Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Heck, if it's the quality of the video that's a problem, hire one of these guys putting together a fan DVD who has the talent but is making do with his camcaroder from Circuit City.<< Better yet, hire the same people in charge of prducing TDR videos (that would keep the WDC in the republican spirit of outsourcing american jobs to foreign nationals) but Disney is not willing to pay for such better quality. Reason why the freebie dvds are a compilation of highly edited and manufactured promotional material we have all seen before during our local newscasts commercial breaks.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Buying the videos are the closest these fans will ever get to seeing these parks.<< That excuse does not fly with me anymore Russ.. Sorry. Anyone can go to Tokyo is they so desire. All it takes a some planning and saving a little. But NOOOOO! We have to go to frumpy WDW 4 times a year, so there goes the budgets.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Maybe it doesn't fly with you, but nonetheless it IS the reality. Of course anyone can go if they truly wanted to and expended a little effort. But some folks will just never go... like Dennis, for instance.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Oh trust me... dennis will go, but his nuptials come first so he is excused. For now.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Actually, WDW does produce a VERY high quality DVD with top-notch production values, new video (not recycled) and even a few neat extras. Best of all it's absolutely free. Think I'm kidding? Nope. I'm telling you the truth. It's called the DVC Promotional DVD (AKA Disney's Least Kept Non Secret). To see the difference in quality between it and the planning DVD or the last MK VHS I bought for $3.99 at the outlet store (I think it was a 2001 or 02 version) is stark. BTW, since no one but the Tokyo readers check this board out, I thought I'd say what likely isn't a secret either -- Disney's Contemporary Resort is going to be DVCed ... unfortunately. Just the North Garden Wing. Now you guys can go back to your debate.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Maybe it doesn't fly with you, but nonetheless it IS the reality. Of course anyone can go if they truly wanted to and expended a little effort.>> So true. TDLFAN sees it differently as he never has to pay for a flight or even a hotel.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I am surprised they do not attempt to fill the void being filled by fan videos on sale online... God knows LP Store has quite a lineup of those.>> But TDLFAN do you know how many of these fan DVDs are being bought? It is probably a lot less than you think. It is all about economics and there just isn't the case for companies like Best Buy and Walmart to schlep Disney park DVDs to all of their stores. There won't be the demand.
Originally Posted By leemac '74 that is so true. But then it is a proper marketing tool so DVC can throw a lot of cash at it as they know they will make money. It seems the future DVC model will be more along the lines of Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club Villas ie. tacking it onto an existing resort. I stayed in one of the new rooms in the South Garden Wing and it was beautifully done but you just always want to be in the tower. '74 am I right in saying that they haven't started to refurb the north wing?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>But TDLFAN do you know how many of these fan DVDs are being bought?<< No I don't and I am sure the number is not that high. But you talk about BVHE as if they were the ultimate connosiers as well... and I feel they are as clueless as I am in regards to this issue. If they knew better, then why are so many left over copies of other WDW video dvds still sitting on the shelves at the park... Not to mention the 20-some copies of Narnia I saw today at the Emporium alone! Again.. I am only speculating since I don't have friends in the box to tell me the results of every freaking poll they do at Disney in regards to consumer trends.
Originally Posted By schnebs <<It is all about economics and there just isn't the case for companies like Best Buy and Walmart to schlep Disney park DVDs to all of their stores. There won't be the demand.>> I know you were responding to TDLFAN on this one, leemac, but I'd like to get my 2 cents' worth, if I may. I don't disagree with you that BVHE isn't going to get the sales that would justify the typical production and promotion run (I'm sure that when they release or re-release a title on DVD, they spend millions). But why should this preclude a more limited run for the US parks, or even a better quality product for the parks? The last Disneyland DVD was produced in 2001, and the only way they were able to get 'em off the shelves was to repaackage them with a 50th anniversary cover (which they had to change when people bought the thing and realize they'd been gypped). As far as I can tell, the WDW DVDs were equally out of date. If WDR and WDP&R can justify a new Official Album every couple of years, why can't BVHE and WDP&R come up with better product and deliver it more frequently? If I were a merchandise person at DL responsible for CDs & DVDs, I'd be embarassed that there's a fan DVD that covers all the 50th anniversary stuff, but there's no official DVD and no CD of the "Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams" soundtrack.
