Disney Plus has become a force to be reckoned with after just a couple of years. Despite being new on the scene in the grand scheme of things (it debuted in 2019), it's already racked up more than 150 million subscribers. It's also not what many feared it would be before launch - a glorified Disney Channel that struggled to offer anything more than family-friendly fare. Now it's a household name and feels like a proper rival to Netflix.
Wondering whether it's worth trying, or how you can get Disney Plus for as little as possible? Don't worry, you'll find everything you need to know about the House of Mouse's streaming service right here. That includes must-watch shows and upcoming projects which should definitely be on your radar. There's even some advice on how to take advantage of the upcoming Black Friday Disney Plus deals.
Let's get down to business (heh), shall we?
Recent updates
November 4: This guide has been updated with a new FAQ section discussing whether you should wait until Black Friday to buy Disney Plus memberships.
Disney Plus FAQ
How much does Disney Plus cost?
Following the most recent update, there are more Disney Plus sign-up offers than ever. I've got a crib-list of the best deals below.
USA
- Cheapest offer: $7.99 per month (with ads)
- Best value: $139.99 annual membership (no ads, 16% off)
- Best bundle: Disney Plus (ads), Hulu (ads), ESPN Plus for $14.99p/m
- Gift card: 12-month subscription for $139.99
UK
- Cheapest offer: £4.99 per month (with ads)
- Best value: £89.90 annual membership (no ads, 12% off)
- Gift card: 12-month subscription for £79.90
CANADA
- Cheapest offer: $7.99 per month (ads)
- Best value: $119.99 annual membership (no ads, 12% off)
AUSTRALIA
- Cheapest offer: $13.99 per month (no ads)
- Best value: $139.99 annual membership (12% off)
What can you watch on Disney Plus?
Now that it has a few years under its belt, there's a lot you can watch on Disney Plus. Although many were cynical about it being able to offer much beyond family-friendly cartoons when it launched, the streaming service has proven itself since then with a wealth of all-ages content across a variety of genres. Alongside the Disney and Pixar films you'd expect, there's also a lot of original TV shows here you won't find anywhere else. That includes a wealth of shiny new Star Wars and Marvel shows.
What should you watch first? Check out our guides to the best movies on Disney Plus and the best shows on Disney Plus.
The 12DOVE team and I have been covering Disney Plus since before it launched five years ago, and I'd argue it strikes a pretty good balance between family-friendly fare and more mature shows these days. As mentioned in our Disney Plus review, it's home to some pop-culture juggernauts that have a lot of pull - you won't find Marvel, Star Wars, or Avatar content anywhere else, for example. Seeing as those franchises are some of the biggest in the world, the streaming service has one hell of a big feather in its cap.
When combined with a plethora of live-action originals, there's plenty to keep you streaming for months with Disney Plus. Especially because any new films by Disney or its studios will appear here after their theatrical run in cinemas.
Will shows and movies leave Disney Plus?
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Even though Disney owns a lot of content, licenses always make things tricky. That means movies and shows aren't guaranteed to be available in perpetuity. Classic Disney properties like Aladdin aren't going anywhere, and neither are series created especially for the platform (Agatha All Along, say). But content made by other companies? That may come and go.
The Spider-Man movies are a good example. Technically speaking, Sony owns the IP rights despite the character's most recent films being made with Marvel, so they can only be added to Disney Plus as the result of a deal.
Fortunately, that's happening more and more these days; the older Spidey movies eventually found their way to the streaming service, for example, as has the once-missing Incredible Hulk. That's good news for anyone wanting to cut down on the amount of streaming services they have.
How do you get Disney Plus for free?
Considering how many streaming services are vying for our cash nowadays, we wouldn't blame you for trying to get a free version of Disney Plus. Unfortunately, you're out of luck - there aren't many ways to get it for nothing. The Disney Plus free trial doesn't exist anymore, and few companies offer it as an add-on. (The only one that does is O2 in the UK, which gets you six months of Disney Plus with certain contracts.)
Should you wait until Black Friday to get Disney Plus?
If you'd asked me a couple of years ago whether you should hold off on subscribing until the annual Black Friday Disney Plus deals, I'd have responded with a resounding "hell no" - largely because they didn't exist. Now, though? They're some of the best discounts you can get.
These reductions usually slash the price of Disney's streaming service to a fraction of its normal cost. As such, and even though I wouldn't say to put all of your eggs in this basket (there are good offers throughout the year), waiting until November isn't a bad shout.
Are Disney Plus shows and movies in their original format?
