Is Disney Plus worth it? Pricing, content, availability, and more

A few years ago, Disney announced its plans to launch a streaming service that would compete directly with services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and many others. Disney Plus formally launched in November 2019 and quickly became one of the most popular streaming services, with new streaming shows and movies nearly every week.

So what is Disney Plus, what does it offer, and what else should you know about the service? This master guide serves as the place to find answers to all your Disney Plus questions. Don’t already have Disney Plus? Get it via the button below as part of a bundle that includes Hulu and ESPN Plus.

How much is Disney Plus, and what’s included?

Disney Plus offers various pricing options to suit different preferences. Whether you opt for monthly payments, commit to an annual subscription, or even bundle with Hulu and ESPN Plus, there’s a plan for everyone.

Here are the Disney Plus price options:

The features of Disney Plus differ slightly based on whether you choose the Basic plan with ads or the Premium plan without ads. However, both tiers grant access to the same extensive library of shows and movies.

The Disney Plus Basic plan with ads includes:

• Ad-supported streaming for thousands of Disney movies and TV shows
• Up to 4K playback with HDR and Dolby Vision support on select titles
• Ability to stream on multiple devices simultaneously

The Disney Plus Premium plan without ads also offers these additional features:

• Ad-free streaming
• Downloads on upto 10 devices
• Dolby Atmos immersive sound on select titles

Can I get Disney Plus for free?

Disney Plus initially offered a seven-day free trial. Sadly, you can’t test-drive the service anymore. You’re either in or out and have to pay from day one.

You can theoretically piggyback on someone else’s account. A Disney membership is, strictly speaking, supposed to be used only within one household, and the company has made announcements to crack down on account sharing. That’s not free, though. Even if you don’t pay, someone must have a paid account.

However, one way to get Disney Plus for free is through third parties.

Do you have Verizon, or are you considering switching to Big Red? You can get Disney Plus at a discounted price!

Verizon launched a Disney Bundle plan for users. You can get Disney Plus Premium (No Ads) with Hulu and ESPN Plus (With Ads) for $10 as an add-on.

How do I sign up for Disney Plus?

Before signing up for Disney Plus, check this list and ensure it has launched in your region. If it has, signing up is easy. The easiest way is to head to Disney Plus’s website and sign up there.

What platforms and devices support Disney Plus?

Disney Plus is available on a wide variety of platforms and devices.

• iOS, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices
• Apple TV set-top boxes, including integration with the new Apple TV app. It will allow customers to sign up for the service inside the app.
• Android, including Android-based phones and tablets
• Android TV-based devices, including the NVIDIA Shield.
• Google Chromecast and devices that have Chromecast built-in
• Microsoft Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S game consoles
• Sony Playstation 4 and 5 game consoles
• Roku, including all Roku sticks, set-top boxes, and TVs that have the Roku OS installed
• Amazon Fire TV-based sticks, set-top boxes, and TVs
• PC desktop web browsers
• Samsung smart TVs from 2016 to the current models.
• LG smart TV models.
• Vizio SmartCast TVs from 2016 to the current models.
• Comcast Xfinity set-top boxes for Comcast X1 and Flex customers

One thing to note: while the device you use to watch Disney Plus will offer the same content across the board, only Android and iOS devices will allow you to download your shows for offline viewing.

Does Disney Plus support 4K? And if so, what devices do you need?

Yes, Disney Plus supports 4K on a variety of devices! Devices include:

• Roku devices and TVs that support 4K
• Microsoft Xbox One
• Sony PlayStation 4
• Apple TV
• 4K-capable Android TV-based devices
• Chromecast Ultra and 4K devices with Chromecast functionality baked in
• LG Smart TVs

That’s not necessarily a complete list, but it’s close. As for what you can watch on 4K, many Disney Plus movies and TV shows support 4K streaming. That includes all of the classic and prequel Star Wars films, which are being presented in 4K for the first time on the service. The Force Awakens and Rogue One also support 4K.

All of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies on Disney Plus support 4K streaming, as do all of the Pixar CGI feature films. A selection of films from Disney’s cel and CGI animated movies can be streamed in 4K, including classics like Frozen, the original Lion King, and more. A selection of live-action Disney Plus movies supports 4K resolution, like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Princess Diaries, and The Santa Clause.

Many of the original TV shows and movies on the service support 4K streaming, including The Mandalorian, High School Musical: The Musical—The Series, Noelle, and Lady and the Tramp.

In November 2021, some MCU films on the service added IMAX-enhanced versions alongside the regular versions of those movies. Those editions switch the aspect ratio to IMAX’s 1.90:1 aspect ratio for any scenes in those movies that were shot in the format.

What’s on Disney Plus? A look at all the shows and movies

Disney Plus includes access to hundreds of movies and thousands of TV shows from its 90 years of content. This includes all those great animated films and live-action movies from the Disney brand, including the Disney Vault, full of classics such as Snow White, Cinderella, The Lion King, and many others. Disney also features all Pixar movies you know and love, as well as tons of Star Wars shows and films. Marvel fans will find most of their favorite movies, and there are even tons of TV shows from the National Geographic Channel.

Classic content from the Disney Channel is also available on the service. This includes shows like Duck Tales and Hannah Montana, which have thousands of episodes and over 100 movies.

