Disney

Introduction

The Walt Disney Company has successfully launched and expanded Disney+, one of the world’s most popular online streaming services. This success is largely due to Disney’s partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS provides Disney+ with the cloud infrastructure needed to ensure reliable, high-quality streaming to millions of users worldwide. This case study will explain how Disney+ uses AWS to manage its rapid growth, meet customer demands, and continue expanding globally.

The Challenge: Managing Rapid Global Growth

Disney+ was launched in November 2019, and within just 16 months, it had surpassed 100 million subscribers. This incredible growth happened quickly, requiring Disney to handle millions of new users while maintaining top-notch performance. Disney+ wasn’t just launched in one region; it quickly expanded to 59 countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Supporting this type of global demand, especially for popular shows like The Mandalorian and Hamilton, required a robust cloud infrastructure.

That’s where AWS came in. As Disney’s preferred cloud provider, AWS provided the flexibility and reliability needed to handle this massive growth, allowing Disney+ to manage huge spikes in viewer demand and ensure smooth, uninterrupted streaming.

The Solution: AWS Cloud Infrastructure

AWS offers a global network of data centers, which Disney+ uses to deliver its service to millions of people around the world. By leveraging AWS’s fault-tolerant infrastructure, Disney+ can scale its operations efficiently. This means that when millions of people want to watch a new release at the same time, Disney+ can handle the surge in viewers without any interruptions.

For instance, within the first 24 hours of Disney+ going live on November 12, 2019, the service managed over 10 million sign-ups. This would have been impossible without the flexibility and power of AWS’s cloud services.

AWS Services Powering Disney+

Disney+ relies on more than 50 different AWS services to keep its platform running smoothly. Some of the key AWS services Disney+ uses include:

• Amazon Kinesis: This service helps Disney+ process and analyze real-time data, such as how viewers interact with the platform. It helps track customer actions, like adding shows to Watch Lists or starting a video on one device and finishing it on another.

• Amazon DynamoDB: This database service allows Disney+ to handle billions of customer actions every day. DynamoDB ensures that Disney+ can provide fast and reliable performance, even when millions of users are accessing the platform at once.

• Amazon Timestream: Disney+ uses this service to monitor how well its streaming platform is performing. By analyzing real-time data, the team can ensure that viewers continue to experience high-quality streaming, no matter where they are in the world.

Supporting New Features and Global Expansion

Disney+ continues to expand its service to new countries and regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. As the service grows, Disney+ also continues to introduce new features to meet customer expectations. For example, AWS allows Disney+ to provide personalized recommendations based on what users have already watched.

AWS’s cloud technology also helps Disney+ offer a seamless viewing experience across devices. Viewers can start watching a show on their TV and finish it later on their phone or tablet, without any interruptions. This level of flexibility is key to keeping viewers engaged and satisfied with the platform.

Handling High Demand for Popular Content

One of the biggest challenges Disney+ faces is managing spikes in demand for high-profile content. When Disney+ releases a popular show or movie—such as Hamilton or Mulan—millions of people may want to stream it at the same time. AWS’s cloud infrastructure helps Disney+ manage these sudden spikes by balancing the load across its global network of data centers. This ensures that even during peak times, Disney+ can deliver high-quality streaming without slowing down or crashing.

Collaborating with AWS for Future Innovation

AWS has played an essential role in the success of Disney+, and this partnership continues to grow. According to Joe Inzerillo, executive vice president and chief technology officer for Disney’s direct-to-consumer business, AWS has helped Disney+ reinvent content delivery by providing the tools needed to build a new kind of global streaming service.

Carla Stratfold, vice president of global and strategic accounts at AWS, emphasized that AWS’s reliable infrastructure and extensive suite of services are key to supporting Disney+ as it continues to expand. With AWS’s help, Disney+ has become one of the most successful streaming platforms in the world, delivering beloved characters and stories to audiences everywhere.

Conclusion: A Future of Innovation with AWS

The success of Disney+ is a testament to how cloud technology can power large-scale streaming services. By partnering with AWS, Disney+ has been able to rapidly expand to new markets, handle massive spikes in demand, and offer personalized, high-quality content to millions of viewers worldwide. As Disney+ continues to grow, AWS will remain a vital partner, providing the infrastructure and tools needed to support its ongoing expansion and innovation.

Disney+ has truly transformed how people around the world access and enjoy entertainment, and with AWS’s support, the future of the platform looks brighter than ever.