Disney Plus: how to sign up, price, movies, TV shows, Streams feature, devices, and more

• August 30, 2021

Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the market for a multitude of reasons. Not only is it home to an extensive library of classic titles, it also boasts an ever-growing slate of Disney Plus originals. And the TV shows and movies on offer span not just Disney, but Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and many more too. With Star, you’ve got an in-platform hub that provides content dedicated to adult viewers (with parental controls), meaning if you’re looking for a streaming platform that’ll impress the whole family, there’s more than enough for everyone to enjoy.

With a competitive streaming landscape, we know that doing as much research as possible is important to ensure you’re paying for the right one. So in this guide to Disney Plus, we’ll explain how to sign up, how much it will cost, and what you’ll get for your money. Luckily, we’ve also got even more information to offer you with hands-on experience in our Disney Plus review.

Disney Plus: how to sign up

Signing up is very easy. In fact, if you want to start watching the wealth of content Disney Plus has to offer, all you need to do is sign up for Disney Plus here.

Depending on where you live, you can choose between various different options to suit your wallet and your viewing preferences. We’ll explain more below.

Disney Plus: price and bundles explained

In terms of Disney Plus price, viewers can choose between two subscription tiers: the “with ads” Disney Plus Basic or the “no ads” Disney Plus Premium. In October, a scary Disney Plus price hike saw Disney Plus Basic move from $7.99 to $9.99 a month and Disney Plus Premium increase from $13.99 to $15.99 a month.

It’s worth noting that the Basic tier doesn’t allow you to download Disney Plus content to your device for offline viewing. That means you’ll need an active internet connection every time you want to enjoy the televisual delights the streamer has to offer. Anyway, here’s a breakdown of what’s available with each tier:

While you can’t buy an annual Disney Plus Basic subscription, you can save money on the ad-free Premium version by purchasing an annual subscription for $159.99 – that’s a reduction of more than $32 over the course of a year, giving you 12 months of viewing for the price of 10.

US subscribers can also take advantage of several Disney Plus bundles that allow you to make a saving by combining the streamer with other services owned by the Walt Disney Company: Duo packages give you access to Disney Plus and Hulu, while Trio packages allow you to watch Disney Plus, Hulu (with or without ads depending on your plan), and ESPN Plus.

Here’s a breakdown of the various bundles:

Disney Plus joined forces with Hulu in late March to offer users a new unified 2-in-1 app. Here’s everything you need to know about Hulu joining Disney Plus, as well as the perks of purchasing the bundle.

Hulu and Disney Plus will continue to be available as separate services in the US, but this new 2-in-1 option makes the new-look platform an even more viable contender to streaming behemoths like Netflix, Max, and Prime Video. It will also bring the updated platform more in line with the UK and Australia, where Disney Plus subscribers can view a broader range of movies and TV shows via the Disney Plus Star service (see below).

Disney Plus and Hulu are now also available as part of a mega-streaming bundle with Max offering viewers the chance to purchase two competitive subscription options: an ad-supported tier at $16.99 per month or an ad-free tier at $29.99 per month. That’s an almost 40% saving on the cost of buying the services separately.

Also, Disney Plus’ password crackdown began in September, meaning you’ll no longer be able to share your account with anyone who doesn’t live under the same roof as you. When it comes to Disney Plus’ password-sharing fees, it now costs subscribers $6.99 to add an Extra Member to a Disney Plus Basic account, or $9.99 to a Disney Plus Premium account. Check out our guide on everything you need to know about Disney Plus password sharing for more details.

Finally, there’s a new feature that could be on the horizon as Disney Plus might soon let you pause your subscription. Joining the likes of Netflix and Hulu who already offer this service, reportedly it’s on its way to Disney Plus. As per the Wall Street Journal, according to someone “familiar with the plans”, Disney executives are planning to offer a pause option “soon”. That’ll mean you can return at a later date, rather than cancelling altogether.

Is there a Disney Plus free trial?

Disney Plus offered a seven-day free trial when it launched in November 2019, but discontinued the option in 2020.

What is Star on Disney Plus?

Star on Disney Plus launched outside the US in territories including the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in February 2021. Whereas US viewers need to subscribe to another Disney-owned streamer – Hulu – or one of the aforementioned bundles, Star provides Disney Plus account holders elsewhere with plenty of additional content from the likes of FX, 20th Century Studios, and ABC.

When Disney Plus users in countries offering the Star service log in to their home screen, the usual family-friendly core content (Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, Pixar, and National Geographic) is bolstered by more grown-up fare such as 24, Lost, Atlanta, and Desperate Housewives, and the Die Hard, Alien, and Predator franchises.

Disney Plus Star is also home to some of the hottest new TV shows on the planet, with the likes of The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and Shōgun all debuting on the platform. In the UK, the quality and volume of the Star on Disney Plus offering makes the platform a viable contender to the likes of Netflix.

Disney Plus Streams feature: what is it?

