# Walt Disney Home Video (VHS)

Walt Disney Home Video is a discontinued video line launched to release Disney animated features on home video. This was done by a division of the same name under the parent Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Company (WDTNT). As an entity, the name Walt Disney Home Video is now known as Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. The scope of this list is mostly limited to Disney's North American live action movie releases. Cartoon collections were concurrently released as Walt Disney Cartoon Classics which include the "Limited Gold Editions". The initial price for early Disney cassettes at the time was "prohibitory expensive" for many, this changed in the mid-1980s when VCRs became affordable.

## History

Disney started out by establishing its own video distribution operation in 1980 as part of Walt Disney Telecommunications and Non-Theatrical Company (WDTNT) with Jim Jimirro as its first president. WDTNT Co. also handled marketing of other miscellaneous ancillary items such as short 8 mm films for home movies. When Disney started with video cassettes, "Home video" was not considered to be a major market by them at the time. Their first releases on videotape were 13 titles that were licensed for rental to Fotomat on March 4, 1980. Disney was unusual among the major studios in offering a program for authorized rentals. Most of the other studios involved in the videocassette market at the time were trying to find ways to stop dealers from renting out their movie tapes. Magnetic Video (with titles from 20th Century Fox and others) ceased doing business with Fotomat after Fotomat began renting Magnetic Video cassettes without authorization.
The switchover from rental to sales was a "thorny" issue that was solved by giving dealers an option on the type of outlet they desired. For those who just wanted to rent video cassettes, a title was given (for US$52) on a 13-week cycle. The dealer could then set the price as many times as they wanted in those 13 weeks before purchasing a new title from Disney. Video cassette rentals were more "functionally" packaged with a heavier box and less elaborately detailed illustrations. For those who wanted to sell video cassettes, a "fairly straightforward" program involved 4 color packaging and a suggested retail price. In order to separate the two mediums, the cassette either featured "FOR RENTAL ONLY/Not intended for Sale" or "FOR SALE ONLY/Not intended for Rental". The 13 titles that had been licensed for rental to Fotomat subsequently became available for purchase.
Throughout their release history, "Walt Disney Home Video" cassettes were promoted by Disney. An early example is the 1981 release of "A Walt Disney Christmas" where a "Free Mickey Mouse Plush Toy" was offered as an incentive. Disney later offered a promotion for Summer 1982 called "Disney's American Summer", where they sold some of their live action movies for the first time. At the time this promotion was done in an effort to make video cassettes more affordable, and boosted the video software involved. Marketing included a 7 foot tall gazebo which was set up in stores and a free mug as an incentive. Towards the end of 1984, Disney did a “Wrapped And Ready to Give” Christmas promotion which included seven newly released titles on video cassette. Later promotions include Disney's 1986 "Wonderland Campaign" as a further attempt to bring prices down.
When The Disney Channel was launched on April 18, 1983, it gave the company an opportunity to air made for TV films such as Tiger Town and Gone Are the Dayes, both of which were released to home video in 1984. During that same year Disney also started releasing their animated feature films under the Walt Disney Classics line starting with Robin Hood. On March 8, 1985, Disney released "Love Leads the Way" which became their first title that went straight to Home Video. The Walt Disney Home Video division was legally incorporated as Buena Vista Home Video on February 13, 1987. The Walt Disney Home Video brand continued to be used for all Disney branded releases afterwards.

