Disney+ is set to undergo a major refresh as Hulu becomes the global General Entertainment brand on the platform starting October 8. According to Disney, this change will roll out alongside a wave of design and navigation improvements designed to enhance the user experience on both Apple TV and iOS devices.
The redesign introduces a new navigation bar at the top of the homepage, placing the “For You” tab front and center. This hub surfaces personalized recommendations powered by an updated algorithm that learns user preferences over time. Users with bundled subscriptions will also see dedicated Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN tabs for quick access to each catalog. A refreshed Live hub brings news, sports, and events to the forefront, while new content tags like “New Series” and “Season Finale” help highlight timely releases.
Personalization is also a key focus of the new design. Profiles are now more prominent across the interface, with recommendations tailored to individual viewing habits. The homepage has also been redesigned with a modern, cinematic look:
The homepage also features poster-style artwork and dynamic brand rows showcasing the latest titles:
For iPhone and iPad users, Disney+ is adding iOS widgets for instant access to programming. The company says mobile-first and mobile-exclusive features are planned for the coming year, ensuring the experience feels optimized across screens. These changes follow Disney’s broader goal of delivering a unified streaming app that integrates Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN into one seamless platform by next year.
The current Disney+ app lags behind Netflix, who is the leader when it comes to user experience for video streaming apps across platforms. Prime Video also got a redesign last year which seems to have get some inspiration from Netflix, while the redesign for Disney+ looks like it is inspired by both Netflix and Apple TV+.
With these updates, Disney+ is positioning itself as a more intuitive and visually engaging streaming service, directly targeting Apple TV and iOS users with smoother navigation, smarter recommendations, and mobile-native enhancements. The updates will be rolled out to users over the coming weeks and months.
