The 20 Rarest & Most Valuable Disney VHS Tapes (Including Black Diamonds!)

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Are VHS copies of Fantasia or Beauty and the Beast worth 1000s?

Co-authored by Bailey Bujnosek, BA

Last Updated: March 20, 2025 Fact Checked

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Disney VHS Tapes & Their Value

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Black Diamond Value

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Selling Disney VHS Tapes

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Tips

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Warnings

While you’ve probably stored your old Disney VHS tapes away in favor of Disney+, the retro media could be worth anywhere from tens to thousands of dollars. Though most VHS tapes only sell for a few bucks, rare, popular, and sealed vintage tapes from the entertainment giant have fetched big prices on online marketplaces. Keep reading for a guide to the most valuable Disney VHS tapes, the true worth of Black Diamond editions, and how to sell your collection.

Which Walt Disney VHS videos are worth money?

The most valuable Disney VHS tapes include Sleeping Beauty (1959), 101 Dalmatians (1961), and Beauty and the Beast (1991). Sealed copies of these films have sold for over 10 thousand dollars. Internet rumors claimed first-edition (“Black Diamond”) tapes were worth thousands, but few ever sold for that much.

Section 1 of 3:

20 Most Valuable Disney VHS Tapes

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1
Sleeping Beauty (1959) Not every Disney movie got a limited-edition VHS run. The honor was reserved for true timeless classics—like Sleeping Beauty . Disney issued a limited-edition VHS of Sleeping Beauty as part of the Walt Disney’s Masterpiece collection. Because limited quantities were made and sold, the tape is among the most coveted.
- Sells For: One tape in excellent condition sold for $15,000 on eBay. ^{[1]
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101 Dalmatians (1961) The tales of Pongo, Perdita, and their many pups have enchanted millions of fans. Even those who aren’t familiar with the 1961 film may have caught the ‘90s TV spin-off, or the two live-action films focusing on villain Cruella de Vil.
- Sells For: A sealed copy sold for $14,000. ^{[2]
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3
Beauty and the Beast (1991) Beauty and the Beast represents a milestone for Disney, being the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. ^{[3]
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Research source} Of all the post-1980s Disney films, this one tends to sell for the most money compared to its princess counterparts.
- Sells For: During a 2024 charity auction, a Beauty and the Beast VHS tape sold for over $10,000. Another one sold for $1,000. ^{[4]
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Cars (2006) Disney’s Cars came after the heyday of VHS, when DVDs were the norm. However, Disney issued a home video tape for Cars as a Disney Movie Club exclusive—and it remains the last Disney VHS release to date. The significance of this end of an era, combined with the film’s popularity, make it desirable for collectors.
- Sells For: One sealed tape sold for $8,750 at auction, and others have sold for at least $100. ^{[5]
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The Fox and the Hound (1981) The sentimental story of an unlikely friendship between a hunting dog and a fox is a tearjerker fondly remembered by Gen X and Millennial Disney fans. However, it wasn’t the most popular Disney film, making VHS copies of The Fox and the Hound slightly rarer than those of other movies from the decade.
- Sells For: One copy sold for $7,800 on eBay. ^{[6]
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The Lion King (1994) The Lion King is one of Disney’s most popular films from the ‘90s. Its catchy songs and emotional storytelling have hooked generations of fans. While the film has gotten sequels and live-action reboots in the two decades since its premiere, the original remains the most valuable in the franchise.
- Sells For: A VHS tape fetched $6,750 in 2021. ^{[7]
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Lady and the Tramp (1955) Who can resist a love story between two adorable dogs? Mid-century classic Lady and the Tramp is beloved by fans for its sweet leading characters, and a 2019 live-action reboot introduced the film to a new generation. Some of the original VHS tapes come with a coupon for a discount on Ragu, an homage to the film’s famous spaghetti scene.
- Sells For: A shrink-wrapped copy once sold for $5,344. ^{[8]
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Aladdin (1992) ‘90s classic Aladdin holds a lot of nostalgia for Millennials, mostly due to Robin Williams’ stellar performance as the zany Genie. The live-action reboot featuring Will Smith reintroduced the film to a new generation, boosting the popularity of the original movie.
- Sells For: One copy fetched $3,000 on eBay. ^{[9]
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Fantasia (1940) Fantasia is a unique entry in the Disney canon, presenting different shorts alongside classical music. Over the years, degradation of the original sound of the film forced Disney to re-record. ^{[10]
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Research source} Some collectors prize older VHS releases of Fantasia for capturing the original soundtrack, although Disney released a restored version of the film to DVD later on. ^{[11]
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- Sells For: One mint-condition tape sold for $2,500. ^{[12]
