Got this from http://www.jimhillmedia.com ------

Buena Vista Home Entertainment's next 18 months worth of video and Disney DVD releases
Wanna know when you'll be able to buy a copy of "Finding Nemo" on video? (And we don't mean on a street corner.) Or better yet, when you'll finally be able to get your hands on that long-delayed special edition DVD of "Lilo & Stitch?" Jim reveals all in another JimHillMedia exclusive ...

One of the nicer things about running a site like JimHillMedia.com is that -- every so often -- someone decides to share something truly amazing with you.

The following is one of those items: A pretty darned complete listing of Buena Vista Home Entertainment's next 18 months worth of releases.

It's all here, people. The home video and Disney DVD release dates for "Finding Nemo," "Brother Bear," "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and "The Haunted Mansion." Movies that are weeks (and in some cases, still months!) away from their initial theatrical releases. But now you can find out when Disney is planning the DVD and video versions of the films to hit store shelves.

How did I get ahold of this super secret information? Sorry, but that would be telling. Let's just say that I have an extremely thoughtful friend who works deep inside the Mouse House ... who (I'm guessing here) I now owe a pretty sizable dinner to.

Anyway ... enough with my senseless yammering. Let me get out of the way here so you start feasting your eyes. Better yet, start marking up your calendars; you'll know exactly when to head out to the mall to pick up your copies of "Lilo & Stitch: Special Edition," "Mulan 2," "Mickey's 3 Musketeers" et al.

Enjoy!

Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Tentative release schedule
July 2003 - November 2004

July 2003
07/01/03 Gangs of New York
07/29/03 Piglet's Big Movie

August 2003
08/12/03 The Lizzie McGuire Movie
08/19/03 Chicago
08/26/03 Stitch! The Movie

September 2003
09/02/03 Kim Possible
09/09/03 Sleeping Beauty

October 2003
10/07/03 The Lion King - Platinum Edition
10/21/03 George of the Jungle 2

November 2003
11/04/03 Finding Nemo
11/11/03 Eloise at the Plaza
11/18/03 Brother Bear Sing-Along-Song

December 2003
12/02/03 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
12/02/03 Walt Disney Treasures, Wave 3
12/09/03 Lizzie TV Series
12/09/03 Recess: 5th Grade
12/09/03 Recess: All Growed Down

January 2004
01/27/04 Pocahontas - Special Edition
01/27/04 Alice in Wonderland - Special Edition
01/27/04 Lilo & Stitch - Special Edition

February 2004
02/13/04 Lion King 1 1/2
02/24/04 Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo

March 2004
03/02/04 Spy Kids 3D
03/30/04 Brother Bear

April 2004
04/20/04 Haunted Mansion

June 2004
06/01/04 Pocahontas II - Special Edition
06/15/04 Teacher's Pet

August 2004
08/03/04 Mickey's 3 Musketeers
08/17/04 Mary Poppins - Special Edition
08/17/04 Recess: 1st Day of School
08/31/04 The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride - Special Edition

September 2004
09/14/04 Mulan 2

October 2004
10/05/04 Aladdin - Special Edition

November 2004
11/09/04 Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas

If this is legit then I'm very happy to FINALLY hear word on the Lilo & Stitch SE, and also very happy that I still haven't picked up the Gold Collection versions of Pocahantas and Alice in Wonderland!

What is with the special editions? Are they the gold series renamed? Or are they actual special editions with extra features?

This guy is pretty in-the-know when it comes to Disney. Schedules are always in flux but I would bet that this list is pretty accurate.

what?! Neither "Escape" or "Return to Witch Mountain"?

Ok, why are they making us wait until 2004 for the Lilo and Stitch two disc when it was supposed to come out much earlier this year, and everything was on track for the release? It's not like they have to take the time to get the bonus material together, they already had it ready to go! They screw it up the first time around, then make us wait forever to get what we should have gotten the first time. They suck. And of course, I realize why they suck so bad. They want to cross sell more copies of the single disc set when Stitch the Movie comes out, then get the uneducated masses (those who don't read DVD boards and keep up on these announcements and have no idea the two disc ever was coming or ever will come) to buy the two disc set in January. I know the Di$ney thing is over played here, and I rarely blame a studio for wanting to make some more money off it's property, but they should put the two disc set out the same time as Stitch the Movie at least, and cross sale those two editions. This is so much a ploy to make money off people, it's sickening.

I wonder what "Lion King 1.5" is.

And is Sleeping Beauty 1 or 2 discs? Anyone know? In R2 it's 2 discs

It's 2 discs. But in R2 its 1 or 2 discs (with the single disc being P&S only!)

What? Will Mulan ever get the special edition treatment (along with anamorphic transfer)? Kinda seems unfair that Pocahontas gets one when Mulan is a much better movie IMHO.

02/13/04 Lion King 1 1/2

Great! Now I am stuck with the German 2 disc version and the 2 Disc French (DTS release) of "Sleeping Beauty"... (never bothered with the UK edition)

In response to the "Lion King 1 1/2" questions, taken from davisdvd.com:

Walt Disney Home Video will release The Lion King 1½: Hakuna Matata on February 4, 2004. The project, which has been in production for more than three years, takes place at the same time as the The Lion King but from the perspective of Timon and Pumbaa just before they meet up with Simba. Reprising their characters will be Matthew Broderick (Simba), Robert Guillaume (Rafiki), Moira Kelly (Nala), Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa), Nathan Lane (Timon), Whoopi Goldberg (shenzi) and Cheech Marin (Banzai). New to the voice cast will be Julie Kavner as Timon's mother and Jerry Stiller as Uncle Max. LK1½ will feature numerous extras, such as deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, a Timon mockumentary, an interactive tour of the Pridelands, trivia games, and music videos. Additionally, a new special edition of The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride will be released the Fall 2004 loaded with extras.

I really hope so, but I don't believe reports of DVD releases until I'm actually holding them in my hand, regardless of the source. Michael Eisner could have told me this personally, and I'd feel the same way. Still, it's very exciting news which I pray is accurate, thanks!!!

Agreed

All these special editions....WTH!!!!!! arghhhhh. are the special editions the same as the gold editions that I already have??? What's different??

Well, Alice in Wonderland and Pocahontas had deluxe laserdisc sets, so if these rumors of Special Edition re-releases are true, you can bet some of the LD supplements will be ported over.

Isn't there supposed to be a Platinum release in March/April next year since they're going to the 2-a-year plan?

Yes, in March. This schedule is certainly not complete.

Oh man, talk about double dip city for me!

LILO & STICH 2 DISC SET!!

4 days before my birthday even.

Holy crap.. Alice in Wonderland SE on the same day? It's going to be a nice birthday for me I tell you what.

Is Alice in Wonderland going to be the cartoon or live action?

That would be nice.

I also like the news about Mary Poppins. It was always on my wish list to purchase it at some point but didn't happen because it seemed to be such a mediocre release for one of their all-time largest hits.

Another thing to ponder is if Sleeping Beauty will have a platinum R1 release in ADDITION to the one coming out this year. Maybe it’ll be the SAME release but a different name (a la previous Disney releases)

Definatly a big fat thumbs up for Lilo and Stitch.