If streaming on Disney+ isn’t your thing, you can find many of your old favorites on Blu-ray exclusively at Disney Movie Club.
I’ve always loved the concept of “instant gratification,” and it’s a concept that works for just about any type of retail therapy. From clothing, to shoes, to toys and collectibles, to movie discs, nothing compares to browsing and picking up items, finding treasure and walking away with it the same day. With physical media support dwindling in brick-and-mortar stores, many are shifting their shopping habits to online sites.
Over the past six months my local Best Buy has reduced its movie selection by 90%, Target by 50% and Walmart by 33% or more, this certainly sends a loud and clear signal it may be time to purchase titles elsewhere that are not new releases. Feedback from customers at these stores’ headquarters will likely go unanswered, their decisions have already been made and it’s unlikely anything will change that. You still have small shops that can meet your needs, but many of us are not lucky enough to live nearby.
How does the Disney Movie Club work?
With all the online streaming choices available, why join the Disney Movie Club (DMC) nowadays? What sets him apart from other traders? To get started, the club is a membership, so it requires a purchase commitment, but it’s relatively easy to complete. The initial out-of-the-box introductory offer is that you buy 4 movies for $1, whether 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD, with free shipping. The standard offer requires the purchase of five additional movies at regular price (usually starting around $19.95 per title) over two years.
As an added bonus, you can choose to purchase your first pledge title at a discounted price with this first introductory order. After the initial order, shipping costs are $3.95 for the first title and $1.49 for each additional title. Every 4 weeks or so you will receive a physical mail in your mailbox or an email with the current headline featured with a reply by date. If you do not respond, it will automatically be sent and charged to your account. If you don’t want this title, you can mail it back for a refund.
How much do Blu-rays cost at Disney Movie Club?
Let’s talk about the price first, because for some it is the most important factor. New releases are almost always the same price (within a few dollars) as other online or physical stores. What’s different here is that when you buy a regular title, not only does it count as one unit towards your membership commitment, there’s almost always an option to buy additional titles at a discount. Sometimes you even get new releases a week or two earlier than the normal release date. There is no limit to the number of additional titles you can purchase at the discounted price, they simply do not count towards the final membership commitment.
If you factor in the initial order of five titles (four for $1, plus the first pledge title at a discount) and the minimum prices of the four titles to fulfill your membership obligation, you’re still financially well off. Once you complete the membership pledge, you get VIP membership status. VIP members get offers throughout the year and some do not require a regular price purchase. In the past, one of these offers was 50% off all TV series, no additional purchase required. This is how I ended my Once upon a time collection. As a bonus, the featured titles usually include a lithograph or charm jewelry of some sort, and the additional title discount can be up to 60% off the list price.
The Disney Movie Club isn’t just for new releases. There are also exclusive Club titles!
The Disney Movie Club exclusives are the main reason I’ve maintained my membership over the years. DMC offers movies with exclusive covers, and there are also titles that are only available in the DMC store. Similar to what Warner Archive Collection releases, these are smaller, less popular movies and shows made in smaller batches of discs. These titles also usually have minimal extras, which we consider barebones releases, but the only other way to see these shows in HD is on Disney+ and unfortunately usually in lower quality.
Disney Movie Club Exclusive Classic Favorites
Disney is best known for its animated titles. Here are some exclusive Disney Movie Club highlights you might not know about Blu-ray.
Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure: The Complete Series
Valiant
Pooh’s Great Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin
melody time
black cauldron
Disney is best known for its animated production, but how about a live-action family comedy to brighten the day?
Freaky Friday (1976) and (2003)
Jungle 2 Jungle
Holes
George of the Jungle
Do you remember when you were a child, sitting in front of the The Wonderful World of Disney broadcast on ABC TV or go to the theater in the 80s? Here are some true classics that you can’t find in stores on Blu-ray.
Something bad this way comes
The black hole
treasure island
Flight of the Navigator
Escape from Witch Mountain / Return from Witch Mountain
Do you like exclusive packaging? Or do you need to own every version of a favorite title? Here is a sampling of some exclusive covers available from DMC.
New releases often arrive with exclusive DMC covers, so check them out before heading to Best Buy or check Amazon.
Initially, club exclusives weren’t much different from your normal store releases, just editions of movies that included a digital code when the same movie purchased from Best Buy or Amazon didn’t have it, and then they went evolved into a random classic Disney movie. Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure: The Complete Series on Blu-ray marks DMC’s first “modern” television series release. Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers – The Complete Series was originally announced as the second Blu-ray release of the animated series from DMC, but it has now been updated to become a standard release available everywhere.
Don’t expect to see southern song at any time in this century as a DMC exclusive. I’d go for never, but there’s still a vast trove of movies and TV shows in the Disney vault that could potentially come to Blu-ray. I still remember an obscure series called The Wuzzles 80s stuff that will probably never see the light of day, but I have them on SVHS somewhere along with the stuffed animals themselves. There are so many more begging to be put on Blu-ray. From duck tales at dark wing Duck to the Aladdin TV shows, Talespin, Gargoyles, Timon & PumbaaDisney Junior titles like Lion Guard, Doc McStuffins, Sofia the first, and Helen of Avalor – there are some cool stuff that would make awesome additions to the collection.
In the end, whether you’re looking for the lowest prices or club exclusives, DMC is sure to satisfy both desires. Be aware though that if you look around you might find a promo code that entitles you to an even better deal for your initial order. If you are a member and refer a friend, there is an offer for that as well. A few months ago, 20th Century Fox’s library was also added to DMC’s catalog, significantly increasing their selection of titles. Disney may be trying to prop up their Disney+ service, but as long as there’s a market for the records there’s no doubt they’ll continue to produce them and DMC might just be the best – or only – place. to buy them.
Click on the $4 Movies for $1 banner to be directed to DMC.
