Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Simba, Jasmine, Shere Khan....do these names excite you?
If you are a Disney fan, by now you must have started imagining the scenes from the movies! We all love Disney series and movies, no matter how old we are. And like a child, we burst with joy when we see Lion King or Jungle Book playing on the TV.
But like most Disney fans, you can't seem to get enough of Disney! You want more; you want to watch all the movies, series, animations, and programs made by the production house. Is there a way to achieve this?
If you didn't know, Disney has come out with its own streaming service, Disney +. You can now watch unlimited Disney content by subscribing to the exclusive streaming service. So what shows can you watch on Dsiney+, and what does it cost? Will you be able to watch it on your mobile?
You have many questions, and today we take them one by one in this definitive Disney+ guide.
What is Disney+?
Disney+ is the exclusive streaming service owned by Disney. You can compare it with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime. Disney+ subscribers will be able to access a range of movies, TV series, and on-demand content made by Disney and partner studios.
You can watch Disney+ on a range of devices anytime, anywhere, and download videos for free. The content on the channel will come from Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television, which includes Disney, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic, Star Wars, and 20th Century Fox. So, watching your favorite Lion King movie is going to be easy!
You will be able to watch Disney+ like you watch Netflix or Hulu. Your device will need an internet connection to stream the content from Disney servers. You can also watch Disney+ on smart TVs and streaming devices like Fire TV.
When will Disney+ Launch?
Disney+ has already launched in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands last week. The service will be available in Italy, Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom by March 31, 2020.
If you are looking to sign up for Disney+, now is the time. The streaming service has already attracted over 10 million subscribers, as confirmed by Disney. Analysts project that the channel may have over 13 million subscribers by the end of 2020. Y 2024, it could have more than 130 million subscribers across its streaming base that includes Hulu and ESPN+.
Which Devices will Support Disney+?
You can sign up for Disney+ through its website or smartphone app. Then you can use the following devices to stream Disney+-
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV) and Apple TV app
- Google Android phones and tablets
- LG smart TVs
- Samsung smart TVs
- Microsoft Xbox One
- Playstation 4
- Android-based Sony TVs
- Roku TV and Roku streaming players
You can get unlimited downloads on a maximum of 10 chosen devices. You can create up to seven different profiles, including kid's profiles with easy navigation and age-restricted content.
How much will Disney+ Cost?
Disney+ has different pricing for the US and other countries-
- US customers will have to pay $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually
- Subscribers in Canada will be charged $8.99CAD per month or $89.99 yearly
- People in the Netherlands can get the service for €6.99 per month or €69.99 per year
- The pricing in Australia is $8.99AUD per month or $89.99 each year
- Customers in New Zealand will pay 9.99NZD per month or $99.99 annually
You will be able to enjoy hours of unlimited videos across various genres and interests- and the best part is- the whole experience is ad-free!
Disney, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle
Disney also offers a bundle that includes Hulu and ESPN+. You can subscribe to the bundle package for only $12.99 per month, which is cheaper than subscribing to them individually. The package will allow you to watch Disney+ through Hulu, and keep all your shows at the same place.
What Can I Watch on Disney+?
Original Content
Disney is all geared to telecast exclusive and original content on its streaming platform. Many shows are already on the cards with popular names like Tessa Thompson and Justin Theroux. Some of the movies and shows available at launch include-
- Lady and the Tramp
- Noelle
- The Mandalorian
- Forky Asks a Question
You will also be able to watch other movies over time, including, The Phineas and Ferb Movie, Secret Society of Second Born Royals, Timmy Failure, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Prop Culture, Rogue Trip, and more! You can watch new episodes of original shows on Fridays at 12:01 a.m. PT from 15 November 2019.
Apart from the above, many new shows are also in the making. Ewan McGregor trilled everyone with a surprise appearance at D23 Expo 2019 and announced his return as Obi-Wan Kenobi in a new series. Kevin Feige also had some good news and revealed three upcoming Marvel series- Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk.
Hilary Duff is also expected to feature in her popular Lizzie McGuire role in a new series. A documentary on Disney+ and Disney Publishing Worldwide will be available on the platform on December 3.
New TV Series
Viewers will be able to enjoy new and popular TV shows across different genres and styles. Some of the shows coming on launch are Boy Meets World, Amazing Planet, Dog Whisperer With Cesar Milan, Andi Mack, DuckTales (2016), Drain the Ocean, DuckTales (1987), Dr. K’s Exotic Animals, Goof Troop, Mickey Mouse Shorts, , Howie Mandel’s Animals Doing Things, Mickey and the Roadster Racers (Seasons One and Two), X-Men, The Simpsons, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Incredible Dr. Pol, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and others.
