Netflix took a lot of flack last summer after announcing it was raising its prices and splitting its streaming and DVD plans. Still, my husband and I had been customers for quite a while and we loved the ease and value of the service, so we decided to stick with them. Not only do we enjoy having access to thousands of movie selections between the two options, but our kids love it, too.
All of my boys know how to choose streaming movies on our computers and XBOX, including our 2-year-old. We keep an eye on what they’re watching and make sure they’re only choosing from the children’s menu, but they love the freedom of being able to watch an episode of Backyardigans or Power Rangers Samurai on a whim. And when you take into account what it costs to buy a DVD, the service really is still a good value for the price.
Besides the convenience of the streaming movies, we also enjoy the mailbox delivered DVD rentals. Sure, releases are slower to come to Netflix than they are to other rental outlets, but seriously, how often is waiting a couple extra weeks to catch a flick a life or death situation? Not to mention we’re free of the demon late fees if our boys just aren’t ready to part with RIO after one viewing, and we don’t have to leave home to choose new titles. The service is astonishingly efficient and undeniably convenient for busy families.
You can probably tell that I’m a huge fan of the service, but its user-friendly convenience and new releases aren’t the only reasons I like it. I also love the access to thousands of old school selections that I grew up with as a kid. With the 3D version of Beauty and the Beast being released into theaters today, a little fire was lit under my fanny to rent some of the classic Disney movies for my kids like dear old dad used to do.
When I was little, my mom worked at night, so dad would often hit the video store for some family-friendly entertainment. When there weren’t any new kids’ movies available, he’d always wind up in the Disney section. I can still remember the giant, classic white VHS boxes that held their old time treasures. He loved sharing movies that he watched as a kid, like the original Flubber and Herbie the Love Bug. Those movies were the highlights of many a Friday night, and I want to pass the legacy on to my own children.
So, last night, I scoured Netflix and picked several of my favorite Disney classics to share with my kids, from Darby O’Gill and the Little People to Lady and the Tramp. I can’t wait to curl up on the couch with the kiddies and some microwave popcorn and enjoy them again. They may not be brand spanking new movies or filmed in mind-blowing 3D, but I know they’ll be hits with the kiddies and nostalgic blasts from the past for the hubz and me, too.
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