Disney Plus just got a brilliant new feature called Streams that offers users season live channel functionality. The curated content comes under four Streams; Hits & Heroes for a compilation of action-packed titles, Throwbacks for nostalgic titles, and Real Life for biopics, true stories, and documentaries. Disney Plus also adds in streams relevant to the season.

Disney Plus: Apps and compatible devices

These are the devices/platforms that are compatible with Disney Plus and the Disney Plus app:

• iOS
• Android
• Apple TV
• Fire TV devices
• Roku
• MacOS
• Windows PC
• Chrome OS
• Chromecast / Chromebook
• Xbox One, Series X, Series S
• PS4, PS5
• Nvidia Shield (via Android TV)
• Smart TVs (including Android TV, LG WebOS, Samsung Tizen, Vizio SmartCast)

The Disney Plus app can be downloaded on almost any device, and you can watch it in web browsers on desktop, too. A Disney Plus subscription currently supports up to four simultaneous streams and up to 10 registered devices. You can also create up to seven profiles for other people using your account, with each profile offering the facility to create its own bespoke Watch List.

Disney Plus also has different age ratings, meaning you can create kids’ profiles that will restrict access to content that isn’t suitable for younger members of the family.

As well as having different content hubs for its various franchises and channels, the Disney Plus app has curated content lists themed around different subjects. These hubs include the major franchises mentioned above, as well as options to see Disney’s vast library of content organized by decade. Or, watch episodes of The Simpsons grouped by theme – with well over 700 episodes to choose from, this could be a good place to start your Springfield journey! Also, hubs like this can be a nice way to find something to watch without being reliant on Netflix-style algorithms.

And, if your Disney Plus plan allows downloads, you can download as much content as you want to watch offline – as long as you sign in to the app online every 30 days.

What is Disney Plus SharePlay?

SharePlay is a feature on iPhones, iPads and Apple TV that allows Disney Plus subscribers to watch content with their friends and family. It enables up to 32 users – note that you’re still limited to four concurrent streams per Disney Plus account – to simultaneously watch the same movie or TV show while on a FaceTime call. Users have the opportunity to select the audio settings of their choice, too, while individual subscribers can add subtitles if necessary. (Disney Plus say that SharePlay is “only available on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV with the latest system update”, so viewers with older devices may not be able to take advantage of this feature.)

If you’re a non-Apple user (or running older software), you’re no longer able to enjoy Disney Plus movies and TV shows in the company of friends elsewhere. As reported by IGN, the streaming platform removed its GroupWatch feature on September 2023.

Disney Plus error codes: What the numbers mean

Having trouble with your service? Check out our list of Disney Plus error codes for more on what the different numbers mean. If you’re having issues with Disney Plus you can’t seem to solve, try the Disney Plus help center for more.

If you can’t resolve the issue yourself, you can contact Disney Plus customer service by calling 888-905-7888 if you’re based in the US. You can also tweet the Disney Plus help account or email [email protected].

Disney Plus UK 4K and HDR support

Disney Plus supports 4K and HDR. When you’re in the app, head over to the ‘details’ tab of a given movie or show and you’ll see a section that says ‘available in the following formats’, which will explain if the content in question features 4K Ultra HD and HDR.

Additionally, Disney Plus offers additional support to Marvel movies with its Enhanced Mode. This allows users to watch certain MCU superhero flicks in IMAX cinema mode – in other words, allowing you to see more of what’s on the screen due to its larger aspect ratio. You can learn more about Enhanced Mode here.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that following the changes to Disney Plus plans and pricing last October, you no longer get 4K if you subscribe the Standard plans.

Disney Plus UK parental controls explained

Disney Plus’ parental controls allow adults to restrict the type of content that children and young teens can consume via the streamer.

Disney Plus offers subscribers the chance to create up to seven profiles on one account, which can be tailored to each user’s age. Parents can create access limits on various profiles (based on their content ratings), as well as being able to set profile PIN locks that prevent youngsters from accessing R-rated Disney Plus content.

Additionally, Disney Plus also provides the opportunity to create Kid profiles. This option only contains content that’s suitable for children aged seven and younger, so there’ll be no chance of them accessing mature movies and TV shows.

To create a Kid profile, or to stop children and young teens from seeing content they shouldn’t be watching, open up your user profile menu. Navigate to the ‘edit profiles’ section, and choose a profile to change. From here, you can add specific parental controls to each profile. Once you’re finished, click ‘done’ to let these changes take effect.

Disney Plus gift subscriptions: Get a year of Disney Plus for a friend or family member

Disney Plus Gift Subscriptions are available, and a year of viewing makes for an ideal last-minute present. You can buy Disney+ Gift Subscriptions here.

For more Disney Plus coverage, read our guides on the best Disney Plus movies, new Disney Plus movies, and best Disney Plus shows.

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Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the market for a multitude of reasons. Not only is it home to an extensive library of classic titles, it also boasts an ever-growing slate of Disney Plus originals. And the TV shows and movies on offer span not just…