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The Jungle Book (1967) Disney’s 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s short-story collection The Jungle Book is known for its lovable characters and unique songs. While most modern fans of the film weren’t around for the theatrical release in the ‘60s, many cherished the film once it came out on VHS. ^{[13]
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- Sells For: A copy of the VHS sold for over $2,000.
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Tron (1982) VHS tapes of Disney’s ‘80s films tend to be among the more valuable because they’re rarer today than the mass-produced tapes of animated classics from the following decades. Tron is a shining example—one sold for $1,375 in 2023. ^{[14]
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- Sells For: A graded, sealed tape sold for $1,375. Used tapes sell for between $10 and $20.
12
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs represents a history-making moment for Disney as the first feature-length film produced by Walt Disney. ^{[15]
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Research source} With the live-action reboot coming out in 2025, demand for the classic might go up.
- Sells For: A VHS tape for the film, issued in 1994 as part of the Walt Disney’s Masterpiece Collection, sold for over $1,000. ^{[16]
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The Little Mermaid (1989) In the collectibles world, a controversy can be a good thing. Disney banned the original 1989 VHS cover art for The Little Mermaid because some parents interpreted it as having suggestive imagery. A lot of banned copies had already been sold, so it’s not particularly rare, but it is a novelty for Disney VHS collectors. ^{[17]
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- Sells For: A sealed tape sold for $239 on eBay, but most banned tapes run for $15 to $20.
14
Song of the South (1946) You might not have heard of Song of the South , although it inspired the Splash Mountain ride at Disney theme parks. The film is controversial for its racist themes and depictions, and was never released on VHS in the United States or on Disney+. However, Disney released VHS tapes of Song of the South in other countries which are valued for their rarity and to complete collections. ^{[18]
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- Sells For: A Canadian tape sold for $150 on eBay. Others from the UK, Mexico, and Japan have sold for between $40 and $70.
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Chicken Little (2005) While it achieved decent commercial success, Chicken Little isn’t the most adored by critics or Disney fans. However, the quirky film about a chicken who discovers an alien invasion got an exclusive Disney Home Video Club release in 2006—making it one of the last Disney films to get a VHS release. The film’s unpopularity with fans makes its VHS tape a rarer find today. ^{[19]
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- Sells For: One copy sold for $134 on eBay. There are few copies listed online because of the tape’s rarity, so it’s hard to lock down an exact value.
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Disney Sing-Alongs Starting in the 1980s, Disney released a line of VHS tapes called “Disney Sing-Along Songs.” These tapes featured compilations of hit songs from various Disney movies and parks, with karaoke-style lyrics so children could sing along. Because they’re a nostalgic classic for ‘80s babies, collectors are especially interested in older tapes from the series.
- Sells For: One sealed three-pack went for $129 on eBay. ^{[20]
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Disney, Marking the Millennium (2000) While celebrating the dawn of the millennium from 1999 through the year 2000, the Disney company released a limited-edition VHS tape to honor the occasion. Fans could only purchase the exclusive tape, titled Disney, Marking the Millennium , from Epcot at Walt Disney World. ^{[21]
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Research source} Its rarity makes it a sought-after find today.
- Sells For: A sealed tape recently sold for $125 on eBay. Unwrapped tapes sell for around $20.
18
The Rescuers (1977) While not as well-known as Disney’s princess movies, The Rescuers is a favorite of many older Disney fans. Disney recalled the home video version of the film in 1999 because it included inappropriate imagery in the background of a few frames, making pre-recall tapes sought after as a novelty. ^{[22]
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- Sells For: A sealed Disney’s Masterpiece edition sold for $100 on eBay. Others sell for $10 to $15.
19
Dumbo (1941) Dumbo tells the heartfelt tale of a bullied elephant who learns to fly. A true Disney classic, the VHS gains much of its value from fans’ nostalgia for the film. Special-edition VHS tapes like the 1994 Masterpiece re-issue of Dumbo command more money than regular releases.
- Sells For: A Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection edition of Dumbo on VHS sold for $50. ^{[23]
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Peter Pan (1953) Many have adapted the source material for Peter Pan , but Disney’s animated take on the whimsical tale is among the most fondly remembered. While the film debuted in the ‘50s, Disney released it for home video in 1990. Today, there’s a whole Tinkerbell cinematic universe, so new generations are rediscovering the classic.
- Sells For: A 1990 edition of the tape is valued between $50 and $250. ^{[24]
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Section 2 of 3:

