How to watch Disney Plus

Disney Plus has all your favourite Disney, Star Wars and Marvel films in one place – plus a whole lot more for all the family to enjoy. Our easy-to-understand guide shows you how to get Disney Plus on your TV and other devices.

Written by

Matthew Brewer

Broadband and mobile expert

Posted

23 MAY 2022

5 min read

What is Disney Plus?

Disney Plus is a streaming service that burst onto the UK scene in March 2020. In a short space of time – helped by lockdown – it became the third most popular subscription streaming service in the UK, behind Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

This magical kingdom of entertainment is a one-stop-shop for Disney-owned TV and film, covering the entire Star Wars saga, Marvel movies and episodes of The Simpsons, as well as classic Disney and Pixar films.

And that’s not all. It showcases Disney originals like hit Marvel series Loki and Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian, as well as TV and films for an older audience through Star, the platform’s grown-up content hub.

How much does Disney Plus cost?

Disney Plus currently costs £7.99 a month in the UK**, but it works out 16% cheaper to pay for a year’s subscription upfront, at £79.90.

When you sign up to the service, you’ll get access to all of Disney’s streaming content, and you can set up seven different profiles per account. This means every member of most households can have their own profile.

**Prices correct as of May 2022.

What devices can I watch Disney Plus on?

As has become the norm for streaming services, you can download the Disney Plus app to a range of devices. Here are some of the ways to access it, including how to watch Disney Plus on your TV.

Laptops and PCs – watch directly online through your desktop web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer).
Apple and Android devices – you can download Disney Plus to most Apple and Android devices, including smartphones and tablets.
Smart TVs – newer TVs, including Samsung, LG and Sony smart TVs, will let you access Disney Plus directly through the inbuilt app menu.
Streaming devices – if you have an older TV, you can plug a small device into the back of your set to connect it to the internet. Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Roku all allow you to stream Disney Plus to your TV screen.
Games consoles – you can also watch Disney Plus on your TV screen through some games consoles including Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Sky Q – Sky TV customers can subscribe to Disney Plus and watch it through their Sky Q set-top box as part of their entertainment bundle.

What TV and movies can I watch on Disney Plus?

As well as pretty much everything from Disney’s vast back-catalogue, you can also feast your eyes on a wide variety of other content, ranging from Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the Broadway musical Hamilton.

The impressive library of movies and TV series on Disney Plus includes:

Disney animated classics like The Jungle Book, Bambi, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid
Pixar films, including Toy Story, The Incredibles and Up
Exclusive and back-catalogue content from the Star Wars franchise, including all the films and Disney original The Mandalorian
Films and original TV shows from Marvel Studios, including Avengers: Endgame, Loki, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Exclusives like Hamilton, Black is King and the 2020 live-action version of Mulan
TV shows, films and box-sets aimed at an adult audience on the Star hub, including Big Sky, Family Guy and Oscar-winning film Nomadland
National Geographic documentaries, including Wicked Tuna and Ice Road Rescue

Frequently asked questions

What countries is Disney Plus available in?

Disney Plus was first launched in the US, Canada and the Netherlands in November 2019, and rolled out a week later in Australia and New Zealand. It’s since been extended to a host of other countries, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, France, Denmark, Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica and Singapore. Available content is based on where you live.

Does Disney Plus have parental controls?

Yes, Disney Plus has various parental control features that mean little ones can be shielded from anything unsuitable. With content ratings, you can set an age rating, for example 9+. This will automatically filter out shows that aren’t suitable for under-nines. Alternatively, you can set up kids’ profiles that only include age-appropriate content. For families that each have their own profile, you can set a four-digit PIN to prevent others from accessing it.

How many devices can I use at once?

Disney Plus allows you to stream content on up to four devices at the same time. This means that your youngest can watch Frozen on their tablet while your teenager watches Love, Victor on their laptop and you catch up with the final season of The Walking Dead on TV – all at the same time.

Can I download content from Disney Plus?

Yes, you can download TV shows and films from Disney Plus on up to 10 mobile devices, so you can watch offline when you’re on the go. This is perfect for long road trips with the kids or for keeping everyone entertained on a long-haul flight. Downloads are supported on iPhone, iPad, Android phones and Android tablets (including Amazon Fire tablets). They’re not available on laptops, though.

Can I watch Disney Plus in 4K?

Yes, 4K (or ultra-high definition) streaming is included in a Disney Plus subscription as standard, unlike most other platforms. But to watch films and shows in glorious 4K, your devices and screens will need to be 4K-compatible. You’ll also need fibre broadband with a speed of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) to get the best results.

What is GroupWatch?

Disney Plus GroupWatch allows you to enjoy virtual movie nights across different households, similar to Netflix’s Teleparty. Up to seven Disney Plus subscribers can watch a film or show together with synchronised playback. Anyone can pause, rewind or fast-forward the movie – handy if you need a toilet break or want to re-watch a vital scene. Although there's no built-in chat facility like the Netflix version, you can post emoji reactions while you watch.

Is Disney Plus included with any other subscriptions?

Disney Plus is available through Sky’s premium Sky Q subscription service and as an app via the NOW streaming stick or box. As it’s fully integrated into the Sky Q set-up, you can download the Disney Plus app and pay for it as part of your Sky bill. The deal between Disney and Sky means that you can’t currently get Disney Plus integrated with other UK TV providers such as BT and Virgin Media.