Key Points
- Disney Channel officially launched in 1983 and has since become a significant part of many childhoods.
- Disney Channel is available on DirecTV on channels 290 (East Coast) and 291 (West Coast).
- Disney Channel has two sister channels: Disney Junior for young children and Disney XD for teenagers.
- Disney Channel offers a variety of programming options, including original shows, syndicated options, shorts, movies, and animated series.
- Disney Junior provides educational and entertaining shows for kids ages two through seven, while Disney XD is aimed at older children between the ages of six and 13.
While the Disney name has been popular for almost 100 years, The Disney Channel didn’t officially launch until 1983. Since then, it’s become a significant part of many childhoods, and can be found on most cable and satellite services, but what channel is Disney on DirecTV? Here’s what we found.
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Description: Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only. | Description: Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers. | Description: Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR. |
Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only.
Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers.
Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR.
Disney Channel Guide
| Channel Name | DirecTV Channel |
|---|---|
| Disney Channel East | 290 |
| Disney Channel West | 291 |
| Disney Junior | 289 |
| Disney XD | 292 |
It’s important to note that Disney East and Disney West are not different channels. Depending on your location in the United States, your channel will be 290 or 291. DirecTV will decide your coast based on your location. Then the company will automatically assign the channels to you. If you want to know which one you are, look up Disney Channel on your TV using this guide. If it’s channel 290, you’re considered East Coast, and if shows as 291, you’re considered West Coast.
The History of The Disney Channel
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The Disney Channel officially launched on April 18, 1983. It was considered a premium channel and aimed its programming toward families. Since 1997, the channel’s main focus has moved to children and teenagers between the ages of seven and 17. The sister channels target toddlers, active children, and their parents.
Disney Channel creates original shows and movies, plus they air animated movies that have been released in theaters. As of 2022, the channel was available to over 190 million homes globally. Disney also launched an on-demand service in 2017 called Disney Now, as well as the streaming platform Disney+ in 2020.
Disney Channel Sister Stations
The channel has two sister channels — Disney Junior and Disney XD. The junior channel focuses on young children ages two through seven. XD is more teen-focused and created with “active kids in mind” per Disney’s statement about the channel.
Disney Channel Programming
Disney Channel has been around for 40 years and has since released numerous shows, movies, music videos, and more. Here are just a few programming options you may come across throughout the day.
Originals
No matter how old you are, you’ve most likely watched a Disney show at some point in your life, whether by yourself or with your children. There are dozens of original shows, with the most recent being The Villains of Valley View, Hailey’s On It!, and Hamster & Gretel. Some more popular shows that are still available to watch on the channel include Elena of Avalor, Raven’s Home, and Star vs. the Forces of Evil.
Syndicated
While Disney Channel does focus mostly on its own shows and movies, it will air syndicated options from other studios sometimes. This means that Disney Channel has paid to license shows that were originally owned by another production company. A few recent shows and movies that have been added to the lineup include Ghostforce, Bluey, and Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir.
Shorts
Disney usually releases short films during new movie showcases. These include popular shorts like Chibi Tiny Tales, Far from The Tree, and Olaf’s Frozen Adventure. These shorter movies are all under 20 minutes and are fun for kids of all ages to get another side to a story.
Movies
Disney is well known for its movies, including Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, and Air Bud, just to name a few. However, Disney Channel also has quite a few of its own original releases like High School Musical (and its three sequels), The Slumber Party, and Twitches. These were originally released on the channel itself, and many have gone to DVD and Disney+.
Animated Series
Disney Channel has many popular animated series, and plenty of them are also available on Disney Junior and Disney XD. Animated programs include Doc McStuffins, Puppy Dog Pals, and The Ghost and Molly McGee.
Disney Junior Programming
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Disney Junior is a network owned by The Walt Disney Company. Its main purpose is to provide educational and entertaining shows for kids ages two through seven. The channel has many popular shows, including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, PJ Masks, and Muppet Babies.
Disney XD Programming
The Walt Disney Company also owns Disney XD. The channel launched in February of 2019. It’s aimed primarily at older children between the ages of six and 13. However, it still includes some of Disney Channel’s shows, as well as original productions that focus on action, gaming, and more. A few favorite shows include The Super Hero Squad Show, Gravity Falls, and Phineas and Ferb.
Disney on DirecTV Wrap-Up
Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, chances are that they love at least one Disney Channel show. It’s a popular channel for kids and even adults who grew up watching it. If you were wondering what channel Disney is on DirecTV, now you know, plus, you know how to find its sister channels so you can enjoy even more Disney content.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©monticello/Shutterstock.com.
