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Disney Plus is a streaming service with a huge library of on-demand shows and movies from Disney’s many brands. Since November 2019, the service has amassed more than 130 million subscribers.
Disney Plus includes a mix of content from Disney’s vault and new programs developed exclusively for members. Subscribers can watch the studio’s animated films, new Pixar movies, and titles from “Star Wars” and Marvel. Big-screen releases like “Thor: Love and Thunder” also stream on the service after they play in theaters.
Subscriptions start at $8 a month for ad-free streaming. Disney Plus can also be bundled with Hulu and ESPN+ for a starting price of $14 a month. In December, Disney will launch an ad-supported plan for $8 a month and increase the price of its ad-free plan to $11 a month.
Below, we detail everything you need to know about Disney Plus to help you decide if the service is right for your streaming needs.
What is Disney Plus?
Disney Plus is an on-demand streaming service created by The Walt Disney Company.
With Disney Plus, subscribers can watch thousands of Disney movies and series on their devices (smart TVs, phones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles). The service includes unlimited downloads so you can watch anywhere, anytime.
Disney Plus content comes from Walt Disney Studios’ and Walt Disney Television’s biggest names: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox).
How much does Disney Plus cost?
Disney Plus currently costs $8 a month or $80 per year for ad-free streaming, but a price increase is coming in December. The ad-free price will increase to $11 a month or $110 a year starting December 8. At that time, Disney will introduce an ad-supported plan for $8 a month.
There’s also an option to buy a bundled package with Hulu and ESPN+, which costs $14 a month for all three services. Subscribing to the bundle saves you about $11 a month.
The Disney bundle is also automatically included if you subscribe to any of Hulu’s live TV plans. Hulu + Live TV offers access to over 75 channels. Hulu (with ads) + Live TV with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus costs $70 a month, but new members can save $20/month for their first three months.
You can read more about how to get the Disney Plus bundle with ESPN+ and the different versions of Hulu here.
Does Disney Plus have an ad-supported plan?
Disney Plus will launch an ad-supported plan on December 8. The ad-supported plan will cost $8 a month, while the ad-free option will cost $11 a month.
The ad-supported plan will roll out to international markets in 2023.
How do I sign up for Disney Plus?
You can sign up for Disney Plus directly through the Disney Plus website. To start streaming, you simply need to create an account by entering an email address and payment method.
Are there Disney Plus gift cards?
Yes. If you’re looking for a great gift for that special Disney fan in your life, you can get them a Disney Plus gift subscription for $80. The gift subscription is available for new members only, and includes one year of the streaming service.
What features and formats are supported on Disney Plus?
Disney Plus includes several features that make using the service more convenient:
- The platform supports up to seven profiles per subscription.
- A special kids profile can be used to restrict streaming to titles that are rated TV-7FV and G.
- Disney Plus allows simultaneous streaming on up to four different devices.
- Unlimited downloads are provided via the Disney Plus app on up to 10 different smartphones and tablets.
- You can watch Disney Plus with up to six friends using the GroupWatch feature.
- Disney Plus supports up to 4K resolution with high dynamic range (HDR), using the HDR10 or Dolby Vision formats.
- Dolby Digital surround sound and Dolby Atmos audio formats are supported on select programs.
- Select movies support IMAX Enhanced playback, which lets you see even more picture on screen.
How to watch Disney Plus
Disney
You can watch Disney Plus through many connected devices:
- Desktop web browsers
- Mobile devices and tablets (Android and Apple).
- Smart TVs (LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen, Android TV, Vizio SmartCast, Roku TV)
- Game consoles (PlayStation, Xbox)
- Streaming devices (Apple TV 4th Gen and later, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku)
What shows and movies can I watch on Disney Plus?
Marvel Studios
Virtually any Disney show or movie that’s already been released is available to watch on Disney Plus.
From classics like “Snow White” to recent movies like “Thor: Love and Thunder,” the service features a huge library of titles to choose from across Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and 20th Century Studio brands.
Disney Plus also includes original programming, like “The Mandalorian,” “Andor,” “She-Hulk,” and “Ms. Marvel.”
Disney Plus has exclusive musical content as well, including concert films from BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, a film version of the Broadway show “Hamilton,” and Beyonce’s visual album “Black is King.”
You can find more information about Disney Plus shows and movies below:
Who should sign up for Disney Plus?
Disney Plus is an ideal service for Disney fans, whether they’re Marvel geeks or animation aficionados. It’s especially suitable for families with children who want to watch recent Disney movies and older Disney titles from the studio’s vault.
Though the lineup of original programming was a bit limited at launch, popular exclusives like “Obi-Wan Kenobi” and “She-Hulk” continue to add value. Disney also removed its content from a lot of other services, including Netflix, so Disney Plus is now the only subscription streaming platform with access to many of its titles.
You can read our full Disney Plus review for detailed impressions, as well as our Disney Plus review from a parent’s perspective for specific thoughts on the platform’s family-centric features.
How does Disney Plus compare to other streaming services?
While services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video feature a rotating mix of movies and TV shows from different studios, Disney Plus is focused entirely on Disney content.
Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television offer an iconic library of family friendly movies, shows, and documentaries, but the Disney Plus collection won’t change much on a month to month basis.
At $8 a month, it’s affordable compared to major competitors, and the discounted bundle with Hulu and ESPN+ adds even more value.
Of all the major streaming services, it’s also one of the most generous in the areas of multiple-device streaming, profile additions, downloads, and 4K playback. Some competitors, like HBO Max and Netflix, require subscribers to pay more to watch in 4K.
On the downside, Disney’s focus on family friendly programming might limit the service’s appeal to adults. That said, this approach could be changing. Disney Plus added three R-rated movies in July, and it’s possible it could add more in the future to better compete with other major platforms.
