Disney's move is a positive step for 3D in the home. As the studio with the largest catalogue of 3D titles (it has so far released 22 digital 3D titles theatrically, 10 more than any other studio), its move will significantly increase the number of strong titles on retail shelves this year. IHS Screen Digest analysis indicates that 3.2m households will be BD3D enabled in the US by the end of 2011, with a further 1.6m in Western Europe. Even allowing for stronger take-up in Japan, this is a relatively low installed base from which to recover the costs of converting The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast from 2D-to-3D, given that conversion costs are usually said to range from $5m-$20m per feature film. As a result, it might take Disney some time to recoup its initial investment; suggesting that the studio is either already convinced that BD3D will take off or determined to play its part in making that happen. 

Meanwhile, there is currently no indication that either Beauty and the Beast or The Lion King will be re-released theatrically in 3D following their 2D-to-3D conversion. The 3D version of Beauty and the Beast was initially scheduled for theatrical release in 2011 or 2012, but has since been removed from the theatrical calendar. Catalogue 2D titles that are subsequently converted and re-released theatrically in 3D have not tended to perform particularly well at the box office so far. The 3D re-releases of Disney's Toy Story 1 and 2 only generated $30m at the US box office between them, despite benefitting from the hype surrounding the release of Toy Story 3 in native 3D.