Disney DVDs

[ujpest_doza]

I asked in our local Disney Store at the weekend about buying DVDs at WDW.

The girl said to be very carefyl because she was of the understanding that they won't work in the UK.

In the past when we have looked at Videos we have obviously always been able to select either the US version or the UK (PAL) version.
Is this different with DVDs?

Are DVDs seperated into PAL and US versions or can you buy DVDs that work in both the US and the UK??

It would be nice to be able to buy them to watch while we are on holiday and still bring them home to use at home as well.

 

[ChrisH]

Hi

My understanding of this is as follows ....

Region encoding is written onto the original DVD to ensure that for instance, films specifically destined for the US market (Region 1) cannot be played in the UK (Region 2), this is supposed to ensure a controlled release of the film to various regions of the world, and ultimately stop people from buying films on DVD in one country and selling them in another country that hasn't yet had a cinema release.

However....Most DVD players can now be set up as 'multi-region', allowing them to play films from anywhere in the world. As long as you have this, and you have a TV capable of displaying an NTSC (as well as PAL) signal you shouldn't have any problems.

Like I say, that's my take on how it all works, hope this helps.

Chris.

 

[Ralphly]

ChrisH is Spot on

You maybe able to find your DVD player on this link, to turn it into a Multi Regional player. Just type in your model.

www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?dvdplayer=lg+dv1010

Gards

R

 

[AndRu]

Although, and sorry to sound like a spoil-sport, I've always found the region 1 DVD's look inferior to the Region 2 versions. I used to buy R1 DVD's from Canada as they had the best deals but I got fed up of them looking worse than the genuine British versions. The R1 versions looked 'more liney' (not a technical description!) than R2.

My suggestion to you would be to borrow an R1 version of a DVD to see:

a) If it works in your machine
b) If you're happy with the picture and sound

This way you should be able to buy with confidence whilst in America.

 

[Cochise]

Region coding has nothing to do with the picture but Reg 1 is NTSC and Reg 2 tends to be PAL especially in the UK

As a rule there are technical differences in the NTSC and PAL formats, i am sure i will be corrected by Tron. But on the whole it depends on the quality of the transfer of the DvD. There are bad picture dvd's and good ones. Compare Blade to say one of the latest Star Wars efforts and you will see what i mean on the PAL format. I have many NTSC dvd films including the Band of Brothers and the pic quality is outstanding.
If the picture is poor then whoever has completed the transfer needs a kick up the a**.
Hope this helps

 

[florida sun]

I bought lots of dvd's in Florida on our last visit as I do have a multi-regional dvd player and I have to say the quality of them is superb. Also have lots of extras on some of the dvd'd that are not on one's sold over here.

Sue

 

[ujpest_doza]

Okay, the DVD player is actually a DVD/TV Combi made by Goodmans.

My Mother in Law bought for my daughter for Xmas and she said she had bought one that would specifically play copied DVDs (ie pirates) as some players do and some don't?!? I have watched some of her pirate ones and the quality isn't as good as the real ones that i have bought but it does play them (i don't want to get into a copyright arguement as i don't particular agree with buying copies and have said so, but she buys loads of them as she watches loads of films).


Does this make it multi region??

The link above to videohelp.com doesn't seem to work.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Okay, the DVD player is actually a DVD/TV Combi made by Goodmans.

My Mother in Law bought for my daughter for Xmas and she said she had bought one that would specifically play copied DVDs (ie pirates) as some players do and some don't?!? I have watched some of her pirate ones and the quality isn't as good as the real ones that i have bought but it does play them (i don't want to get into a copyright arguement as i don't particular agree with buying copies and have said so, but she buys loads of them as she watches loads of films).


Does this make it multi region??

The link above to videohelp.com doesn't seem to work.

If the quality of her copies isnt as good as the real ones, then she's getting them from the wrong place !! There should be no obvious noticable picture difference, as long as the jobs done properly. Maybe she is getting some of the early release Telecine's or Screeners ?

However, copies are always de-regionalised as part of the decrypting process, so as long as the players laser can read the disk, it will play regardless of any region restrictions, so it doesnt prove wether the machine is region free unfortunately.

As far as I know, there isnt any Goodmans out that cannot be easily converted to multiregion, if you can supply the model number, ill look it up for you.