This varies from case to case. And it's not all bad; as an example, you can choose to watch seasons 1-19 of The Simpsons in the modern 16:9 format (which caused upset upon release because it cut off a few visual gags) or the 4:3 original. In addition, insensitive cartoons from Disney's past with outdated attitudes or portrayals now have a disclaimer.
However, some alterations are a bit more controversial. To start with, a handful of changes were made to Star Wars including Greedo saying "McClunkey" before meeting his end. Meanwhile, Hamilton has had some of its swearing trimmed back.
What is the Star channel on Disney Plus?
Audiences in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have access to a larger range of drama via the Star add-on. This channel is packed with sitcoms like Modern Family or genre classics such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to say nothing of Oscar-winners including Nomadland. As a result, Star fills a niche that Disney Plus has been lacking for some time - more grown-up content.
Don't worry about your kids watching something they shouldn't, though. It's quick and easy to lock Star behind parental controls, and you'll have the opportunity to do so right away.
Disney Plus pricing & deals
Leery of paying for yet another streaming service? I hear you - there are more than enough vying for our cash right now. While it's a shame that the free trial is no more (RIP), Disney Plus is split into two tiers to make things easier these days - one with ads and one without. With that in mind, I've listed the cheapest offers and Disney Plus bundles below.
UK readers, take note; until September 27, you'll get three months of Disney Plus at £1.99 per month. That's a lot cheaper than the usual rate, so it's well worth grabbing.
US price
UK price
Canada deals
Australia deals
Which Disney Plus deal should you get?
If you're hoping to get the cheapest possible offer (perhaps you're just testing the water), US, UK, and Canadian readers can't do much better than the 'Basic' monthly membership. Short of picking up a free subscription via a phone contract like those O2 in the UK, there's no way of getting it for less at the time of writing.
Luckily, this entry-level tier isn't too expensive. It costs $9.99 per month with ads in the US, £4.99p/m with ads in the UK, and $7.99p/m with ads in Canada. Because you can cancel whenever you like so there's no long-term commitment.
However, this offer isn't necessarily top dog in terms of bang for your buck; that award would go to the annual subscription in the UK, Australia, and Canada. Even though it's paid off upfront (UK fans are looking at a cost of £89.90, Canadian readers will pay $119.99, and Australian viewers have to fork out $139.99), you're saving money in the long run. That's because you're getting 12 months for the price of 10.
Based in the US? You can enjoy a better bang-to-buck ratio with the special offer that provides Disney Plus with ads, Hulu with ads, and ESPN Plus for $16.99p/m (or $26.99p/m if you want to go without ads). Because Hulu and ESPN fill a niche that Disney can't, it's a surprisingly good marriage of content.
Similarly, the bundle with Max, Disney Plus, and Hulu is also great - it's available for $16.99p/m with ads or $29.99p/m without ads.
Price increase
Because there was a recent Disney Plus price increase (as of October 17), it's unlikely that we'll see another one in the immediate future. And because the last change tweaked some subscriptions and added extra tiers, I doubt you'll need to worry about extra changes in 2024. Indeed, I'm confident things will remain stable until 2025 due to previous trends.
Disney Plus exclusives
Although you might be wary because Disney's often seen as a family-friendly venture, the streaming service offers a lot more than that. As well as live-action shows such as Loki and The Mandalorian, you can also catch up with more mature shows like or Daredevil (the Netflix one with a follow-up coming in 2024). Even Hamilton - yes, the original Broadway version from 2016 - can be found on Disney Plus. And judging by the House of Mouse's release schedule, that list will only get bigger over time.
To give you a better idea of what to expect, I've listed a breakdown of the top 10 exclusives available on Disney Plus now.
- Agatha All Along - The latest MCU show may not be what you'd expect from the superhero franchise. Rather, it's a supernatural tale of witches. As our review says, this "wacky, Wizard of Oz-esque series is hex-actly what Marvel needs."
- Andor - This may be the best Star Wars series out there right now. It takes a more grown-up look at a galaxy far, far away, and its approach feels more like a prestige show on HBO than anything else. Actually, our review called it "the Star Wars show we've been waiting for."
- The Beatles: Get Back - If you're even a little fond of The Beatles, you owe it to yourself to watch this. A documentary put together by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, it's a rare look behind-the-scenes at the band's creative process.
- The Mandalorian - As the first live-action Star Wars series, this generated enough hype to become mandatory viewing each week. In fact, our review of its premiere said it was "Disney Plus' first must-watch show".
- The Imagineering Story - Want to be inspired? Here's an in-depth look at the history of Disney theme parks and the tech powering their inventions. It's a fascinating exploration of the happiest place(s) on Earth.
