Since its launch in the US 2019, Disney Plus has quickly become one of the leading figures in the streaming wars - and its line-up gets even stronger with the ongoing release of original shows, new movies, and classic series through their partnership with Star.

This service offers everything from Disney's repertoire, including Star Wars titles like Andor and MCU hits like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It also holds a vast library of content from the likes of Fox, FX and ABC, including sitcoms How I Met Your Mother and Scrubs, as well as iconic cult TV hits like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files.

Disney Plus has a hugely diverse range of films and series available, with newer releases like black comedy The Menu proving that adults can get just as much out of it as kids.

But do not fear: Disney Plus is still safe for children to browse through, thanks to parental controls which will put the more mature content firmly out of reach for little ones.

Check out the list of Best Disney Plus shows and Best Disney Plus movies or read on for everything else you need to know about the streaming service - including compatible devices and the price increase. Plus we have news on the latest Disney 100 events like how to get Disney Wonder of Friendship The Experience tickets.

Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year

Save 15% with a Disney+ annual pass

Buying the annual pass, over the standard monthly £7.99 a month, can save you over £15.

At just £79.90, that's a saving of 15%. 

Disney Plus annual pass | £95.88 £79.90 (save £15.98 or 15%)

The Disney Plus logo displayed on a smartphone
Getty

A guide to Disney Plus UK

How can you sign up? How much does Disney+ cost? And what are the best shows and films to watch? Find out everything you need to know about the Disney streaming service below.

What is Disney Plus?

Disney Plus is a major new streaming service owned by The Walt Disney Company which features a host of new and past TV series and films from Disney and its many subsidiaries.

That means you can not only expect to find Disney projects like Encanto, but also shows and films from:

  • Pixar
  • Marvel
  • Star Wars
  • Fox
  • National Geographic
  • Star

Disney+ subscribers have access to a range of shows and films made by Disney's creative studios (FX, Fox, 20th Century Studios, ABC, Searchlight and Freeform) with Star – a section added after launch catering for more mature content.

As per streaming services like Netflix, you don’t have to buy each show or film you watch; instead, you pay a monthly subscription for access to all titles on the service’s massive library, completely ad-free.

Unlike other streaming services, however, Disney+ won’t release new shows in bulk, with original productions like Marvel's She-Hulk instead airing weekly.

How much is Disney Plus?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cast
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Marvel

A Disney Plus subscription costs £7.99 per month or £79.90 a year in the UK.

While the vast majority of content on Disney+ is included in your subscription cost, the studio does occasionally release so-called Disney Plus Premier Access titles which are available for an additional fee.

The first title in this scheme was the live-action remake of Mulan, which landed on the service for an initial cost of £19.99 (on top of the subscription fee) and became a free title three months later.

Later releases such as animated adventure Jungle Cruise, Cruella and Black Widow also launched via Premier Access, before also becoming free titles on the service.

However, since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced, fans have seen a 48-day window between theatrical release and a film's arrival on Disney+, as noted by the releases of Marvel films such as Eternals, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

In the United States, it was revealed in 2022 that Disney+ will continue to cost $7.99 but that it will now include advertisements. An ad-free version of the streaming service now costs $10.99.

No announcement has yet been made for the UK, but we can expect adverts to launch in territories outside the US in 2023.

We will be sure to update this article should any further changes be announced.

How do I sign up for Disney Plus?

You can sign up to Disney Plus on their website or through the Disney+ app.

You can download the app on most Android and Apple devices, as well as most Smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV Stick. Check out our guide to find out how to download the Disney Plus app.

Find out more about compatible Disney Plus devices.

You’ll be able to sign up to the service through Sky Q and NOW TV – Disney+ will be available as an add-on.

What devices are compatible with Disney Plus?

The Disney Plus app can be downloaded on most Apple and Android devices, Smart TVs and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, as well consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox.

Read more about Disney Plus devices and how to set up Disney Plus on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.

How many devices can I watch Disney Plus on?

Disney Plus UK subscribers can watch on four screens at the same time. That's the same as Netflix's Premium Plan and one more than Amazon Prime Video. You can also register up to ten devices, and Disney Plus will support seven profiles.

Can I get Disney Plus on Sky?

Disney Plus is teamed up with Sky meaning you can get the Disney Plus app on your Sky Q box. You can watch the new service alongside your other Sky content, easy peasy. It'll also just be added to your Sky bill - even easier. Disney Plus is also available on NOW, too.

Virgin Media customers with a TV 360 box can watch Disney Plus direct without even going into the app. You will need your own subscription however.

What TV shows are on Disney Plus?

