platinum Edition" later. It looks like the DMC is just using that early promotional artwork instead of the final cover art. Don't worry, unless DMC is doing something new and crazy (highly unlikely), there's only version of the cover in America and that's the one you'll get.

-Aaron

[goofyestes]

Thanks Aaron! That was what I was guessing, too.
Niki

[wtigers814]

Then if you look at www.DisneyMovieFinder.com and search for these titles that you are refering to, they are all the same "Special Editions" that the Dsiney Movie Club is selling and the same Limited Editions and Platinum Editions. No matter what you call it, it is still the same DVDs being sold. If you are still questioning it, look at the SKU#s when you place the order, they should be the same of that is on Amazon.

[AwallaceUNC]

Then if you look at www.DisneyMovieFinder.com and search for these titles that you are refering to, they are all the same "Special Editions" that the Dsiney Movie Club is selling and the same Limited Editions and Platinum Editions. No matter what you call it, it is still the same DVDs being sold. If you are still questioning it, look at the SKU#s when you place the order, they should be the same of that is on Amazon.

True, though it should be noted (just so as not to confuse) that from Lady and the Tramp and onward, the "Limited Edition" releases are OOP and not at all the same as the Platinums. (Snow, Beauty, Lion, Aladdin, Bambi, and Cindy never have Limited Editions, but Lady, Mermaid, 101D, and Jungle Book did). I know you aren't confusing the two, this is just to further clarify for others' sake.

-Aaron