Available Libraries
Disney will feature more than 500 movies and 7,500 TV show episodes by the end of the first year. You can watch recent releases like Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, The Lion King, Aladdin, Avengers: Endgame, Toy Story 4, Dumbo, and Captain Marvel. Upcoming movies like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Frozen 2 will also be available on the platform.
Disney+ will also host several favorite movies from the past, including, A Bug’s Life, 101 Dalmatians, Avatar, An Extremely Goofy Movie, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Black Cauldron, Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Cars, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, the whole of Star Wars movie series, The Princess Diaries, Thor, Thor: The Dark World, Wall-E, Toy Story- the list is almost endless!
In short, all of your favorite shows and movies will be available on Disney+. The huge lineup of content will make Disney+ a top competitor among the rivals like Netflix and Amazon Prime. That being said, you won't be able to watch R-rated content on Disney+. Any movie or show that doesn't fit in with Disney's PG-13 rating will be made available through Hulu, as reports state. So if you want to watch Marvel's Deadpool on Disney+, you may be disappointed!
Disney+ Vs. Others: A Brief Comparison
Are you wondering how Disney+ matches with other streaming services? Let's find out!
We will compare Disney+ with other streaming services based on viewing experience, content, and affordability.
High Quality Video and Audio
Disney is all for providing a great viewing experience to its subscribers. You will be able to access chosen content in Dolby Vision, which optimizes the contrast to make each scene spectacular. Content will also be featured in Dolby Atoms, which creates an immersive soundstage for the viewers.
Disney is one of the few streaming service providers to support Dolby Vision and Dolby Atoms. Only Netflix and Amazon Prime offer some chosen content in the Dolby formats.
Disney+ also holds much excitement for 4K fans, especially those who like Star Wars. The whole trilogy will be available in 4K, with full Dolby Vision and Dolby Atom support.
Disney allows you to enjoy four simultaneous streams at a time with your account.
Scope of Content
Streaming services like Hulu and Netflix cover a wide genre and range of movies and TV shows. Disney+, on the other hand, seems more focused and narrow when it comes to content. You can watch movies and series only from Disney and its partners.
But if you give it a thought, you will realize that the Disney ecosystem is not that limited- in fact, it's quite huge. Walt Disney Television and Walt Disney Studios produce not only kid's movies but also thrillers, sci-fi, and action. So you will find something to watch even if you are not looking for animated movies!
Price
Disney+ comes at the cost of less than $10 per month with no ads. It's quite affordable compared to other streaming services with a commendable collection of new and old content. Compared to Disney, Netflix offers its standard plan for $12.99 per month. Amazon Prime Video is available for $8.99 a month in the US.
So Disney+ turns out to be cheaper than both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. You can also take advantage of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle package at a discounted rate.
Should I be Worried about the Disney+ Glitch?
Subscribers faced difficulties using the app and couldn't stream content on the first day Disney+ was launched. Various error messages like "could not connect to server" or "please contact customer service" greeted users when they tried to play a video. This led many people to question the performance and reliability of the app.
According to Disney, the glitches occurred as the platform couldn't handle the high number of requests. The team was not prepared to tackle such high demand, and an error in the app architecture was responsible for the unpleasant experience.
Disney has already resolved the glitch and is working on scaling their platform.
If you ask us, such glitches are common in the streaming and gaming industry, and shouldn't worry you. New updates of Disney+ are also around the corner, and you can look forward to a seamless viewing experience without any interruptions.
Some reports allege that Disney+ passwords are available on the darknet. But according to Disney, those accounts are not hacked- it's merely people sharing their passwords. Maybe Disney is allowing the sharing of passwords as it's a new service and hopes the freeloaders to sign up eventually.
Should I Sign Up for Disney+?
If you are a Disney fan, then absolutely yes!
If you like quality movies and shows, then it also makes sense. Marvel geeks would also benefit by getting access to all Marvel movies and shows. On top of that, you get a huge collection of popular movies and series that you grew up with!
In short, if you want to enjoy popular and quality content, you can sign up for Disney+. We suggest you take the 7-day free trial if you still have reservations about subscribing to Disney+.
How do I Subscribe to Disney+?
You can sign up for Disney+ using-
- Disney+ app
- Disney website
- Apple TV app (fully integrated)
Final Thoughts
Disney+ is a great choice even if you are not a die-hard Disney fan. You will get all classic and new Disney movies and TV shows along with content from Marvel, National Geographic, and more! The service is also quite affordable compared to other streaming services and provides a zero-ad experience. Disney is also liberal with the number of screens you can share, which is currently limited to four devices at a time.
You can sign up for the 7-days free trial and see if you like the service or not!