## North American releases
### First VHS sales (1980)

| No. | Release Date | Title | Initial cost (USD) | Copies sold (Domestic) | Short summary |
| 1. | October 1, 1980 | The Black Hole | $59.95 | | Re-released in December 1983. |
| 2. | October 1, 1980 | Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier | $59.95 | 75,000 | 2nd release in March 1983 3rd release on May 28, 1986. |
| 3. | October 1, 1980 | 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea | $59.95 | | 2nd release in March 1983 3rd release in September 1985 4th release on May 28, 1986. |
| 4. | October 1, 1980 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | $59.95 | 75,000 | Re-released in June 1985 |
| 5. | October 1, 1980 | The Love Bug | $59.95 | | Re-released on November 6, 1985 |
| 6. | October 1, 1980 | Pete's Dragon | $59.95 | | Re-released on October 14, 1986 |
| 7. | October 1, 1980 | Escape to Witch Mountain | $59.95 | 75,000 | Re-released on September 21, 1985. |
| 8. | October 1, 1980 | The North Avenue Irregulars | $59.95 | 75,000 | Re-released August 1985 |
| 9. | October 1, 1980 | Bedknobs and Broomsticks | $59.95 | | 2nd release on September 21, 1985 3rd release on May 28, 1986. |
| 10. | October 1, 1980 | Hot Lead and Cold Feet | $59.95 | | Re-released in March 1983 |
| 11. | October 1, 1980 | On Vacation with Mickey Mouse and Friends | $44.95 | | Re-released in December 1983 |
| 12. | October 1, 1980 | Kids is Kids starring Donald Duck | $44.95 | | Re-released in December 1983 |
| 13. | October 1, 1980 | The Adventures of Chip 'n' Dale. | $44.95 | | Re-released in December 1983 |