Top Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Fox shows are available for all subscribers, including:

  • Star Wars series Andor, a live-action show based around one of the titular characters of prequel movie Rogue One. Also there's Star Wars' The Mandalorian, a series set in the outer reaches of the galaxy between episodes VI and VII.
  • Marvel Studios is rolling out an ambitious slate of shows set in its cinematic universe, starting with WandaVision (streaming now) and continuing with She-Hulk. Its next upcoming series is Echo.
  • Extraordinary, a new superhero comedy starring Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney about three roommates with special abilities.
  • Star Originals including Welcome to Wrexham, a docuseries about Ryan Reynolds's purchase and ownership of one of professional football's oldest clubs, and Lily James miniseries Pam & Tommy.
  • Willow, a revival of Warwick Davis's 1988 classic fantasy show packed with monsters, fairies and heroes.
  • The Walking Dead season 11 is available to stream shortly after its US premiere, along with all 10 previous seasons of the post-apocalyptic horror.
  • 32 seasons of hit animation series The Simpsons.
  • Toy Story series centred on new character Forky, called Forky Asks a Question. Viewers can also expect Lamp Life, an animated short exploring where Bo Peep was during the events of Toy Story 3.
  • Earth to Ned, an original series from the Jim Henson Company that follows a titular blue-skinned alien and his lieutenant Cornelius, who are sent to scout Earth for an eventual invasion. Instead, what happens is they become obsessed with popular culture – starting up their own chat show in the process.
  • All seven seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated series delving into what happened between Episode II and Episode III, as well as a second series of spin-off Star Wars: The Bad Batch.
  • A National Geographic show led by Jeff Goldblum called – amazingly – The World According to Jeff Goldblum.

If you want a full rundown of what you can watch, we have a complete list of what's on Disney Plus, or the best Disney Plus shows.

Later on, viewers can expect titles such as:

What movies are on Disney Plus?

Disney Plus hosts a gigantic library of classic Disney movies (think Snow White) alongside Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Fox movies.

The biggest films to look out for include…

  • Oscar nominees such as the The Banshees of Inisherin and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
  • Amsterdam - David O Russell's 1930's drama featuring Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and Robert De Niro.
  • The Menu - a black comedy starring Ralph Fiennes in which 12 privileged guests arrive on a lavish private island and are served by a former celebrity chef.
  • Pinocchio - Robert Zemeckis's live-action remake of the Disney classic, featuring Tom Hanks and Luke Evans.
  • Lightyear - The real adventures of Buzz Lightyear are shown in this newest animation starring Chris Evans.
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, along with all the previous Star Wars films, are available on Disney Plus.
  • The Marvel Cinematic Universe. Almost all of the MCU superhero films will be available to watch, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
  • Disney Plus original movies including Strange World and Lady and the Tramp.
  • 20th Century Fox classics including Mrs Doubtfire.
  • The entire Pixar collection, including new releases Turning Red and Luca.
  • The X-Men movies, including the acclaimed X-Men: Days of Future Past.
  • Elephant – a feature-length documentary following elephants in migration, narrated by Meghan Markle.
  • Idina Menzel: Which Way to the Stage? – a feature-length documentary about the broadway career of Idina Menzel.
  • Mary Poppins Returns, the Emily Blunt-led sequel is set 25 years after the original film.
  • A Cheaper by the Dozen remake.

You can find out more in our guide to the best movies on Disney Plus.

Is Disney Plus worth it?

There’s certainly a lot going for subscription service, with the Disney Plus cost (£7.99) being cheaper than Netflix’s standard package (£10.99). And while Netflix’s standard package only allows for viewing on two devices at once, Disney Plus allows for four screens to simultaneously view titles from one account.

At the launch of the service, a weak spot for Disney Plus was that its content was almost exclusively child and teen-friendly, leading to a shortage of mature titles for adults to dive into. However, that totally changed with the inclusion of Star in 2021 - oh, and just in case you're a parent nervous about your little ones watching something they should, here's our explainer on the Disney Plus Star parental controls.

Marvel Studios also regularly produce original television series for Disney+ set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and with Secret Invasion, Loki season two and Daredevil: Born Again all launching in 2023 it will be the streamer of choice for comic book aficionados.

Disney Plus may well be the best streaming service for Marvel fans, Star Wars lovers or those with children - or indeed anyone with an interest in the streaming service's rapidly growing choices for both young and old, at a very reasonable price.

Read more in our ‘Is Disney Plus worth it?’ analysis

How many people can watch Disney Plus at once?

One Disney Plus account can host seven profiles and can stream different shows from four separate screens.

Read more about how many screens can stream Disney Plus titles simultaneously – and a comparison with Netflix

Can I download Disney Plus films and TV shows?

Yes, you can download titles and watch them later on the Disney Plus app. Downloads will last 30 days

Want more Disney? Check out our guides to how to get Disney Plus on your smart TV and recommendations of Disney Plus offers, or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

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