Are Black Diamond VHS tapes worth money?

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Black diamond VHS tapes are only worth about $10 to $20. Sellers artificially inflated the value of Disney VHS tapes that have a black diamond on the spine by listing them for thousands of dollars on eBay. Rumors of their value spread online around 2016, but these claims were debunked as the tapes didn’t sell for their high list prices. ^{[25]
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Research source} They’re not particularly rare, so most only fetch a few tens of dollars on online marketplaces. ^{[26]
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- “Black Diamond Edition” isn’t an official label, but a casual term for tapes released between 1984 and 1994 that have the black diamond design on their spine.
- The black diamond has the word “The Classics” written across it.
- While the black diamond editions are among the first VHS tapes released by Disney, the company mass-produced them and sold millions of copies.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Sell Disney VHS Tapes[No #]

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1
List them online to get the highest price. Include clear photos of the VHS tape case and the tape itself (if it’s already opened). Mention any damage to the tape in the description. Set a fair price based on the tape’s condition, rarity, and what others have recently sold for.
- List your tape or tapes for sale on an online marketplace like eBay , Depop , Poshmark , or Mercari .
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Hold a garage sale to sell your VHS tapes locally. Place signs around your neighborhood advertising the garage sale’s date, time, and location. Post about it on local Facebook groups to reach more people. Set a price you’re willing to sell the tapes for , but be prepared for potential buyers to haggle a lower price.
- Bundle the tapes by selling several of them for a lower price than if someone purchased them individually. This will incentivize people to buy multiple tapes when they would have just purchased one otherwise.
Chains like Goodwill generally accept VHS tapes, but check with your local store to make sure they do before you bring them in to donate. ^{[27]
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Research source} Consider donating to local second-hand stores as well—some might specialize in re-selling retro media formats like VHS.

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Tips

Some buyers are willing to pay more for multiple tapes than individual tapes. If none of your tapes are particularly valuable, it could be more lucrative to list them all together as a set.

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Consider holding on to your Disney VHS tapes to see if they increase in value in the future.

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Many VHS tapes are listed for thousands of dollars on platforms like eBay, but few sell for that much. Look at completed listings to get a more accurate estimate of value.

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Warnings

Beware of artificial inflation in online marketplaces. Even completed listings could be misleading, as sellers may have bought their own tapes or sold them for a lower price than the one they listed.

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Don’t lie about the condition of your VHS tapes to sell them for more money. This is a form of fraud, and buyers could report you to the online marketplace.

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The 20 Rarest & Most Valuable Disney VHS Tapes (Including Black Diamonds!)

Which Walt Disney VHS videos are worth money?

Steps

20 Most Valuable Disney VHS Tapes

Are Black Diamond VHS tapes worth money?

How to Sell Disney VHS Tapes[No #]

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

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