Disney+ has launched in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. It will debut in France on April 7. The launch comes as fans of Disney theme parks practice social distancing during the outbreak of coronavirus.
Disney has considered the current ability of broadband infrastructure to handle demand for Disney+, which features a lower overall bandwidth utilisation by at least 25 percent.
The streaming service launched in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico in November 2019.
Disney+ features more than 500 films, 26 original movies and series, and thousands of TV episodes from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.
‘Moments of respite during these difficult times’
TODAY👏IS👏THE👏DAY! Start streaming #DisneyPlus NOW in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/LhgmOrOWG1
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) March 24, 2020
“Launching in seven markets simultaneously marks a new milestone for Disney+,” said Kevin Mayer, chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International.
“We humbly hope that this service can bring some much-needed moments of respite for families during these difficult times.”
Disney+ boasts originals including The Mandalorian, Lady and the Tramp, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and The Imagineering Story.
In addition, Disney+ is home to more than 600 episodes of The Simpsons, with seasons 1 to 30 available now and season 31 debuting later in 2020.
Disney is engaging fans during COVID-19
Disney+ is available on the following platforms and devices:
- Amazon (Fire TV devices, Fire TV Edition smart TVs and Fire Tablets)
- Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV)
- Google (Android phones, Android TV devices, Google Chromecast)
- LG Smart TVs with webOS
- Microsoft (Xbox One)
- Roku (Roku streaming players and Roku TV models)
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Sony and Sony Interactive Entertainment (Android-based Sony TVs and PlayStation 4)
Disney+ costs £5.99/€6.99 per month, or £59.99/€69.99 for an annual subscription. It will later launch in Belgium, the Nordics and Portugal in summer 2020.
In a bid to keep fans engaged during COVID-19, Disney is offering various online features, including an educational look at the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Additionally, Disney is sharing a series tutorials on drawing Mickey Mouse, and launched Imagineering in a Box, a series of interactive lessons in theme park design and engineering.
Watch the Dapper Dans of Disneyland
Meanwhile, the Dapper Dans of Disneyland are using their #VoicesFromHome to sing ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ – and they are taking requests.
Disney Parks Blog is inviting fans to vote for what they’d like to hear the Dapper Dans sing, with a choice of ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’, ‘When I See An Elephant Fly’, and ‘Disney Medley’.