### VHS releases (1980–1984)

| No. | Release Date | Title | Initial cost (USD) | Copies sold (Domestic) | Short summary |
| 1 | January 1, 1981 | Mary Poppins | $74.95 | | 2nd release in November 2, 1982. 3rd release on November 6, 1985. 4th release on October 14, 1986 |
| 2 | June 1, 1981 | A Dream Called Walt Disney World | Un­known | | This was offered as a souvenir to those who visited Walt Disney World in the early 1980s. A Dream Called Walt Disney World was re-released in October 1, 1981. |
| 3 | August 16, 1981 | The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again | Un­known | | Re-released in August 1, 1985. |
| 4 | August 16, 1981 | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Un­known | | |
| 5 | August 16, 1981 | The Absent-Minded Professor | Un­known | | Re-released on May 29, 1986, as part of Disney's "Wonderland Campaign". |
| 6 | August 16, 1981 | Davy Crockett and the River Pirates | Un­known | | 2nd release in March 1, 1983 3rd release in August 1, 1985 4th release on May 29, 1986, as part of Disney's "Wonderland Campaign". |
| 7 | August 16, 1981 | Gus | Un­known | | 2nd release in March 1, 1983 3rd release in June 1, 1985 |
| 8 | August 16, 1981 | The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band | Un­known | | 2nd release in August 1, 1985 |
| 9 | August 16, 1981 | Snow White Live at Radio City Music Hall | Un­known | | |
| 10 | October 1, 1981 | A Walt Disney Christmas | $49.95 | | 2nd release in November 2, 1982. 3rd release in December 1, 1983. 4th release in October 10, 1984 5th release on October 15, 1986 |
| 11 | October 1, 1981 | Amy | Un­known | | Re-released in August 1, 1985. |
| 12 | October 1, 1981 | Darby O'Gill and the Little People | Un­known | 75,000 | |
| 13 | October 1, 1981 | Old Yeller | Un­known | 75,000 | 2nd release on November 6, 1985. 3rd release on October 15, 1986 |
| 14 | January 1, 1982 | Treasure Island | Un­known | 75,000 | Re-released on October 15, 1986. |
| 15 | January 1, 1982 | Condorman | Un­known | | |
| 16 | January 1, 1982 | Goofy Over Sports | $49.95 | | Re-released on May 22, 1983 |
| 17 | January 1, 1982 | The Shaggy Dog | Un­known | | |
| 18 | January 1, 1982 | The Devil and Max Devlin | Un­known | | |
| 19 | March 28, 1982 | Herbie Rides Again | Un­known | 75,000 | |
| 20 | March 28, 1982 | Pollyanna | Un­known | 75,000 | Re-released on October 15, 1986 |
| 21 | March 28, 1982 | The Sign of Zorro | Un­known | | |
| 22 | April 1, 1982 | A Tale of Two Critters | Un­known | | |
| 23 | June 13, 1982 | Swiss Family Robinson | $69.95 | 75,000 | Re-released November 7, 1985 |
| 24 | June 13, 1982 | Freaky Friday | $69.95 | | |
| 25 | June 13, 1982 | A Day at Disneyland | $49.95 | | This was offered as a souvenir to those who visited Walt Disney World in the early 1980s. |
| 26 | June 13, 1982 | Justin Morgan Had a Horse | $69.95 | | |
| 27 | September 5, 1982 | Blackbeard's Ghost | $69.95 | | |
| 28 | September 5, 1982 | Night Crossing | $69.95 | | |
| 29 | September 5, 1982 | The Legend of Sleepy Hollow | $69.95 | | Sleepy Hollow later aired on October 31, 1982, as part of Disney's Halloween Treat. |
| 30 | September 5, 1982 | The Three Caballeros | $69.95 | | |
| 31 | September 12, 1982 | The Watcher in the Woods | $69.95 | 75,000 | The Watcher in the Woods was originally a "Rental only" title starting in April 1, 1982. |
| 32 | October 17, 1982 | Babes in Toyland | Un­known | 75,000 | Re-released November 7, 1985 |
| 33 | October 17, 1982 | Disney's Storybook Classics | $49.95 | | Includes: "Little Toot", "Chicken Little", "Peter and The Wolf", and "The Grasshopper and the Ant" |
| 34 | October 17, 1982 | Fun and Fancy Free | $49.95 | | |
| 35 | October 17, 1982 | Snowball Express | $69.95 | | |
| 36 | October 1, 1982 | Dumbo | $84.95 | | 2nd release in December 1, 1983. Dumbo was also re-released on November 6, 1985, as part of Walt Disney Classics. |
| 37 | November 1, 1982 | Alice in Wonderland | $84.95 | | Re-released on May 29, 1986, as part of Walt Disney Classics (Wonderland Campaign). |
| 38 | December 2, 1982 | Tron | $84.95 | | Re-released November 7, 1985 |
| 39 | March 1, 1983 | American Heros Featuring Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill | $49.95 | | This features Paul Bunyan (the movie) and Pecos Bill from Melody Time. |
| 40 | March 1, 1983 | The Island at the Top of the World | $59.95 | | |
| 41 | March 1, 1983 | The Last Flight of Noah's Ark | Un­known | | |
| 42 | March 1, 1983 | The Shaggy D.A. | $59.95 | | Re-released on September 22, 1985 |
| 43 | March 1, 1983 | The Wind in the Willows | $49.95 | | |
| 44 | April 19, 1983 | Tex | $69.95 | | |
| 45 | May 22, 1983 | Johnny Tremain | $69.95 | | Re-released in December 1, 1984 |
| 46 | May 22, 1983 | The Great Locomotive Chase | $69.95 | | |
| 47 | May 22, 1983 | Trenchcoat | $69.95 | | Re-released in December 1, 1984 |
| 48 | August 28, 1983 | Something Wicked This Way Comes | $69.95 | | |
| 49 | November 15, 1983 | The Cat from Outer Space | Un­known | | |
| 50 | January 15, 1984 | The Parent Trap | $69.95 | 75,000 | Re-released on May 29, 1986, as part of Disney's "Wonderland Campaign". |
| 51 | January 15, 1984 | In Search of the Castaways | $69.95 | | Re-released in Late 1985 |
| 52 | April 8, 1984 | Big Red | $69.95 | | Re-released on April 5, 1985. |
| 53 | April 8, 1984 | Follow Me, Boys! | $69.95 | | |
| 54 | April 8, 1984 | The Boatniks | $69.95 | | |
| 55 | April 8, 1984 | The Happiest Millionaire | $69.95 | | Re-released on May 29, 1986, as part of Disney's "Wonderland Campaign". |
| 56 | April 8, 1984 | Tiger Town | $69.95 | | This movie premiered on The Disney Channel, and was re-released on September 27, 1985 |
| 57 | July 15, 1984 | Son of Flubber | $69.95 | | |
| 58 | July 15, 1984 | The Castaway Cowboy | $69.95 | | |
| 59 | September 15, 1984 | The Incredible Journey | $69.95 | | |
| 60 | November 1, 1984 | Herbie Goes Bananas | $69.95 | 75,000 | Re-released on November 7, 1985 |
| 61 | November 1, 1984 | Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo | $69.95 | 75,000 | Re-released on November 7, 1985 |
| 62 | November 1, 1984 | Where the Toys Come From | $49.95 | | |
| 63 | December 1, 1984 | Gone Are the Dayes | $69.95 | | This movie premiered on The Disney Channel. |