Originally Posted By schnebs And just for the record, I'm one of those geeks that actually orders the planning DVDs every year. Frankly, they're about as good or better than the stuff that's being sold at the parks, they're updated more frequently, and I need some way to get my Disney fix. Imagine how much money they'd get out of people like me if they offered better official DVDs more often...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<'74 that is so true. But then it is a proper marketing tool so DVC can throw a lot of cash at it as they know they will make money.>> Oh, I don't disagree. I just came upon this little discussion and tossed that out because the difference in quality is stark between DVC and planning and park DVDs. <<It seems the future DVC model will be more along the lines of Wilderness Lodge and Beach Club Villas ie. tacking it onto an existing resort. I stayed in one of the new rooms in the South Garden Wing and it was beautifully done but you just always want to be in the tower. >> They did a great job integrating the VWL into the existing property, but the BCV really appear shoehorned in (because they are). I, personally, would rather not see any more DVC development at WDW for a while. There's been too much development as is. I also find it very telling that this summer they are only offering AP discounts at five resorts and two (OKW and SS) are DVC. You'd think those would be the hardest to ever get. They should have built in Newport Beach and Colorado and NYC and all the places they were originally going to. Hell, in Disney Village at DLP they are shilling the new Marriott Vacation Club in nearby Val d' Europe. Why Disney didn't build a DVC there itself amazes me. <<'74 am I right in saying that they haven't started to refurb the north wing?>> As of recently, yes, that's correct. And Mouseplanet reported this week that it is because they want to gut it, add two stories (they can't rip it down or add buildings due to wetlands much like the old Treehouse Villas) and make it DVC. They'd like to announce it at October's annual media event.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN You mean...Lee didn't know that yet!?!?! <---faints. Old news my friend..
Originally Posted By leemac No I knew but last I heard there was a possibility that they would simply refurb the existing structure by pulling down the supporting wall between two rooms and making the entire facility 2 bed villas.
Originally Posted By leemac <<, personally, would rather not see any more DVC development at WDW for a while. >> They are still selling and the price went up again yesterday and I'm sure it will have no effect. Incredible. I'm fine with it providing they aren't building anymore Saratoga Springs. I always hated OKW but that place looks like a palace compared with the hell that is Saratoga Springs.
Originally Posted By leemac Schnebs the problem is the difference between BVHE and WDP&R merch. The latter would be happy with a decent margin on sales of thousands. When BVHE can shift millions of even direct-to-DVD sequels like Bambi II you can perhaps grasp why they wouldn't be interested in a small run. As I said before distribution costs are through the roof these days as gas prices soar.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Well.. that^^ goes back to the mass marketing I had mentioned before. In Japan, you want something, then you have to buy right away since most stuff does not last long due to more limited quantities, but in the US..it's all about overproducing and filling up retailers with garbage like...Bambi 2. No wonder all these Disney videos are rotting on shelves..and even worst, never reduced in price like most movies are after several weeks/months out.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite To TDLFAN, or anyone, I recently bought the new two pack TDR DVD set- yet THEY WILL NOT play in my dvd player. I have a region free player, and even calibrated it for japanese dvds. They still won't play by saying 'wrong region'. Has anyone from America bought these DVDs and had trouble playing them on a regrion free player? I am really am in need of help because I don't know what to do. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated. ps. My porto paradisio DVD plays just fine! I don't get it?
Originally Posted By SuperDry I have no idea if this applies to the TDR DVD's you are having problems with, but I remember reading the following a couple of years ago: Some DVDs now have software on them that is designed to thwart people with "region-free" DVD players. The thing is that there's not officially supposed to be any such thing as a region-free DVD player. The producers of DVDs have to pay a patent licensing fee for every disk produced that has region restrictions on it (it's a small fraction of a cent), so presumably those that ship DVDs with a region code (as opposed to the option of simply enabling all regions) do so because they think they have a good reason to restrict the region of playability. Anyway, this new technique I refer to above is for the DVD to identify itself as its native region and see if the player plays it. Then, the DVD pretends that it's only for another region and sees if the player rejects it as it should. If the player accepts the other region as well, then the DVD knows that it's being played on a "region free" player, and refuses to play at all. This all happens in a fraction of a second when the disc is inserted, so it doesn't interfere with regular play of the DVD. Again, I have no way of knowing if that's the issue in your situation. I've never run into it myself, but I have a separate genuine Region 2 DVD player (in the form of a Japanese PS/2) so I would never run into this particular problem. I hope you're able to solve it one way or another.
