Disney+ to launch in India on April 3, know subscriptions and new features

Back when the Disney+ launch was presumed delayed for the Indian audiences, we complained about the massive lag between the worldwide release, barring desi Star Wars and Marvel fans from a lot of highly anticipated content and one particular Baby Yoda. The launch date has now been pushed to April 3rd in India. Fans of Disney and all that comes with it will now have access through Hotstar. Basically, your wait is over and Hotstar is now Disney+ Hotstar. You can scream now!

Disney+'s launch aligns well with most desi fans in quarantine consuming media at an exhilarated rate on a daily basis. The launch means a new interface, a new subscription model and of course, new shows. Not long ago, Disney+ and its features were thought to have arrived earlier for India as an update made available on the app store came with considerable changes to the Hotstar app. The logo changed, the interface had an addition of Disney+ as a separate section for all the channels and studios under Disney including Marvel, Lucas Film, National Geographic and Showtime. These new features, however, were rolled back the very next day so we're assuming it was a glitch. But we're all over it now and waiting for the official launch. Here's everything you need to know about Disney+ India launch including the new subscription packs, features and interface.

Disney+ Hotstar VIP at INR 399

VIP subscribers get access to their regular shows and films and Hotstar Originals like Special Ops, sports events and Star serials with the addition of Marvel movies and the latest Disney releases. This includes Avengers Infinity saga, recent hit Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen II and Oscar-winner Toy Story 4.

Disney+ Hotstar Premium at INR 1499

This is where all the newest shows announced at the Disney+ slate unveil will drop. As per the press release, 29 critically acclaimed Disney+ Originals, including The Mandalorian from executive producer and writer Jon Favreau; High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a creative modern take on the hit franchise; and the live-action Lady and the Tramp, a timeless retelling of the 1955 animated classic. This covers some of the hyable new titles announced back at D23. Check out the list here in case you missed it:

D23 Expo: Here's Your Roundup Of Everything Disney Announced

For everyone who has been wondering what Disney+ Hotstar means for their current subscriptions, all existing subscribers will be automatically upgraded to their respective new subscription plan and will be charged the new rates upon renewal.

Disney+ Hotstar new features and interface

This is where you’ll see all the channels and production houses under Disney+ including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. As someone who did check out (via the aforementioned glitch from two weeks ago) what presumably is the new interface, let me tell you, this is going to be fun. A separate Disney+ section lets you navigate easily between all Disney Studios’ shows and movies. This is a compliaton of Disney films old and new and new shows starting with The Mandalorian and The Lion King. While new titles will take a while, the section has a bunch of throwback Disney shows from the original TV run and classic films from Walt Disney Studio.

Disney+ Hotstar is hosting a launch premiere with interactive viewing

Gearing up for the April 3 launch in India, Disney+ Hotstar is all set to start with a virtual red carpet premiere. The premiere begins on April 2nd at 6 PM IST. Kicking off the premiere are The Lion King followed by The Mandalorian at 8 PM IST. Here, users can chat with their friends and family, share badges and the press release mentions that the launch will be joined by some fan favourite celebrities.

Disney+ Hotstar launches on April 3, 2020 in India.