 

[ujpest_doza]

If the quality of her copies isnt as good as the real ones, then she's getting them from the wrong place !! There should be no obvious noticable picture difference, as long as the jobs done properly. Maybe she is getting some of the early release Telecine's or Screeners ?

However, copies are always de-regionalised as part of the decrypting process, so as long as the players laser can read the disk, it will play regardless of any region restrictions, so it doesnt prove wether the machine is region free unfortunately.

As far as I know, there isnt any Goodmans out that cannot be easily converted to multiregion, if you can supply the model number, ill look it up for you.

I'll have to wait till i get home from work and have a look.

She seems to think they are good copies and i have to admit the picture quality on them is better than video, but there is the odd one that has the odd bit of picture intereference. But for £2 a film i don't think you can complain.
To be fair some of the ones she has got she has had long before they have even been on at the cinema in this country eg she had Polar Express long before it was at the cinema in the UK.

 

[ejones999]

What I did as my DVD was multi region from the box, was to go on Ebay and find an auction for Region 1 dvd (ie ntsc) and buy the cheapest one that I came across to test the machine( just make sure that it is an original region 1 disc and not a copy).
I bought Starsky and Hutch and it works great. Region 1 dvds also do not seem to have the trailer crap at the beginning that you can never seem to bypass!
Worked for us and I am confident that we will buy loads next month!!
Eric

 

[cheryl.UK]

We also have a muti region DVD player. I buy Region 1 DVDs from ebay and they are great quality and FAR cheaper than the UK version 2 ones. To be honest you can't tell the difference. My DH insisted on a mega expensive dvd payer and TV so I'm pretty sure that if they were inferior we'd be able to tell. Boys and their toys!

 

[ujpest_doza]

If the quality of her copies isnt as good as the real ones, then she's getting them from the wrong place !! There should be no obvious noticable picture difference, as long as the jobs done properly. Maybe she is getting some of the early release Telecine's or Screeners ?

However, copies are always de-regionalised as part of the decrypting process, so as long as the players laser can read the disk, it will play regardless of any region restrictions, so it doesnt prove wether the machine is region free unfortunately.

As far as I know, there isnt any Goodmans out that cannot be easily converted to multiregion, if you can supply the model number, ill look it up for you.

Hello,

I have now bought a Barney DVD from Universal Studios and am having difficulty getting it work.

The fix on this :-Goodmans Gtv34d fix website
does not work.

I get another menu screen after typing 1379 but then the remote control will not do anything else and the player still continues to say wrong region.

Any ideas?

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Hello,

I have now bought a Barney DVD from Universal Studios and am having difficulty getting it work.

The fix on this :-Goodmans Gtv34d fix website
does not work.

I get another menu screen after typing 1379 but then the remote control will not do anything else and the player still continues to say wrong region.

Any ideas?

Have a look here, see if it helps
http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/search/SearchForums.asp?Search=GTV34R4DVD&Forum=176

 

[Cyrano]

Because of the distinct price advantage and soound/picture quality probably more than 90% of DVd's I buy is Region 1.

My DVD Profiler Collection

Reid

 

[Looby Loo]

i am completely useless when it comes to technology. Can anyone tell me wether my DVD player will play Region 1 DVD's?

I have a Toshiba SD24VB

 

[ujpest_doza]

Sorted thank you very much.

It worked when i tried it with the disk draw open and the dvd works a treat.

Picture quality is excellent but it takes a while to start.

 

[trevorsem]

i am completely useless when it comes to technology. Can anyone tell me wether my DVD player will play Region 1 DVD's?

I have a Toshiba SD24VB

Hi,

It will NOT be programmed to play Region 1 DVDs. Some of the earlier Disney DVDs such as 101 Dalmatians (animated) were Region 0 which meant they play on any DVD player that has a NTSC TV (most newer models do).

Best bet is to check the net for your player. The remote control may be able to be reprogrammed to mulit-region or more than likely (like mine) you will need to get it chipped (a small device added to it)

 

[Looby Loo]

I only bought the DVD/Video comb' player before Christmas and I remember that it said that it was "multi-regional" on the box!! The only reason why I bought it!!!

I have used the link that Ralphly posted - but all the techno-jargon goes right over my head!!

I know that it is cheeky to ask but if anyone could have a look and let me know in simple terms (actually make that really, really simple terms ) that I can understand that would be fab!!