Disney+ Goes Live

Disney+ officially launched in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands today, delivering some 500 films and 7,500 episodes of TV series from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more.

Some early users took to social media to express frustrations about connection issues at The Walt Disney Company’s new SVOD platform. “The demand for #DisneyPlus has exceeded our highest expectations,” the company said on its Twitter feed. “We are so pleased you’re excited to watch all your favorites and are working quickly to resolve any current issues. We appreciate your patience.”

Disney+ has unveiled its first original series and films as part of the launch, including The Mandalorian, Lady and the Tramp, Noelle, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Marvel’s Hero Project, Encore!, The Imagineering Story and more. Beginning November 15, most new episodes of each series will premiere on Fridays at 12:01 a.m. PT.

Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, noted, “The launch of Disney+ is a historic moment for our company that marks a new era of innovation and creativity. Disney+ provides an exceptional entertainment experience, showcasing our library of beloved movies, TV series and exclusive original content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic.”

The lineup also includes animated films from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Walt Disney Signature Collection, blockbuster features such as Avengers: Endgame, Disney Channel and Disney Junior series, Pixar Animation Studios’ films, over 400 hours of content from National Geographic, all six of the original classic Star Wars and Marvel television series from the 1970s to present day.

Disney+ is accessible on Amazon (Fire TV devices, Fire TV Edition smart TVs and Fire Tablets), Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, and fully integrated with the Apple TV app), Google (Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices), LG smart TVs with webOS, Microsoft (Xbox One), Samsung smart TVs, Sony/Sony Interactive Entertainment (all Android-based Sony TVs and PlayStation 4) and Roku. A subscription is available for $6.99 a month. A bundle of Disney+, AVOD Hulu and ESPN+ costs $12.99 a month.

Disney+ will launch in Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico on November 19. On March 31, 2020, it expands to Western Europe, including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and a number of other countries.