By Zoey May

Of The Gleaner

On Sept. 23, 2010, a remarkable event took place: Blockbuster, the once-giant video rental service, closed its doors for good. The cause was obvious: Netflix, an online streaming service, had taken over..

It has been nearly ten years since then, and while many a platform has been created to rival Netflix, there has yet to be an actual threat to the brand. Until now.

On Nov. 12, 2019, the long-awaited streaming service from the media giant Disney, Disney Plus, launched. Now, one question remains: Can the new kid on the block, Disney Plus, stand toe-to-toe with the established superstar, Netflix?

A few Wahlert students have quite a lot to say about the shake-up. “To be honest, I’d like to make the switch from Netflix to Disney Plus,” says Meghan Osterberger, ‘22. “I’ve been on Netflix for so many years that I’ve watched everything on it… Disney Plus has a lot of shows I haven’t seen in a really long time.”

Izzy Ungs, ‘23, seems to agree. “I think Disney Plus is going to grow on me, especially since Netflix got rid of Friends… I’m looking forward to watching all of the old Disney Channel TV shows like Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”

Despite these positive reviews, the jump from Netflix to Disney Plus is still far off for this pair of students. Osterberger continues, “Even though I want to watch more Disney Plus, I still watch mostly Netflix… I haven’t gotten used to it yet.”

Ungs shares this problem, as well as a different one. “I haven’t gotten used to going to Disney Plus yet, and it’s harder for me to get into because they don’t have as much variety as Netflix. Their shows are all for kids.”

Even with these mixed reviews, however, there is still hope for Disney’s burgeoning platform. With exclusive shows such as The Simpsons and The Mandalorian, Disney hopes to appeal to a more “adult” audience.

At the end of the day, though, there is one thing set in stone: whether Netflix likes it or not, there is a new sheriff in town, and they are not going down without a fight.