Disney Blu-Rays/DVDs lately...

[JRawkSteady]

...have gone completely downhill. In the early to mid 2000's they released some great DVDs chocked full of special features and interesting tidbits. Slowly, but surely, they began to get rid of these features and pretend as if they are giving you more...

Example: The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Fantasia, Aladdin, Cinderella - When these Collector's Edition's came out they had a fold-out map insert explaining the hours of special features including Deleted Scenes, Behind The Scenes footage, documentaries, commentary, etc etc.

Then in the late 2000's, they began releasing DVDs with just a karaoke track, a pop star music video promoting the release of the film, a deleted scene (sometimes two) and a short that had nothing to do with the film. All with an insert promoting Disney Channel...no more map, no more cool photos...

Now, with the release of Blu-Ray, it's even worse. The Blu-Rays have ZERO special features. They mislead you by saying it's a 2 or 3 Disc Collector's Edition. But really, it's just 1 Blu-Ray of the feature film and then a DVD of the same thing. Why would I want a Blu-Ray AND a DVD of the same movie? Well, they make it even more annoying because the "special features" are all on the DVD...this makes NO sense. If I wanted to buy the DVD, I would have. But I bought the Blu-Ray...so shouldn't all the features be on the Blu-Ray??? Not that it really matters, because the features are still just a karaoke track, a pop star music video promoting the release of the film, a deleted scene (sometimes two) and a short! (and sometimes a REALLY BAD DVD game that no one ever plays)

Frozen just came out this week and it seems that they have two documentaries on the Blu-Ray, but from what I read, they are silly and uninteresting. I wish they would start putting some actual work into their home media again...

 

[skatalite]

I'm glad Disney gives us DVD copies with every movie nowadays. I buy the combo pack, then sell the DVD for $10 and recoup half my money.

I know it has nothing to do with special features, but there ya go, haha.

 

[kwelch10377]

I don't think I have ever watched any of the special features so I could care less that they have them. Any of the inserts that have ever been included, I couldn't even begin to tell you where they are since most of the time they fall out of the case or get taken out and set somewhere.

I do like that they provide a Blu-ray and a DVD. I have a Blu-ray player in my living room and then I have a DVD player in my bedroom and in my computer. I can't watch the Blu-ray disc on the DVD players, so I like having the option of watching it either media player.

 

[Disneyhabs]

I have the very first Disney DVDs they did the original 7 which was lion king hercules etc and back then they used the artwork on the disk as a special feature. This is not something new to be honest.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I have the very first Disney DVDs they did the original 7 which was lion king hercules etc and back then they used the artwork on the disk as a special feature. This is not something new to be honest.

Yeah, but that's before they released Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and other such beautifully arranged DVDs. I have some of those older ones too, but they have since then (with the exception of Hercules and Hunchback) have been replaced with a better version.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I actually like having both the DVD and blu ray copies. The kids like to watch movies in their rooms and they all don't have a buy ray player. Plus my portable....if I can ever find all the plugs to it again is just a dvd player.

What I want to know is why did they stop putting out coupons for the movies.

 

[Disneyhabs]

Yeah, but that's before they released Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and other such beautifully arranged DVDs. I have some of those older ones too, but they have since then (with the exception of Hercules and Hunchback) have been replaced with a better version.

Special features make no difference to me to be honest and none of that stuff ever gets kept it is usually lost or stuck in a storage bin within days of getting them. I buy the 3D versions now as most of our TVs and BR players in the house are 3D.

 

[JRawkSteady]

What I want to know is why did they stop putting out coupons for the movies.

I think it's because they are really pushing Disney Movie Rewards points now. That seems to be in lieu of coupons.

 

[disneychrista]

I would guess that more people than not do not care about the bonus features. The movie is what it is all about.

Would you still want the special features if they say raised the price of the Blue-Ray by say $10?

 

[wiigirl]

I actually like having both the DVD and blu ray copies. The kids like to watch movies in their rooms and they all don't have a buy ray player. Plus my portable....if I can ever find all the plugs to it again is just a dvd player.

What I want to know is why did they stop putting out coupons for the movies.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

I totally love the combo packs! Except I get the one with the digital movie too.

We have a DVD player in our van. In our home we have both. In the playroom, we have a dvd player.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I would guess that more people than not do not care about the bonus features. The movie is what it is all about.

Would you still want the special features if they say raised the price of the Blue-Ray by say $10?

Well, if this is the case why would I even buy the BluRay, when I can download a legal digital copy of JUST the film for half the price? You can say that the price IS raised by $10 when you buy the BluRay/DVD, and then, yes, I would. The whole point of the "Collector's Edition" is the bonus material. I wouldn't be that upset if they stopped calling it the "Collector's Edition" and released a special more expensive gift pack, like they did with Aladdin, Lion King, and Cinderella.

 

[Micca]

My Disney blu-rays have plenty of bonus features. I just bought the Jungle Book on Blu-ray, it has some new special features plus all the bonus features from the dvd. My copy of Frozen isn't here yet, but doesn't it have a new Mickey Mouse short? I also have some Disney blu-rays where the bonus features are on a separate disc.

With respect to the paperwork, I think it's superfluous. Most people probably toss it when they open the case for the first time. I save all the extra goodies, but I have a sort of collector's mentality.

 

[JenM]

I would guess that more people than not do not care about the bonus features. The movie is what it is all about.

Would you still want the special features if they say raised the price of the Blue-Ray by say $10?

Disney blu-rays are already overpriced. Even when they're on sale, they're usually well over $20, when most blu-rays go on sale for less than that. I've been upgrading my Disney DVD collection to blu-ray, and was hoping there would be some decent sales this week with the Frozen release, but nope, no decent sales out there. The same goes for the Pixar movies, and more recently the Marvel movies.

And I agree, they've been skimping on the extra features a lot with their most recent releases, especially compared to their DVD releases.

I love the blu-rays because the picture quality is amazing, but I wish they'd make them more *special edition* than the prices they charge for them.

 

[Micca]

I agree that the Disney blu-rays seem a bit expensive, but I pre-ordered Frozen from Amazon for $19.96. On release day I happened to be in Walmart and they had the same price.

OTOH, I've been waiting for a deal on the Tangled Blu-ray, and it seems to hang around the $26 mark.

 

[ilovemk76]

I found that most of the "extras" were boring. I am fine with just the movie.