diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9b930e6..7ba88d1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ This library has [the same support characteristics as the Brightcove Player Load
 - [Props](#props)
   - [`attrs`](#attrs)
   - [`baseUrl`](#baseurl)
+  - [`manualReloadFromPropChanges`](#manualreloadfrompropchanges)
   - [Other Props](#other-props)
 - [Effects of Prop Changes](#effects-of-prop-changes)
 - [View the Demo](#view-the-demo)
@@ -96,6 +97,14 @@ Used to override the base URL for the Brightcove Player being embedded.
 
 Most users will never need this prop. By default, players are loaded from Brightcove's player CDN (`players.brightcove.net`).
 
+### `manualReloadFromPropChanges`
+
+Type: `boolean`
+
+Used to specify if reloading the player after prop changes will be handled manually. This can be done by calling `refToReactPlayerLoader.loadPlayer()`.
+
+See [Effects of Prop Changes](#effects-of-prop-changes) below for the effects of prop changes.
+
 ### Other Props
 
 All props not specified above are passed to the [Brightcove Player Loader](https://github.com/brightcove/player-loader#parameters) with a few differences:
@@ -119,7 +128,7 @@ The following props will update the player's state _without_ a reload:
 - `playlistVideoId`
 - `videoId`
 
-All other prop changes will cause a complete dispose/reload.
+All other prop changes, excluding props that are `function`'s, will cause a complete dispose/reload.
 
 ## View the Demo
 
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 5026ad8..2daf8b2 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ class ReactPlayerLoader extends React.Component {
    * @param {Object} [props.attrs]
    *        Used to set attributes on the component element that contains the
    *        embedded Brightcove Player.
+   *
+   * @param {boolean} [props.manualReloadFromPropChanges]
+   *        Used to specify if reloading the player after prop changes will be handled manually.
+   *
    */
   constructor(props) {
     super(props);
@@ -52,6 +56,7 @@ class ReactPlayerLoader extends React.Component {
     this.setRefNode = ref => {
       this.refNode = ref;
     };
+    this.loadPlayer = this.loadPlayer.bind(this);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -123,6 +128,7 @@ class ReactPlayerLoader extends React.Component {
     // Delete props that are not meant to be passed to player-loader.
     delete options.attrs;
     delete options.baseUrl;
+    delete options.manualReloadFromPropChanges;
 
     // If a base URL is provided, it should only apply to this player load.
     // This means we need to back up the original base URL and restore it
@@ -325,6 +331,19 @@ class ReactPlayerLoader extends React.Component {
       const previous = prevProps[key];
       const current = this.props[key];
 
+      // Do not compare functions
+      if (typeof current === 'function') {
+        return acc;
+      }
+
+      if (typeof current === 'object' && current !== null) {
+        if (JSON.stringify(current) !== JSON.stringify(previous)) {
+          acc[key] = true;
+        }
+
+        return acc;
+      }
+
       if (current !== previous) {
         acc[key] = true;
       }
@@ -332,10 +351,12 @@ class ReactPlayerLoader extends React.Component {
       return acc;
     }, {});
 
-    // Dispose and recreate the player if any changed keys cannot be handled.
-    if (Object.keys(changes).some(k => UPDATEABLE_PROPS.indexOf(k) === -1)) {
-      this.loadPlayer();
-      return;
+    if (!this.props.manualReloadFromPropChanges) {
+      // Dispose and recreate the player if any changed keys cannot be handled.
+      if (Object.keys(changes).some(k => UPDATEABLE_PROPS.indexOf(k) === -1)) {
+        this.loadPlayer();
+        return;
+      }
     }
 
     this.updatePlayer(changes);
diff --git a/test/index.test.js b/test/index.test.js
index 5167c8c..0f6dab5 100644
--- a/test/index.test.js
+++ b/test/index.test.js
@@ -623,4 +623,66 @@ QUnit.module('ReactPlayerLoader', {
 
     rerender = render(React.createElement(ReactPlayerLoader, props)).rerender;
   });
+
+  QUnit.test('loadPlayer() method reloads player', function(assert) {
+    const done = assert.async(2);
+
+    const props = {
+      accountId: '1',
+      applicationId: 'foo',
+      onSuccess: ({ref, type}) => {
+        assert.ok(true, 'the success callback was called');
+        done();
+      }
+    };
+
+    const reactPlayerLoader = ReactDOM.render(
+      React.createElement(ReactPlayerLoader, props),
+      this.fixture
+    );
+
+    reactPlayerLoader.loadPlayer();
+  });
+
+  QUnit.test('set manualReloadFromPropChanges to true', function(assert) {
+    const done = assert.async(2);
+    let rerender;
+    const props = {
+      accountId: '1',
+      applicationId: 'foo',
+      manualReloadFromPropChanges: true,
+      onSuccess: ({ref, type}) => {
+        if (props.applicationId !== 'bar') {
+          props.applicationId = 'bar';
+          done();
+        }
+        rerender(React.createElement(ReactPlayerLoader, props));
+        assert.ok(true, 'the success callback was called');
+        done();
+      }
+    };
+
+    rerender = render(React.createElement(ReactPlayerLoader, props)).rerender;
+  });
+
+  QUnit.test('set manualReloadFromPropChanges to false', function(assert) {
+    const done = assert.async(3);
+    let rerender;
+    const props = {
+      accountId: '1',
+      applicationId: 'foo',
+      manualReloadFromPropChanges: false,
+      onSuccess: ({ref, type}) => {
+        if (props.applicationId !== 'bar') {
+          props.applicationId = 'bar';
+          done();
+        }
+        rerender(React.createElement(ReactPlayerLoader, props));
+        assert.ok(true, 'the success callback was called');
+        done();
+      }
+    };
+
+    rerender = render(React.createElement(ReactPlayerLoader, props)).rerender;
+  });
 });