### VHS releases (1985–1987)

| No. | Release Date | Title | Initial cost (USD) | Short summary |
| 64 | February 26, 1985 | The Gnome-Mobile | $69.95 | |
| 65 | March 8, 1985 | Love Leads the Way | $69.95 | This movie premiered on The Disney Channel, and was the first directly released to Home Video. |
| 66 | March 24, 1985 | Summer Magic | $69.95 | |
| 67 | March 24, 1985 | That Darn Cat! | $69.95 | |
| 68 | April 2, 1985 | Black Arrow | Un­known | This movie premiered on The Disney Channel. |
| 69 | April 4, 1985 | The Prince and the Pauper | $69.95 | This movie was released in 1962 and is directed by Don Chaffey. |
| 70 | June 1985 | Never A Dull Moment | $69.95 | |
| 71 | July 27, 1985 | The Sword and the Rose | $69.95 | |
| 72 | September 1985 | Superdad | $69.95 | |
| 73 | September 21, 1985 | The Moon-Spinners | $69.95 | |
| 74 | October 19, 1985 | Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue | $69.95 | |
| 75 | October 19, 1985 | The Barefoot Executive | $69.95 | |
| 76 | October 19, 1985 | The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes | $69.95 | |
| 77 | October 19, 1985 | The Three Lives of Thomasina | $69.95 | |
| 78 | October 19, 1985 | Those Calloways | $69.95 | |
| 79 | October 29, 1985 | The Bears and I | Un­known | |
| 80 | January 1986 | The Blue Yonder | Un­known | This movie premiered on The Disney Channel. |
| 81 | February 23, 1986 | The Legend of Lobo | $69.95 | |
| 82 | March 1986 | Escapade in Florence | Un­known | Released as part of "Annette Month" honoring Annette Funicello. |
| 83 | March 1986 | Lots of Luck | Un­known | Released as part of "Annette Month" honoring Annette Funicello. |
| 84 | March 1986 | The Horsemasters | Un­known | Released as part of "Annette Month" honoring Annette Funicello. |
| 85 | March 1986 | The Misadventures of Merlin Jones | Un­known | Released as part of "Annette Month" honoring Annette Funicello. |
| 86 | March 1986 | The Monkey's Uncle | Un­known | Released as part of "Annette Month" honoring Annette Funicello. |
| 87 | May 25, 1986 | Toby Tyler | Un­known | |
| 88 | June 22, 1986 | Charley and the Angel | $69.95 | |
| 89 | July 10, 1986 | The Million Dollar Duck | $69.95 | |
| 90 | July 26, 1986 | Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. | $69.95 | |
| 91 | July 26, 1986 | Moon Pilot | $69.95 | |
| 92 | July 26, 1986 | One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing | $69.95 | |
| 93 | July 26, 1986 | Unidentified Flying Oddball | $69.95 | |
| 94 | August 19, 1986 | King of the Grizzlies | $69.95 | |
| 95 | August 19, 1986 | Mooncussers | $69.95 | |
| 96 | August 19, 1986 | Savage Sam | $69.95 | |
| 97 | August 19, 1986 | The Light in the Forest | $69.95 | |
| 98 | August 19, 1986 | The Wild Country | $69.95 | |
| 99 | October 1986 | Down and Out in Beverly Hills | $69.95 | Also released under Touchstone Pictures. |
| 100 | October 1986 | No Deposit, No Return | $69.95 | Also released under Touchstone Pictures. |
| 101 | October 1986 | Ten Who Dared | $69.95 | |
| 102 | October 1986 | The Fighting Prince of Donegal | $69.95 | |
| 103 | October 1986 | The World's Greatest Athlete | $69.95 | |
| 104 | October 1986 | Third Man on the Mountain | $69.95 | |
| 105 | November 26, 1986 | Dr. Syn alias The Scarecrow | $69.95 | |
| 106 | November 26, 1986 | Menace on the Mountain | $69.95 | |
| 107 | November 26, 1986 | The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin | $69.95 | |
| 108 | December 20, 1986 | A Tiger Walks | $69.95 | |
| 109 | December 20, 1986 | Nikki: Wild Dog of the North | $69.95 | |
| 110 | December 20, 1986 | Sammy, the Way-Out Seal | $69.95 | Originally released in 1962 as a 2-episode TV series. |
| 111 | December 20, 1986 | The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit | $69.95 | |
| 112 | January 31, 1987 | Child of Glass | $69.95 | |
| 113 | January 31, 1987 | Johnny Shiloh | $69.95 | |
| 114 | January 31, 1987 | Mosby's Marauders | $69.95 | |
| 115 | April 12, 1987 | Ride a Wild Pony | $69.95 | Released under "Walt Disney Home Video". |
| 116 | May 1987 | Bon Voyage! | $69.95 | |
| 117 | May 1987 | Miracle of the White Stallions | $69.95 | |
| 118 | May 1987 | Smith! | $69.95 | |
| 119 | May, 1987 | The Littlest Outlaw | $69.95 | |
| 120 | June 23, 1987 | Emil and the Detectives | Un­known | |

