Disney+ Launch Day: Free Rides, Treats, and Pop-Up Events Across the U.S.

To celebrate the Disney+ launch on November 12, 2019, the service partnered with brands across New York City and Los Angeles to offer free rides, food, fitness classes, and pop-up experiences. National promotions included a Lyft promo code for free rides and flower-doubling deals from UrbanStems.

November 12, 2019 was not just the day Disney+ launched — it was a full-scale celebration. To mark the debut of its new streaming service, Disney partnered with brands across the country to offer fans a way to "plus up their day" with free treats, experiences, and perks from coast to coast.

Disney+ launch day Plus Up Your Day promotional graphic — Disney+ invited fans to "plus up their day" on November 12, 2019 with nationwide promotions

National Deals for Disney+ Launch Day

On launch day, Disney+ rolled out a pair of national promotions available across the United States. Lyft offered 20,000 free rides (up to $15 each) through the promo code "DISNEYPLUS" in the app — a fittingly grand gesture for a fittingly grand occasion. UrbanStems got in on the magic too: using the code "DisneyPlus" on select bouquets meant Disney+ would double the flowers in your order, just because.

New York City events (November 12, 2019): Disney+ pop-up streaming hub at 6th Avenue between 42nd and 43rd St (8am–7pm), featuring a glass cube streaming truck, treats truck with free coffee, hot cocoa, donuts and cookies, Disney+ swag giveaways, live music, free Citi Bike rides, Resy restaurant tab giveaways, free rowing at Row House NYC, and free ice cream at Big Gay Ice Cream from 4pm.

Los Angeles: The Grove, The Simpsons, and the HSMTMTS Cast

In Los Angeles, the festivities centered around The Grove and The Americana at Brand. Brand ambassadors handed out Disney+ swag throughout the day, while fans visiting The Grove between 11am and 1pm had the chance to spot characters from The Simpsons roaming the outdoor mall for photo opportunities. In a treat for fans of the Disney+ original series, the cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series made a personal appearance at The Grove to meet fans and celebrate the launch.

Participating retailers across Caruso properties around Los Angeles — including Dominique Ansel, Pressed Juicery, See's Candies, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and more — offered special Disney+ launch day items and experiences throughout the day.

A Streaming Launch Unlike Any Other

The "Plus Up Your Day" campaign captured the spirit of what Disney+ represented in that moment: the arrival of something genuinely new and exciting in the entertainment landscape. Looking back, November 12, 2019 now stands as one of the landmark dates in streaming history — the day a service backed by the Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic libraries officially became available to millions of households. The free donuts and Citi Bike rides were a bonus.