CraveOnline.com film movies tv and humor

Movie News

Disney to Include DVDs with Blu-ray Releases

Source:Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

January 7, 2009

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will include a standard-definition DVD copy within many of its 2009 Blu-ray Disc releases. Here is the official announcement:

As more and more families transition to high definition, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) concentrates its efforts on offering consumers unprecedented quality, value and portability in the purchases of their favorite Disney Blu-ray movies with the announcement of its new Blu-ray + DVD Combo Packs.

Disney's Combo Pack will be extended across an exciting new slate of Disney-branded theatrical and Platinum titles releasing on Blu-ray between February and October of 2009. Some of the upcoming Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack titles families can look forward to include the teen phenomenon "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (February 17), Walt Disney's animated classic "Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition" (March 10) and all those leading up to the highly anticipated release of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum Edition" in October.

"These unique Combo Packs provide the opportunity for consumers around the world to take advantage of the quality of Blu-ray with the portability of a DVD disc in a single package, comments Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. "As always, we are committed to offering our consumers exceptional quality and value when purchasing our products."

WDSHE first successfully introduced a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package) with the release of "Sleeping Beauty's 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition" in 2008 across limited markets. The inclusion of the feature film on standard definition DVD allowed consumers without Blu-ray players to "future proof" their collections.

In addition, WDSHE North America will be packaging 14 of its hot new Blu-ray titles releasing in the U.S. and Canada with a DisneyFile digital copy of the movie for consumers to enjoy anytime, anywhere on their Mac, PC or compatible portable devices. Digital copies will be made available in both iTunes and Windows Media file formats and are set to be included with such titles as "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," "Monsters Inc.," and "A Bugs Life."

As part of its continued worldwide Blu-ray release efforts, WDSHE is adding many exciting new titles to the line-up in North America, Europe and Asia. Titles include new theatrical releases, catalog, direct-to-video, top television series and some of America's most requested movies.

WDSHE North America will be releasing several new theatrical titles to Blu-ray day-and-date with the DVD including "Swing Vote" (Touchstone Pictures) on January 13; "Miracle At St. Anna" (Touchstone Pictures) on February 10; "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 17; "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (Walt Disney Pictures) on March 3; "Morning Light" (Walt Disney Pictures) in summer of 2009; as well as an all new direct-to-video "Space Buddies" (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 3.

In addition, WDSHE North America will also be expanding its Blu-ray catalog library with more than 30 exciting releases including such titles as "Pretty Woman" (Touchstone Pictures) on February 10; "High School Musical Remix Edition" (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 17; "Monsters Inc." (Disney/Pixar); "A Bugs Life" (Disney/Pixar); "Microcosmos" (Miramax); "Rounders 10th Anniversary Edition" (Miramax); "Lost: The Complete First and Second Seasons" (ABC); "Sin City" (Miramax); "Miracle" (Walt Disney Pictures); "Sling Blade" (Miramax); "The Greatest Game Ever Played" (Walt Disney Pictures); "Pulp Fiction Special Edition" (Miramax); "Good Will Hunting Special Edition" (Miramax) and many more to follow in 2009.

In Europe/Australia, WDSHE will roll-out the following Blu-ray titles beginning with "Space Buddies" (Walt Disney Pictures) and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (Walt Disney Pictures) in February; "Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition" (Walt Disney Pictures) in March and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (Walt Disney Pictures) in April; and "Monsters Inc." (Disney/Pixar) sometime in 2009.

Japan will see the following WDSHE Blu-ray releases starting with "Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition" (Walt Disney Pictures) in March; "Tinker Bell" (Walt Disney Pictures) and "WALL•E" (Disney/Pixar) in April; and "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (Walt Disney Pictures), "Monsters Inc." (Disney/Pixar) and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" (Walt Disney Pictures) to follow at later dates.

COMMENTS (25)

Posted by:

jay

January 20, 2009

wow...they listed everything except the price. i bet these "combo packs" will be significantly more expensive than the single blu rays. i think this is just another cheap gimmick to get the comsumer to pay more for a film. Are they even going to sell a just blu ray movie??

Posted by:

SoulPatch

January 23, 2009

Jay,

The Sleeping Beauty blu-ray WITH DVD was only $19.99, so I would say it is actually cheaper then a lot of regular blu-ray's.

I don't think this is a gimmick at all. I think it is brilliant becuase blu-ray is great, but not mobile. Most people I know do not have more then 1 blu-ray player, but have 3 DVD players. 1 in another room, and sometimes, one in the car. It is a nice addition to make it portable instead of only being able to play it on your home theatre. I wish every company was doing this!

Posted by:

Darren Mussett

January 27, 2009

How can this be Disney supports Blu-Ray but there is no future release of Mary Poppins or Oliver on Blu-Ray but they coming out on dvd in the next couple of months remastered again.

Posted by:

Propaneman

January 31, 2009

Two words, TOY and STORY. Please re- release these two great movies on Blu-ray before they get cut up for the 3D treatment before the release of Toy Story 3.
Also, nice to finally see LOST seasons 1& 2 coming out, (but how about a release in the UK?).
DVD + Blu-ray idea is great, for those without a BD player it saves having to buy again when they get one. And for those of us with one, it lets me play the dvd on the portable or in the car. I also got mine for about £12.99, shop around, it helps.

Posted by:

SashaFierce

February 18, 2009

I think this is an excellent idea but I also have a problem with it for this reason, i don't yet have a blu-ray player but plan to get one in the future and this would be a great way to "future proof" my collection. I want to take advantage of the limited time offers and stuff like that but if you get this with the regular DVD it sounds like you dont get the special features except with the blu-ray so one misses out until one can get around to buying that blu-ray player.