- Light & Magic - This documentary puts Industrial Light and Magic (AKA the effects company behind everything from Star Wars to the more recent Transformers One film) under the microscope. It's a genuinely inspiring watch, particularly if you're interested in the practical effects powering some of your favorite movies.
- Loki - This time-hopping series is witty, mind-bending, and essential due to the huge storyline it sets up. As our review of episode one says, it's the start of something very big and very strange for the Marvel universe.
- WandaVision - Blending sitcoms with unsettling drama to great effect, this is one of Marvel's most intriguing stories. As suggested in our review of the first episode, we were big fans.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi - Set 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, this bridges the gap between the prequel and original Star Wars trilogies. We called it a "mature, beautifully realized slice of Star Wars" in our episode one review.
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special - Everyone's favorite ragtag crew of intergalactic criminals brings holiday cheer in a comical Christmas special. We can see this becoming mandatory seasonal viewing for fans of the MCU.
What's coming to Disney Plus?
Now we're getting to the good stuff. If you're wondering what's in the pipeline for Disney Plus, you won't be disappointed - there are dozens of new, original TV shows arriving over the next couple of years.
Here are some of the highlights.
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (December 3, 2024) - Apparently inspired by Amblin movies like Goonies, this new story in a galaxy far, far away starring Jude Law and a gaggle of kid spacefarers sounds very promising.
- Daredevil: Born Again (March 2025) - This series has hit a few roadblocks since being announced, and it's been revamped significantly in recent months... but from what we've seen of those changes, it's still one to watch. Indeed, the alterations make it more of a follow-up to the excellent Netflix Daredevil show.
- Ironheart (TBC 2025) - Following her appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ironheart will follow Riri Williams (Dominque Thorne) who is known as "the creator of the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man."
- Spider-Man: Freshman Year (TBC 2025) - Telling the story of Peter Parker's journey to become Spider-Man in the MCU, this animated series will take inspiration from the early comic books. Charlie Cox is set to appear as Daredevil too.
- Star Wars: Rangers of the New Republic (date TBC) - We're not sure what this series will involve (or if it'll actually happen, following the firing of Gina Carano whose character it appeared to revolve around), but it seems to be spinning directly out of The Mandalorian.
- Star Wars: Lando (date TBC) - The smooth-talking smuggler (as portrayed by the incomparable Donald Glover) was one of the highlights of Solo, so being able to revisit his adventuring days is irresistible.
- Night at the Museum reboot (date TBC) - Night at the Museum is yet another do-over for Disney Plus, though a release window hasn't been announced yet.
What devices are compatible with Disney Plus?
As you'd expect from a multi-media giant like Disney, their streaming service is available almost everywhere. That means it's easy to get a hold of regardless of whether you want to watch on TV, your phone, tablet, or console. Most of these will let you download the app and start watching straight away so long as you've got an account. For more info, don't miss our guide on how to download Disney Plus.
Here's the full list of devices compatible with Disney Plus right now:
- Samsung Smart TV
- LG Smart TV
- Panasonic Smart TV
- Toshiba Smart TV
- Hisense Smart TV
- iPhones
- iPads
- Android phones
- Android tablets
- Amazon Fire tablets
- Windows 10/11 computers and tablets
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Roku device
- Google Chromecast
- Apple TV
- Fire TV
- Web browser
Disney Plus errors
Even an entertainment giant like Disney struggles to contend with millions of subscribers tuning into their streaming service, so it makes sense that there would be a few errors here and there. Luckily, they're easy to sort out. If you have consistent issues, we've got a few tips for you to try below.
- Log out of Disney Plus, then log in again: OK, so we know you've probably tried this already - our apologies. But most of the time, it provides a quick and easy fix. All you need to do is select your profile, go to 'Account Details', and select 'log out of all devices.' As this would suggest, it'll sign you out of every device using Disney Plus. You're then free to log in again.
- Check your internet and make sure Disney Plus isn't down for everyone: If you're struggling, we'd recommend making sure that your internet is still active - take a look at the router or your other devices. If everything seems fine, have a quick look at Disney's troubleshooting page.
- Delete the app and re-download it: The nuclear option of error code solutions. If you're getting nowhere, it's worth deleting the app on your TV or device and then re-downloading it. This could straighten out any issues Disney Plus is having.
Still hitting a brick wall? We'd suggest contacting Disney Plus Help on Twitter. You can also head over to the Disney Plus troubleshooting page.
For an explanation of the most common issues, remember to check out our Disney Plus error guide.
If you want to grab the streaming service as a present for a loved one, you should drop in on our Disney Plus gift card page.
