Beginner's Guide to Disney Plus
Disney Plus has become one of the largest streaming platforms since its November 2019 launch, continuously gaining popularity. If you want to learn more, read on as we provide comprehensive information on this streaming giant.
What is Disney Plus?
Disney Plus is a streaming service offered by The Walt Disney Company. Launched in November 2019, it now has over 130 million subscribers globally. It offers a wide range of content, including films and TV shows produced by Disney, as well as dedicated content hubs for brands such as Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, Pixar, and more. The service started in the US and gradually expanded to Western Europe and Asia-Pacific countries in early 2020, followed by Eastern Europe and Latin America later in the year.
Disney Plus offers a comprehensive selection of Disney content, including popular franchises like Star Wars and Marvel. It also includes content from Disney-owned Fox, including most episodes of The Simpsons. The service can be accessed through a web browser or various apps and is available on a range of devices, making it easy to use for everyone, including those who are not tech-savvy. Disney Plus also offers bundle deals with ESPN+ and Hulu as "The Disney Bundle" for users who want more from their service. To use it, simply sign up by providing your card information and sign in on any device. If you've used Netflix, you'll know how to use Disney Plus.
What is Disney Plus Pricing
Disney Plus keeps its pricing simple with just one monthly rate of $8 or an annual rate of $80. Both options provide full access to the entire Disney Plus library, including HD and 4K content, without any restrictions on simultaneous streams. The annual plan offers almost 20% savings compared to the monthly plan, making it a more cost-effective option.
Free Trials:
- Verizon users with Unlimited plans receive six months of free Disney Plus.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users may also be eligible for a trial of Disney Plus.
- Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers may receive Disney Plus access for a number of months.
Note: These free trials are only available to new subscribers, and using different email addresses to sign up is a violation of terms and conditions.
Gift Cards: Disney Plus gift cards are also available and make a great gift idea.
What is the Disney Plus Bundle Offer?
The Disney Bundle combines three of the most popular streaming services into one monthly fee of $14. This includes Disney Plus, Hulu (with ad-supported option), and ESPN+. The bundle offers a savings of $6 compared to subscribing to each service individually and eliminates the hassle of managing multiple subscriptions. The only drawback is that it cannot be paid annually.
Hulu provides a diverse range of content, including TV shows like Modern Family, Bob's Burgers, and Fargo, and movies like World War Z, Deadpool 2, and The Hunger Games. It also offers the option to avoid ads for an extra $6 per month.
ESPN+ is the ultimate destination for sports fans, offering access to live events, broadcasts of sports such as soccer, baseball, and college sports, and exclusive content like the award-winning 30 for 30 documentaries and original series. With ESPN+, sports fans can enjoy their favorite games and programs from the comfort of their own home.
What Devices Are Compatible with Disney Plus?
Disney Plus is available on a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, computers, and TVs. It is supported on Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, and mobile devices with iOS and Android operating systems. Disney Plus is also available on Amazon Fire TV Sticks, Chromecast, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TVs, LG webOS TVs, Vizio SmartCast TVs, Roku devices, Xfinity Flex, and more. The app is user-friendly and consistent across all devices. Console support is also available with apps for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series, but there is no support for Nintendo Switch. Each account allows for up to seven user profiles and four devices can stream content simultaneously, with unlimited downloads for offline viewing. Disney Plus offers content in resolutions up to 4K Ultra HD in Dolby Vision and HDR10, but not all devices support such technology. The GroupWatch feature allows up to seven Disney Plus accounts to watch the same show together and interact with each other using emojis and control playback.
Where is Disney Plus Available?
Disney Plus, the popular streaming service from Disney, is currently available in over 50 countries and is rapidly expanding its reach. By the end of 2023, it is expected to be available in over 160 countries. The service first launched in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands in November 2019 and soon expanded to Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico. In March 2020, it expanded to cover much of Western Europe and later in April 2020, it launched in India. Since then, it has continued to expand to cover many major countries across all continents.
In 2022, Disney Plus plans to launch in several countries including the Philippines, Turkey, and South Africa, among others. Some of these launches will be standalone Disney Plus releases while others will include the services of Star, which will add more content for users. The combination of the two services depends on other streaming deals in each country.
It is possible to access Disney Plus through a VPN, which allows users to access content that may only be available in that specific country. However, this is a violation of the terms and conditions of the platform. In countries where Disney Plus is not yet available, users can still sign up through a VPN by using a payment method that works in their country. While the price of Disney Plus is similar across all countries, it's worth considering how currency changes and exchange rates may affect the value of the service. The content offered by Disney Plus is similar across countries, but there may be some differences, especially in terms of access to Star content.
Disney Plus is available in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Chinese, and many others. The platform is also continually adding more language support to cater to a wider audience.
Is 4K Streaming Available on Disney Plus?
Disney Plus offers a comprehensive 4K experience for its users. Unlike other streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus does not charge extra for 4K content and provides it at no additional cost. This means that even if you have an HD-only device, you can still enjoy the same price as 4K users. However, to take full advantage of 4K resolution, you need a device that supports it, such as a 4K TV or computer. If your device is 4K compatible, you can view 4K content on the Disney Plus app without any additional steps. Note that if you are using an Apple TV, you need to have an Apple TV 4K and a 4K TV to view 4K content on Disney Plus. Similarly, if you are using an Amazon Fire TV Stick, you need an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K.
While not all Disney Plus content is available in 4K resolution, the platform is gradually increasing the number of 4K titles. Many popular movies like Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney movies are available in 4K, as well as the latest releases from Pixar. Additionally, most of the Marvel films are available in 4K, which offers a noticeable improvement in picture quality.
Disney Plus also offers features to enhance the viewing experience, such as Dolby Vision and HDR10 for improved picture quality and Dolby Atmos sound support for supported devices. These features are available at no extra cost and can be accessed through the Disney Plus app. A growing number of content on Disney Plus supports these features, and the platform provides a list of content that supports each feature.
Additionally, some Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have received IMAX Enhanced versions, which offer IMAX's 1.90:1 aspect ratio for scenes shot in that format, along with DTS audio. Currently, 13 movies offer this feature, and it is expected that more movies will include IMAX Enhanced scenes in the future. Overall, Disney Plus offers an immersive and high-quality 4K experience for its users.
