DISNEY PLUS REVIEW - 6 MONTHS LATER

by Whitt Laxson

It was the start of something new, and halfway through its first year, Disney Plus is proving where it belongs in the streaming game. 

With a global rollout underway, the latest numbers from Disney put the app past 50 million subscribers. For perspective, Netflix has double that amount, but it’s where D+ was projected to be in 3 years, not 6 months. 

Going back to November 12, 2019, my expectations were extremely high on launch day. Initially, they were met as I got wrapped up in the excitement and nostalgia. 

I love having access to my favorite Disney films and TV shows all in one place, at the push of a button. I’ve also been impressed by a lot of the original content. Namely High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, The Imagineering Project, Encore!, and of course, the runaway hit, The Mandalorian. 

​I’ve been underwhelmed by the original films so far, but they’re enjoyable as made-for-TV, family movies. 

The lack of original content compared to other streaming services has been a big complaint for some. I definitely think it’s a problem but hopefully one that will be fixed with time. 

Despite my compliments, 6 months later I would describe my relationship with Disney Plus as love/hate. Or maybe love/frustrating at times. 

My frustration ultimately stems from branding issues and drama involving the reboot of Lizzie McGuire. There’s been no official word on the status of the show, but after only shooting 2 episodes, it appears Disney changed course from making a grown-up Lizzie that would appeal to adult fans of the original series. Another sign D+ is sticking with a family-friendly brand is the move of Love Victor, the Love Simon spin-off, to Hulu. As an adult Disney fan who doesn’t have kids, I am disappointed by these decisions. I enjoy watching Disney classics, but I also need my fix of shows and movies made for an older audience. ​

I get that Disney goes hand in hand with kids and family, but it just seems a bit limiting. Especially when adults are paying the bill and when competing platforms thrive off mature content. 

Still, if Disney Plus wants to be the go-to streaming destination for family entertainment, it’s on the right track. 

Overall, I think there’s room to improve, and moving forward I want to see a more established brand. I’m excited to watch new originals when they're released and to re-live my childhood one TV show and movie at a time.