This week marks the premiere of The Right Stuff, a new Disney+ Original Series chronicling the early days of NASA. We also get more Disney news, including the announcement of a Holiday Special. But wait! This is not a Star Wars Holiday Special. It’s a ….High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special!!

Read on to learn about all things NEW on Disney+.

Disney+ News

“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL”

Premieres December 11 – Holiday Specials aren’t just for Star Wars! The cast of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” delivers an abundance of feel-good holiday cheer as they perform their favorite Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s songs and share their fondest holiday memories in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special.” The 45-minute special premieres on Friday, December 11 on Disney+ and will also feature a sneak peek performance from the highly anticipated second season of the popular series.

“High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack,” featuring holiday songs performed by the cast in the special, will be available beginning Friday, November 20 on all major music services and streaming platforms.

NEW Trailer for “Meet The Chimps” from National Geographic

Premieres October 16 – “Meet the Chimps” takes viewers into the secret life of one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world – Chimp Haven—a 200-acre refuge tucked deep in the forested heart of Louisiana, which is home to more than 300 chimpanzees. Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, the six-part series tracks the ups and downs of an extraordinary group of chimps that are given a second chance at life by a staff whose dedication, compassion and commitment knows no bounds. Through a seamless blend of natural history and observational-documentary filmmaking, “Meet the Chimps” puts the chimps – the heart and soul of the series – at front and center. A real-life drama with a full emotional range, the series gives unparalleled access to everything happening at Chimp Haven, including food squabbles, alliances, romances, ‘bromances’, tears, tantrums, high jinxes and heartbreaks.

All six episodes will be available October 16th.

This Week on Disney+ for Friday, October 9

Disney+ Original Series or Premieres

Series Premiere The Right Stuff

On October 9th, we get TWO episodes of this brand new series which we covered at ComicCon@Home. Disney+ also hosted the World Premiere of the series this past Monday, 10/5, in Santa Monica at the pop-up Disney+ Drive-In Festival. We were lucky enough to receive an invite to the Premiere, and brought along Courtney and Kelly Turckel, co-hosts of the NEW Neverland Clubhouse podcast right here on the Skywalking Network. On their first episode, due out October 13th, you’ll hear our recording of the experience! But here are a few photos to tide you over.

Series Synopsis: The Right Stuff chronicles the incredible story of the early days of the U.S. space program, based on the iconic bestseller by Tom Wolfe. At the height of the Cold War, newly-formed NASA selects seven of the military’s best test pilots to become astronauts. Competing to be the first in space, these men achieve the extraordinary, inspiring the world to turn towards a new horizon of ambition and hope.

The Right Stuff Premiere Episode 101 – “Sierra Hotel”
It’s 1959 and Russia is winning the space race. In order to compete, The United States forms NASA and chooses to recruit the nations best test pilots to form what will become the Mercury Astronauts. Among these test pilots are the golden boy John Glenn, the reckless Alan Shepard, and Gordo Cooper, whose broken marriage could cost him a place at the program.

The Right Stuff Episode 102 – “Goodies”
The press descends upon the domestic lives of the astronauts. Shepard and Gordo wilt under the limelight while Glenn thrives. Glenn secures a deal with Life Magazine that grants exclusive access to all seven astronauts in return for life-altering compensation. By the time the astronauts arrive in Florida to begin work, even Shepard has come to understand the power they now hold.

Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Episode 103 – “Betty and the Beast”
For the first time in the park’s history, Hartmann’s mountain zebras arrive on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Keeper Meaghan and the team do their best to acclimate the mischievous herd and prepare the other animals to meet their new neighbors, including a curious young Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Clementine, and mom-to-be Prima. Meanwhile, babirusa pig Betty is introduced to a bachelor babirusa, Mentari, with the hope that the plucky pigs hit it off and give the park its first-ever babirusa piglet. At The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, an 1,800-pound rescued manatee, Lou, has a potentially infected tail, so keepers must use a crane to lift him out of the aquarium to transport him to the Veterinary Treatment Room for a high-def CT scan.

One Day at Disney Episode 145 – “Gabriela Clark: Creative Print Marketing”
Discover the intricacies of creating a Disney print marketing campaign with Gabriela Clark. From overseeing photoshoots to coordinating massive studio print campaigns, Gabriela and team are responsible for creating some of the first images fans are able to see of new Disney projects.

Weird But True Episode 309 – “Cooking”
Carly and Charlie are planning a surprise party and are in charge of the menu. There’s just one problem, neither of them knows how to cook. The duo attempts a basic burger, but that turns into a disaster. The only way to master the art of cooking is to learn from the experts at the Culinary Institute of America.

New to Streaming on Disney+

These series and films are not Disney+ Originals, but they will begin streaming on October 9 unless otherwise noted.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader.
X2 – X-Men United

Keep up with all things Disney+

Tags: Animal Kingdom, disney, Disney+ News, DisneyPlus, high school musical, meet the chimps, New on Disney+, News, skywalking, star wars, Streaming New, The Right Stuff

This Week on Disney+: News and Debut Round-up (October 9, 2020)

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Disney+ News

“HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE MUSICAL: THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL”

NEW Trailer for “Meet The Chimps” from National Geographic