Disney Plus Premier Access lets subscribers pay an extra fee to watch 'Mulan' before its wide release — here's how much it costs and how it works

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• "Mulan" debuted on Disney Plus as the platform's first Premier Access title on September 4.
• With Premier Access, subscribers can pay a $29.99 fee to unlock the movie early before it's available to all members.
• Disney has not confirmed any additional Premier Access releases, but it's possible it could decide to release more films this way.

With the release of "Mulan" on September 4, Disney Plus introduced a new purchase option called "Premier Access." This feature allows subscribers to pay an extra one-time fee in order to watch the movie before it's released to all Disney Plus members.

Premier Access was initially described as a "one-off" release strategy by Disney CEO Bob Chapek, but with the new purchase structure now in place, it's possible that Disney could change its mind and decide to offer additional movies this way in the future.

Below, we've detailed everything you need to know about Premier Access, including how it works, how much it costs, and how long the option will be available.

What is Disney Plus Premier Access?

Disney Plus Premier Access is a purchase option for Disney Plus subscribers, enabling members to pay an extra $29.99 one-time fee to gain early streaming access to a movie. Once purchased, Disney Plus members can continue to stream or download a Premier Access movie for as long as they remain a subscriber.

Premier Access debuted with the release of "Mulan" on September 4, and no additional movies have been confirmed so far. Though "Mulan" was originally scheduled to premiere in theaters in March, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic forced Disney to change its release plan.

You can think of Premier Access as a way to buy a virtual ticket to a brand-new Disney movie to watch at home instead of a theater. And, unlike a one-time theater viewing, you get to watch as many times as you like as long as you stay a Disney Plus subscriber.

With that said, it's important to note that "Mulan" — and presumably any future Premier Access movies — will eventually become available to all Disney Plus subscribers without an extra fee. As such, Premier Access is best for people who like to watch new films as soon as they come out. If you don't mind waiting a couple months, you can simply hold out for the wide release and save a lot of money.

How much does Disney Plus Premier Access cost?

The Disney Plus Premier Access fee for Mulan costs $29.99 in the US. In order to buy the movie on Disney Plus, you also need to have a Disney Plus subscription, which costs $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year.

Disney Plus is also available as part of a bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ for a total of $12.99 a month. That's about $6 less per month than you'd pay if subscribed to each of those services without the bundle

It's not clear if Disney Plus will stick with the $29.99 pricing if it decides to release more Premier Access movies in the future.

How long does the Disney Plus Premier Access window last?

The Premier Access window for "Mulan" began on September 4 and will run until December 4. This three-month period is similar to the release window that studios typically use for theatrical movie premieres before they're allowed to debut on home video.

The Premier Access purchase option for "Mulan" will end on November 2, so if you'd like early Disney Plus streaming access to the movie you'll need to buy it before that date. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until December 4 when the movie will be available to all Disney Plus subscribers.

Will more movies be available for Disney Plus Premier Access?

Right now, "Mulan" is the only Premier Access movie available on Disney Plus. It's possible that Disney could decide to release more Premier Access films in the future, but the studio hasn't announced plans for any additional titles.

Can you buy or rent Premier Access movies on other services?

Though "Mulan" debuted exclusively as a Disney Plus Premier Access title on September 4, this exclusivity period is only temporary. The movie will be available to buy on other streaming platforms without a Disney Plus subscription starting October 6.

Amazon, Vudu, and FandagoNow already have preorder listings for the film priced at $29.99.

It's currently unknown if any future Premier Access titles will remain exclusive to Disney Plus or if they'll get a similar expanded release after a limited exclusivity window.