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Disney+ Launch Guide: Everything You Need to Know

4 minute read

By natadm

Disney-lovers mark your calendar. The company has announced that it will officially enter the streaming market in November. In an effort to challenge Netflix, Disney hopes to stand out from the crowd with its upcoming streaming service, Disney+.

According to Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne, it’s been predicted that this streaming service will reach more than 130 million subscribers. Why should you be amongst that large subscriber count? If you need help deciding, here is everything you need to know about Disney+.

Interface

At launch, Disney+ will have a smooth, clean, and user-friendly interface. The interface will have a row of tiles at the top of its home screen. These tiles will represent categories such as Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Disney, and National Geographic.

User profiles are a key part of the interface. As such, Disney will leverage its huge stable of iconic characters from the likes of Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars for account avatars.

Features

The biggest feature of Disney+ will be its impeccable video and audio quality. In fact, users will be able to stream video 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos audio.

In addition to the high-quality video and audio, users will be able to stream content to four different devices all at the same time. Plus, there will be access to unlimited mobile downloads for offline viewing.

Availability

During the official streaming announcement in April, Disney made a promise to subscribers that they will bring their service to a wide range of devices. This includes:

More devices may be added after the official launch.

Content

What exactly can viewers expect in terms of content?

Disney+ will be the only streaming platform where you will be able to view all Disney’s theatrically released movies going forward. Plus, users will get access to classic movies like The Lion King, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Bambi.

In addition to Disney-owned properties, users will have access to all the content from the recently-acquired 20th Century Fox. This includes The Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, The Sound of Music, and The Princess Bride.

Disney+ Originals

In addition to hosting all the content Disney owns, Disney+ will play host to an abundance of original content.

Unlike other streaming services, Disney+ will release original content weekly. While this move may seem counter-intuitive to the binge culture that viewers nowadays are used to, there will be no need to wait months for new content.

The Mandalorian

While there are a few original Star Wars projects in the works for Disney+, only one of them will be ready for launch.

Launching with the service, The Mandalorian is a live-action eight-episode Star Wars series, starring Pedro Pascal. The series will follow a bounty-hunting gunfighter five years after Return of the Jedi.

According to CNet, Disney has already invested a significant amount into the project. In fact, approximately $15 million per episode. As such, the company has a lot riding on this show’s success.

The Rest

The Mandalorian isn’t the only piece of original content set for Disney+. In fact, the House of Mouse has greenlit a ton of projects exclusively for its new streaming service.

Projects confirmed so far are:

Pricing

In terms of pricing, potential users in the United States can expect to pay 6.99 a month or $69.99 for the annual plan. This price includes access to 4K content and the ability to stream to four devices at no extra cost. To put it in perspective, other streaming services charge about $13 a month — and that doesn’t include premium 4K content.

In terms of bundles, you can bundle Disney+ with the ad-supported tier of Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 a month. Bundling all these services together will save you $7 a month as buying them individually will cost about $19 a month.

Release

Disney+ will officially launch in the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands on November 12, 2019. A week later, the service will launch in Australia and New Zealand.

As for the rest of the world, Disney is looking to have Disney+ available worldwide by the end of 2021.

natadm

Contributor

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