## Worldwide releases

Disney first offered Dumbo, Mary Poppins, Mi Amigo El Dragon (Pete's Dragon), Su Mas Fiel Amigo (Old Yeller), La Montana Embrujada (Escape to Witch Mountain), Los Tres Caballeros (The Three Caballeros), Mickey's Christmas Carol, and two cartoon collections in Spanish on November 30, 1985 In the United Kingdom, titles such as Mary Poppins, Pete's Dragon and Bedknobs and Broomsticks were not released on VHS until November 26, 1988. Additional VHS releases in other countries under the "Walt Disney Home Video" are possible, but need further sourcing.

## Rarity

In terms of consignment, Heritage Auctions has placed in their "Vintage VHS Tapes Value Guide" that the most desirable VHS tapes released between 1979 and 1990 are still in their original factory shrink wrap. When VCRs were first released in 1977, they were priced between $1,000 to $1,400 which would roughly equal $4,900 to $6,900 in 2023 USD. As this amount was initially unattainable for most homes fewer people were buying VHS tapes, which in turn meant fewer copies being produced. A "likely sum of money for a video cassette at the time was between $80 and $100 or $400+ in 2023 USD. These higher costs lasted until 1985 when VCRs finally began dropping in price. While this meant more tapes were produced, it did not mean that they became any less of a rarity.
In regards to Disney, "Only the earliest of Disney VHS cassettes produced prior to 1985 hold any value to most collectors." Titles such as "Tron" which remains "elusive" for early copies have sold for high amounts in mint condition. Things to look for in general include a sealed tape, a studio logo on the shrink-wrap, and if the latest year listed on the back of the cover is prior to 1986.