VHS tapes are now becoming as much of a collectible as old vinyl records. Old Disney VHS tapes are becoming more sought after as people of a certain age look to revisit the media they grew up with in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Over the years there have been many different release of Disney VHS and in this post I will look at the First Disney VHS tapes and all the VHS releases that followed.
The History of Disney VHS Tapes
1978-1979 – Discovision
Disney license 6 titles to Universal for release under Discovision format. Discovision being a commercial failure, no new titles were released in this format after 1979. These were mostly mostly animated shorts.
1980 – The First Disney VHS are Released
Disney create their own subsidiary company ‘Walt Disney Home Video’
Disney release 14 titles on VHS and Betamax. These titles are licensed to Fotomat for rental only. Disney were worried that the strategy would harm theatrical re-releases and the 14 titles featured none of their animated classics.
The First Disney VHS Films released included:
- Pete’s Dragon
- The Black Hole
- The Love Bug
- Escape to Witch Mountain
- Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks
- The North Avenue Irregulars
- The Apple Dumpling Gang
- Hot Lead and Cold Feed
- On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends
- Kids is Kids
- The Adventures of Chip ‘n’ Dale
1981
Disney select 15 animated classics including Snow White, Pinocchio and Bambi as ‘the untouchables’. These Disney animated movies were never to be released on home video, with re-releases in cinemas only.
1984
Ron Miller departs as Disney’s CEO. He had pushed for the release of ‘the untouchables’ on VHS.
Michael Eisner, Disney’s new CEO, continued to push for ‘The Classics’ home video release. The board eventually concede but with specific stipulations. Robin Hood, being one of the less popular animated Disney movies, was released on Disney VHS tape first and prices were set high at $79.95 to cater to video rental stores and put off everyday home VHS tape buyers.
1985
Pinocchio, the 2nd home video released under ‘The Classics’ line. Pinocchio’s price was reduced to $29.95 with buyers being made aware that no more copies would be sold after January 1986. The Disney vault was born. Disney classics were to be re-released in theatres then made available on home video for only a limited time before the next theatrical re-release 6-7 years later.
1990
Peter Pan becomes the final Disney Classic to be released on Betamax format.
1994
The Fox and The Hound ends the black diamond ‘Classics’ line with Snow White, the last ‘untouchable’ and yet-to-be-released movie becoming the first in the new ‘Masterpiece Collection’ of Disney VHS Tapes.
1999
Robin Hood is the last film released in the ‘Masterpiece Collection’.
2000-2001
A number of Disney Classics are released on the relatively new DVD format with the launch of the new ‘Gold Classics Collection’. VHS tape versions are released alongside the new format.
Disney plan the launch of their ‘Platinum Editions’. They plan to release the top 10 best selling Disney animated classics, starting with Snow White, once a year for 10 years.
2001 – 2009
13 movies were actually released between 2001 and 2009. Only 8 of the 13 released made it to the now dated VHS format with Little Mermaid becoming the last Platinum VHS in 2007.
For more posts on Disney movies take a look at the links below...
- How to Tell if a Disney VHS is Black Diamond
- Romantic Disney Movies to Watch With Your Partner
- The Best 80’s Disney Movies
- The Best Disney Football Movies
- Movies to Watch Before Going to Disney World
Are Vintage Disney VHS Tapes Worth Money?
Certain Disney VHS tape titles are worth a nice amount of value with some be worth over $100. More common releases will have less value such as widely released Disney titles that are still relatively easy to get hold of.
The Disney Black Diamond Collection
The first Disney vhs tapes was the Black Diamond edition tapes. Released between 1984 and 1994 these are the old disney vhs tapes that most collectors are looking for. Although these releases are really called ‘The Classics’ the Black Diamond name comes from the black diamond logo found on the VHS case cover art (usually the spine and back cover).
These are actually not as rare as has been reported online but these reports have helped increase the asking price of ebay listings over the last few years.
- Robin Hood 1984
- Pinocchio 1985
- Dumbo 1985
- Sword In The Stone 1986
- Alice In Wonderland 1986
- Sleeping Beauty 1986
- Lady And The Tramp 1987
- Cinderella 1988
- Bambi 1989
- The Little Mermaid 1990
- Peter Pan 1990
- The Jungle Book 1991
- The Rescuers Down Under 1991
- Fantasia 1991
- 101 Dalmatians 1992
- The Great Mouse Detective 1992
- The Rescuers 1992
- Beauty And The Beast 1992
- Aladdin 1993
- The Fox And The Hound 1994
How Much are Black Diamond VHS Tapes Worth?
Genuine Black Diamond Collection tapes are of reasonable worth. The Black Diamond version of any Walt Disney classic is highly collectible for VHS collectors. The valuable Disney VHS tapes can be worth over $100 for a single title. Quite a bit for an old VHS tape.
In truth though these old vhs tapes are not as rare as a lot people think they are so you shouldn’t be looking to pay big bucks for any common titles. Always check the sold listings prices on ebay before making any purchases as you will often see a lot of outrageous price tags.
The Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection
If you grew up watching Disney vhs tapes in the 90’s then this is probably the range you regularly played on your home VHS player. This range replaced the Disney Classic/Disney Black diamond edition range of home video cassette releases.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – 1994
- Mary Poppins – 1994
- Dumbo – 1994
- Alice in Wonderland (first release) – 1994
- Robin Hood (first release) – 1994
- The Sword in the Stone – 1994
- Pete’s Dragon – 1994
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks – 1994
- The Three Caballeros – 1994
- So Dear to My Heart – 1994
- The Lion King – 1995
- Cinderella – 1995
- Pocahontas – 1996
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – 1996
- The Aristocats – 1996
- Oliver & Company – 1996
- Bambi (THX 55th Anniversary Edition) – 1997
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame – 1997
- Fun and Fancy Free (THX 50th Anniversary Edition) – 1997
- Mary Poppins (THX Limited Edition) – 1997
- Sleeping Beauty (THX Limited Edition and THX Widescreen Edition) – 1997
- The Jungle Book (THX 30th Anniversary Limited Edition) – 1997
- Hercules – 1998
- Peter Pan (THX 45th Anniversary Limited Edition) – 1998
- The Little Mermaid (THX Special Edition) – 1998
- Melody Time (THX 50th Anniversary Special Edition) – 1998
- The Black Cauldron – 1998
- Lady and the Tramp (THX Limited Edition and THX Widescreen Edition) – 1998
- Mulan – 1999
- The Rescuers – 1999
- One Hundred and One Dalmatians (THX Limited Edition) – 1999
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (50th Anniversary Limited Edition) – 1999
- Alice in Wonderland (second release) – 1999
- Robin Hood (second release) – 1999
Are the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection VHS Tapes Valuable?
The Walt Disney Masterpiece VHS cassette collection do not hold much value yet. If you are interested in collecting them they should be fairy inexpensive on eBay listings.
The Gold Classic Collection Disney Movies
This range of classic disney movies was released over a two year period between 2000 and 2001. Below are the 25 films that were released in the range.
- Toy Story – 2000
- Mulan – 2000
- Pinocchio – 2000
- The Aristocats – 2000
- The Fox and the Hound – 2000
- Saludos Amigos – 2000
- The Three Caballeros – 2000
- Pocahontas – 2000
- Make Mine Music – 2000
- Melody Time – 2000
- Fun and Fancy Free – 2000
- A Goofy Movie – 2000
- Alice in Wonderland – 2000
- Robin Hood – 2000
- Mary Poppins – 2000
- The Rescuers Down Under – 2000
- Hercules – 2000
- A Bug’s Life – 2000
- Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World – 2000
- The Black Cauldron – 2000
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad – 2000
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas – 2000
- Pete’s Dragon – 2001
- The Sword in the Stone – 2001
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks – 2001
Are the Gold Classic Disney VHS Tapes Worth Money?
Just like The Walt Disney Masterpiece VHS cassette collection these do not hold much value yet. If you are interested in collecting them they should also be fairy inexpensive on eBay listings.
What About Live Action Disney Movies
Although there were plenty of releases of live action Disney movies throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s one of the most notable was Walt Disney’s Studio Film Collection.
This was a home video series from Walt Disney Home Video which was released for only two years from 1991 to 1993. This home video line features classic Disney films on home video such as:
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – 1991
- Candleshoe – 1991
- In Search of the Castaways – 1991
- Kidnapped – 1991
- The Love Bug – 1991
- The Apple Dumpling Gang – 1991
- Freaky Friday – 1991
- Old Yeller – 1991
- The Parent Trap – 1991
- The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men – 1991
- The Three Lives of Thomasina – 1991
- Treasure Island – 1991
- Darby O’Gill and the Little People – 1992
- Swiss Family Robinson – 1992
- Pollyanna – 1992
- The Absent-Minded Professor – 1992
- The Sword and the Rose – 1992
- Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier – 1992
- The Shaggy Dog – 1993
- That Darn Cat! – 1993
- Herbie Rides Again – 1993
- Escape to Witch Mountain – 1993
The Disney Vault – What Is It?
The Disney Vault is not an actual vault but a term used by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The Disney Vault was the policy of putting home video releases on hold. Each Disney film release is made available for purchase for only a limited timeon VHS before being put back into the vault for several years.
Rare Disney VHS Tapes
Let’s take a look at a few examples of old disney vhs tapes that are fairly rare and could cost you a pretty penny.
1. Condorman – Pre Certification UK Release
Value -$60 to $75
This UK released version of the Walt Disney Studios live action comedy movie starring Michael Crawford is rare as it does not include an age certificate on the vhs case cover.
A small number of VHS tapes were released prior to the age certification rules coming into force in the UK which has made this version of the cassette case case fairly expensive.
2. Song of the South
Value- $60 to $175
Due to the representation of the African American characters in this movie Song of the South has become a movie that Disney now distances itself from. This has made VHS tape releases of the movie jump up in value over the last decade.
Surprisingly though this movie was release on VHS quite a few times (1982, 1986, 1991, 1992 and 1996) and was even released on DVD in the early noughties.
3. Black Diamond Collection VHS Tapes
Although the black diamond tapes shouldn’t really be as expensive as they have become particular titles can really have outrageous price tags and two example of this are these vintage disney vhs tapes:
1985 Pinocchio Black Diamond Classic VHS Value – $50-$100
1984 Robin Hood Black Diamond Classic VHS Value – $50
4. The Watcher in the Woods – Disney Beta Max Tapes
Value – $100 to $150
This one is a bit of an oddity as it is a rare Beta Max release of a Disney film you may have never heard of. A supernatural movie from 1980 that you never hear a lot about today. A little known film on a short lived home entertainment media format is a combination that screams rare and over time might make you a small fortune.
5. Cars Disney Movie Club Exclusive VHS
Value- $500
Exclusive to Disney Movie Club members, Cars was the very last Disney animation ever released on VHS. This now make it one of the highly sought after VHS tapes for collectors on the market.
Where Can I Sell My Disney VHS Tapes?
Probably the best place to sell an old Disney VHS tape is ebay. This is where real collectors look for the old tapes that you cannot find locally. Check sold listings to get an accurate value of what you are looking to sell to earn some extra cash.
More Movie Fun
I hope you have enjoyed my look at The History and Value of Disney VHS Tapes. Why not also check out our Ultimate Guide to Disney Witch Movies too.
You can also find some more Disney Fun below:
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