The Disney Vault is a thing of mystery and something that many are curious about. Where do all these beloved movies we saw growing up as children go off to? Is there really a magical vault that a guard stands in front of constantly guarding the mysterious door? Unfortunately, the vault isn’t really a vault and it isn’t something Disney is willing to share with the public.

“I always thought it was real,” senior Parker Morrow said “I pictured it to be this huge door made of gold and it would have Mickey Mouse engraved on it. All the movies would be inside, and a guard would stand in front of it to watch over it. Walt Disney was basically crazy, so that’s how I picture it.”

Luckily, there is a place where all the movies and retired Disney shows are taken. Shows such as ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’, ‘Lizzie McGuire’ and all the old Playhouse Disney shows: ‘Out of the Box’ and “PB and J Otter’ remain in the vault.

The process works like this: retired Disney shows will stay in the vault forever and will not be released again. Shows like Lizzie McGuire and Suite Life of Zack and Cody have had DVDs of their shows released, but slowly they were taken and put into the vault. Disney movies, though, are rereleased every five to ten years depending on whether they are in high demand by the public. Disney’s reason for this is because they want new generations to experience the beloved films and with technology changing from regular DVDs to Blu-Ray, and parents have called for Disney rereleases movies made for higher technology levels.

Blu-Ray DVDs are considered “Diamond Editions,” which means that they have more features on them, as well as a higher quality picture that a regular “Platinum Edition” didn’t have. The “Diamond” edition also has more special features and interactive games for the viewers to watch or play after the movie. Some include new music videos from Disney Channel stars such as Tiffany Thorton or Ashley Tisdale singing original songs from the movie with their own spin on it. Thorton sang her own version of “Someday my Prince will Come” for the rerelease of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Diamond Edition back in 2009. Tisdale sang “Kiss the Girl” for the Little Mermaid’s Platinum Edition in 2006.

DVDs that were released from 2000 – 2009 were considered Platinum Editions; since then, Disney has created Blu-Ray Diamond Editions of the movies in highest demand. Movies such as “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” have been released since.

“I went out and bought ‘The Lion King’ the first week it came out,” Morrow said. “It’s a classic, of course I’m going to buy it. Who doesn’t love that movie?”

Every year, there will only be two Disney movies released from the vault; unfortunately, Disney’s reason for doing this is so they can control their market. This year, “Lady and the Tramp” has been released and will return to the vault sometime in early fall. Disney has not yet said what their other release this year will be, but we can all expect it to be a classic.

“I think that’s dumb to release only two movies a year, but it’s also smart too,” junior Virginie Jobin said. “I want them to rerelease Sleeping Beauty though! That was my favorite movie growing up, and I really want to get the new edition for my collection.”