Disney+ release date, price point and more unveiled

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

We’ve been hearing about Disney’s planned streaming service for what feels like forever, with the company planning one big platform meant to house all of their past and future content, including stuff from Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar and original programming. That’s a lot of blockbuster’s and childhood memories right there, and Disney was finally ready to unveil the first look at the platform today and we will all see what they have ready to go up against Netflix, Amazon Prime and more on November 12, 2019 – and for the low cost of $6.99.

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The reveal left many a bit shaken today as Disney finally kicked in the door of the streaming game with a price point and bevy of content that will give other major streamers a run for their money. Along with the single-month plan at $6.99, customers can also go in for a full year at $69.99, which would save about $14 a year. This is a big difference when compared to other platforms like Netflix, which has a standard plan starting at $10.99 (soon to increase to $12.99), and their cheapest plan (single screen stream in non-HD) about to start running at $8.99. Then there’s Amazon Prime, which has a $14.99 per month plan, but that also includes their other features like free two-day shipping.

On top of that price point comes the reveal of new bundle options with ESPN and Hulu, which Disney acquired a 60% stake in when they bought 20th Century Fox. No word yet on how much these bundles would cost, but word is they will be at a “reasonable” price, according to Kevin Mayer, chairman of Disney’s direct-to-consumer division.

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The pricing is the major factor for some, especially as every network and company under the sun is aiming to start their own streaming service with “can’t-miss” content. But as much as the pricing matters so does their actual content, and with the announcement of major details came confirmations of what will available when the service drops in November. Some Day 1 inclusions are:

• At least 12 movies from the MCU canon, including Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Thor Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, as well as new movies Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. No word yet on if others will be included or added later. 
• All 13 of Disney’s Signature Collection movies, which includes classics like The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio and more. New movies like Moana and Big Hero 6 will also be included.
• The entire Pixar film collection will be available to watch, as well as all the digital shorts.
• Live action movies, like Mary Poppins and Pirates of the Caribbean.
• A new series of Pixar shorts based around the new Toy Story 4 character Forky titled, Forky Asks a Question.
• National Geographic will make available over 250 hours of content, including recent Oscar-winning documentary FREE SOLO.
• Lots of Fox titles, including shows like Malcolm in the Middle and movies like The Princess Bride. From the Fox catalog, Disney will be offering about 7,500 TV episodes and 500 movies.
• Kathleen Kennedy said that all of the currently available Star Wars movies will arrive on the service, with future titles to be included as well. On top of that, every episode of the series Star Wars: The Clone Wars will also be made available.
• For the young ones and the super nostalgic, content from Disney Channel will have a major place on the service, with Disney providing over 5,000 episodes of TV and over 100 original movies from the channel’s history.

As for other programmings, earlier during the presentation, we got word about the Marvel shows WANDAVISION and FALCON AND WINTER SOLDIER eventually making their way to the service, along with shows for Loki and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye.

A big player that will make its way to the service will by Jon Favreau’s THE MANDALORIAN, which will also be on the service as of Day One. Unlike the Netflix model, the show will have weekly installments, the first launching with the service on November 12. The series’ episodes were directed by an assortment of major talent, including Dave Filoni, Deborah Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Taika Waititi.