It also has several family-themed TV shows and movies from its recent Fox purchase. That includes The Simpsons, with all 30 seasons available from day one on the service.

Of course, not everything Disney has ever made will be available on the service yet. Because of a current contract with Netflix and others like HBO, some shows and movies won’t make their way to the service until later. Disney plans to transition all its content away from the competition over the next few years.

As mentioned earlier in this guide, Disney Plus has plenty of exclusive content, too! Here are just some of the exclusive shows and movies on the service right now:

• Nai Nai & Wài Pó – It is a short documentary film directed by first-generation Taiwanese American Sean Wang. It focuses on his grandmothers, inseparable best friends, and roommates in their 80s and 90s. The film showcases their daily lives filled with humor and unexpected moments as they engage in activities like dancing, stretching, and humorously dealing with their sorrows.
• Marvel Studios’ Assembled – A comprehensive documentary series streaming on Disney Plus that offers behind-the-scenes insights into making Marvel Studios’ films and television series, showcasing the creative process, production challenges, and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew.
• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures – An animated series on Disney Plus set during the High Republic era, focusing on Jedi younglings as they learn the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, and help those in need, all while developing the skills necessary to become Jedi Knights.
• Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold – Features Alex Honnold (“Free Solo”) on an epic adventure to climb uncharted walls in one of Greenland’s most secluded areas, highlighting the region’s front-line position in the climate crisis alongside climbers Hazel Findlay and Mikey Schaefer.
• Genius: MLK/X – A drama that explores the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies, and key personal relationships of two iconic figures: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
• SparkShorts – A series of independent animated short films produced by Pixar Animation Studios, available on Disney+, showcasing the creativity and innovation of various Pixar employees.
• X-Men ’97 – X-Men ’97 on Disney+ revisits the iconic era of the 1990s, featuring a band of mutants who use their powers to protect a world that fears them, facing new and dangerous challenges​.​
• Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) – The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) on Disney+ captures the magical journey through Swift’s illustrious music career, showcasing performances of her beloved hits across all eras. Experience the concert spectacle celebrating her evolution as an artist with breathtaking visuals and unforgettable renditions. ​
• Iwájú – An original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, telling the coming-of-age story of Tola, a young girl from a wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they uncover the secrets and dangers of their world.
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 3 – In the final season of “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” on Disney Plus, the Batch faces their greatest challenge yet in their mission to reunite with Omega, who encounters her own trials within a secluded Imperial science laboratory.

Is everything on Disney Plus family-friendly?

Disney Plus first launched as an exclusively family-friendly streamer, with all its content fitting between TV-Y and TV-14 ratings.

That’s changing with Disney regaining control of some of its Marvel Netflix co-productions.

The Defenders series, including Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and the Punisher, are all rated TV-MA. Now that they’ve moved from Netflix to Disney Plus, and marked a shift in the types of content that can appear on Disney Streamers.

Star brand added to Disney Plus internationally

On February 23, 2021, Disney Plus added the Star brand to its various content categories in Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, among others. This changed Disney by replacing previously created or owned content with more mature content. This includes TV shows and movies from the 20th Century Fox library, including Family Guy, Aliens, Die Hard, Predator, and more. It’s also where most Hulu content premieres outside the US.

The Star brand will not be added to the US version of the service. That kind of content will still be available on Disney’s Hulu service. Star will also be the home for original content from the US-based Hulu and will add more original local content in the future.

What about all of that Fox content and Hulu?

As mentioned, Disney has now acquired much of 21st Century Fox’s content. That means Disney will have the movie and TV rights to franchises like Aliens, Predator, Planet of the Apes, and the X-Men-Deadpool Marvel Comics characters, among others. You’ll find these on the platform.

Interface and other features

The app and UI include special sections for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic brands. There will also be sections in the interface so users can see the service’s movies, TV shows, and original content. It recently added a “Continue Watching” section so users can see which movies and shows they stopped watching in the middle so they can quickly resume them.

Users will be able to create up to seven custom individual profiles. Kids can see the shows and movies they are interested in, while their older parents can see their preferred content.

The service also has a Junior Mode, which includes parental controls so parents can prevent their children from seeing content outside their age group.

Recently, the service added a “share” button for its mobile apps. Subscribers can go to a Disney Plus movie or TV show and tap the “share” icon. Those users can then send a link to that content to their family or friends via messaging apps or social media accounts. The recipients must have a paid Disney Plus subscription to access the account.

Disney Plus vs the competition

The service has much content, but it’s still pretty light on the exclusives, even if Disney is working hard to change this. Its relatively low price tag further helps this compared to many competitors.

Do you prefer programming that’s a bit more on the adult side? Netflix might be a better choice for many.

Is Disney Plus worth it?

Is Disney Plus worth it? Absolutely! This streaming represents enormous value for consumers, especially families. Instead of paying individually for all your favorite Disney movies or shows, Disney Plus gives you access to its entire library for a monthly fee. Disney Plus is also very aggressive in adding highly anticipated new Disney movies to its library relatively soon after they leave theaters. In 2021, it even added a few movies to the service while they were released to theaters, including Cruella, Black Widow, and Jungle Cruise.

Other frequently asked questions.

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