If you mooch off someone’s streaming service, time is up. Disney+ is the next streaming service banning password sharing.
🦺 Junior mode: That’s the kid-friendly version of Disney+. To enable it for your little one, create a new profile, then tap Add profile. To do this with an existing profile, tap Edit profile. Toggle on Junior mode to limit streaming options to kid-appropriate content, all with a simpler, easier-to-navigate interface.
November 2nd, 2024
Could this be the beginning of the end for Google? OpenAI just launched its own ChatGPT search engine, and it’s impressive. Plus, YouTube cracks down on Joe Rogan, Disney’s rolls out AI surveillance in its parks, and countries are making millions off domain names.
Walt Disney lives again? Kinda. He’s being turned into a lifelike robot for Disney parks, so guests can see what it might’ve been like to meet him. It’ll look like him at age 62 and use real lines from his speeches. The twist? His granddaughter says he would never want this.
$550 billion
That’s how much analysts say Google can get for YouTube if forced to sell it. Now the top streaming platform by viewership, YouTube is worth more than Disney, and all it took was 20 years of cat videos and Minecraft speedruns. Fun fact: The YouTube founder sold it to Google for $1.65 billion in 2006.
Unlock the Disney+ vault: Just type these secret codes into the search bar. If you’re in the mood for a Marvel trailer, enter 78654. Looking for a good laugh? Try 79008 for some hilarious Star Wars bloopers.
Canon event POV: You can now “walk” around Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on Disney+, and there are zero stroller traffic jams. The new immersive POV special lets you explore Black Spire Outpost, spot Rey and Mando and vibe in theme park peace. It’s like a Disney vacation, minus $18 hot dogs and sunstroke.
🧟 Walt Disney returns … kinda: For Disneyland’s 70th, Disney is unveiling an animatronic Walt Disney to “remind fans he was an actual person” and not a mouse. Some family members aren’t thrilled, calling it a robotic grandpa impostor. But Disney swears it’s what Walt would have wanted, right down to the animatronic charm. Spoiler: No cigarettes. It was reported Walt smoked three packs a day.
🐭 Ex-Disney worker headed to prison: After getting fired, Michael hacked company servers and messed with restaurant menus. He changed prices, added curse words, locked employees out of their accounts and, the kiss of death, even marked peanut items as “peanut-free.” The penalty? Three years in prison, definitely not the happiest place on Earth.
🪂 Star Wars drops in Fortnite: A new animated series, Tales of the Underworld, is premiering in Fortnite. Yes, like inside the actual video game. It airs tomorrow, May 2 at 10 a.m. ET, two days before Disney+ gets it. Of course, there’s in-game merch for kids to buy. The trailer doesn’t look too bad.
🐭 MrBeast wants to be the next Disney: Hard to believe his first YouTube video, a Minecraft trick, went up on Feb. 20, 2012, when he was only 13. Now? He’s raising hundreds of millions to build an empire of animation, gaming, toys, comics, merch, you name it. At this point, his thumbnails deserve their own Emmy.
🐭 Coming to Disney next year: This is freakin’ awesome. Real Star Wars droids roaming around. They’re working with Google DeepMind and Nvidia’s new Newton model to bring them to life. This will help them walk around the parks, be more expressive and do tricky tasks on their own. What do you call a pirate droid? Arr-2 D2. (Good one, right?)
Peter Pan always flies because he never lands: A former Disney engineer thought he was downloading an AI image generator. It was malware. Hackers stole his personal info and Disney data, then dumped it all online. That’s not even what got him fired. He was watching porn on his work computer. Dummy.
AI surveillance at Disney Parks
Enjoying yourself at the most magical place on Earth? If not, Mickey might know.
Chinese hackers reportedly collect U.S. phone call audio
A Chinese group called ‘Salt Typhoon’ is accused of targeting calls involving political campaigns. Plus, a list of words you shouldn’t Google, a big no-no with your phone in the voting booth, and Disney’s latest AI moves.
Disney+ tries the Netflix stunt
Just months after Netflix cracked down on passwords, Disney is hoping to rake in the cash with the same tactic.
The FTC bans fake online reviews
Using bots to boost social media followers and influence is off the table, too. Disney+ adds Hulu shows, sparking parental outrage. Plus, Waymo horror stories, Facebook rental scams, and tips for your next mechanic visit. And Earl from Chicago needs wedding help for his daughter.
Parents, know this about Disney
Disney+ adding Hulu content might seem like a win for variety, but parents aren’t thrilled. R-rated flicks and reality drama are creeping into what used to be a family-safe zone.
A whole new world: Starting in September, Disney+ is cracking down on password sharing outside your household. Rumor has it you can add paid sharing, but no word on the cost yet. Oh, and the price for Disney+ will increase in October; the ad-supported tier will go from $8 per month to $10 monthly, and the ad-free version will rise from $14 to $16 a month. Yup, Mickey needs the money.
No more standing in lines: Disney World is ditching the Genie+ system … well, kind of. Starting July 24, it’s rebranding to Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass. You can now prebook ride times 14 days before your vacay kicks off instead of the frantic 7 a.m. scramble on park day. Yay for planning!