Own any of these old Disney VHS tapes? You could be sitting on big bucks

We'll show you exactly what you need to look for to see if you hit the jackpot

Remember a time when the family would squeeze onto the living room couch for aĀ movie night?Ā But you weren't surfing Netflix or Hulu; you were instead sifting through the VHS tapes that filled your shelves. We all remember shoving the tape inside theĀ VCRĀ and hopingĀ the last person to watch the movie rewound it before putting it back.Ā 

Now let's talk Disney merchandise, whichĀ is notorious for becoming more valuable over time. Could that be true for DisneyĀ VHS tapes, as well? We'll tell you how to decipherĀ if yoursĀ have value -- and whichĀ tapes are considered to beĀ worth the most. So sit back and enjoy our feature presentation.Ā 


We should start by saying NOTĀ all Disney VHS tapes are valuable. Don't run to your attic thinking you've struck gold just yet. In order to see if your tapes have what it take, you'll want to look for these signs.Ā 

The first sign that you might have a collectible VHS on your hands is if it wereĀ a part ofĀ the Disney "Black DiamondĀ Collection." These tapes were released between 1984 and 1994. The diamond can be found on the spine of the case orĀ printed directly on the tape. According to eBay, if your tape has this logo, your video could be worth anywhere from $50 toĀ $250.Ā 

Photo: Tom Metevia/ Graham Media Group

There were only a number of movies that were graced with the black classics diamond:

  • "Robin Hood" (1984, 1991)
  • "Pinocchio" (1985, 1993)
  • "Dumbo" (1985, 1991)
  • "Sword in the Stone" (1986, 1991)
  • "Alice in Wonderland" (1986, 1991)
  • "Sleeping Beauty" (1986)
  • "Lady and the Tramp" (1987)
  • "Cinderella" (1988)
  • "Bambi" (1989)
  • "The Little Mermaid" (1990)
  • "Peter Pan" (1990)
  • "The Jungle Book" (1991)
  • "The Rescuers Down Under" (1991)
  • "Fantasia" (1991)
  • "101 Dalmatians" (1992)
  • "The Great Mouse Detective" (1992)
  • "The Rescuers" (1992)
  • "Beauty and the Beast" (1992)
  • "Aladdin" (1993)
  • "The Fox and the Hound" (1994)

Another phraseĀ to keep an eye out for is "AĀ Walt Disney Classic,"Ā whichĀ will be printed on the tape itself above the title of the movie.Ā Look for these stamps on your copy of "Beauty and the Beast." If your versionĀ bears both the diamond and the phrase, your tape could be pretty valuable.

Photo: Tom Metevia/ Graham Media Group

Another way your VHS tape could be considered valuable is if it wereĀ a rare or discontinued print -- meaning, the cover art was changed while it was on the shelves.Ā This is most notable with "The Little Mermaid." The cover artwork that was first released was later banned, making that version very rare. A copy of the "The Little Mermaid" with the original caseĀ is currently listedĀ at $3,200.Ā 

Photo: Tom Metevia/ Graham Media Group

Sadly, this one shown above is NOTĀ the rare valuable copy. This is the version that most might remember. Want to find out which caseĀ is most valuable?Ā Check out our video below.Ā 

We know what you might be thinking: What VHS tape is worth the most? Well, according to thegamer.com, it's the black diamond version of "101 Dalmatians." This classic can be valued up to $6,000 -- again, you just have to find someone willing to pay the price.

Photo: Tom Metevia/ Graham Media Group

While these numbers all sound great, that doesn't mean these hunks of plastic will be purchased by anyone anytime soon. They are still outdated and, for the most part, they'reĀ considered antiques. Instead, think of them as hidden treasures, and keep in mind that collectibles only grow in value with time.Ā Good luck, and if you're selling, be kind, please rewind.

Click or tapĀ here to getĀ an idea ofĀ what people are paying for Disney VHS tapes.Ā 

All photos and video: Tom Metevia/Graham Media Group