Disney+ Review 2020

Data effective 11/12/19. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

What is Disney+?

Disney+ is a new on-demand streaming service. Along with Disney favorites, it features shows and movies from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

If you’re looking for The Mandalorian, Marvel’s What If . . . ?, or the live-action Lady & the Tramp, Disney+ is the only place to get them. There’s a ton of other new shows coming from Disney+ over the next few years.

Bottom line: Is Disney+ good?

Despite the app bugs at launch, Disney+ has a smooth interface and a lot of fresh new content. And if you want a place to stream your kid’s favorite Disney movies, there’s no better place.

Disney plans on not streaming its movies anywhere else—and that includes Netflix. So unless you’re planning on buying the Blu-ray for every Disney movie your kid wants, Disney+ will be your only option.

Disney+ free trials and deals

Disney+ has a seven-day free trial. You can check out all the shows and videos before deciding if the service is worth $6.99 per month to you.

If you want to save in the long run, you can take the plunge for Disney+’s $69.99 per year deal. You’ll save $13.89 annually.

Or you can up your streaming game with a special deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for only $12.99 per month. This bundle deal will save you $4.98 per month on the cost of the three services separately.

Disney+ promotions and deals

When Disney+ launches on November 12, so will a new bundle deal. You can get Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu for $12.99 per month, which saves you $4.98.

Disney+ vs. the competition

How does Disney+ compare to the competition?

Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

If you’ve tried out other streaming services, you’ll have an easy time figuring out Disney+. But Disney+ shines in some family-friendly ways the competition doesn’t.

You can make up to seven user profiles, where your family members can customize their watchlist and get shows recommended for their interests.

And right from the get-go, your family can stream four shows at once. You have to pay $15.99 per month to get that from Netflix. And to get that many with Hulu, you have to pay $54.98 per month for its live TV streaming service and unlimited streams. Yikes.

And in addition to four streams, Disney+ encourages you to download as many shows as you want on up to ten devices. Netflix lets you download 100, but only on up to four devices (with the $15.99 per month service).

But Disney+ isn’t available on previous generation gaming consoles. Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video—as long-time favorites—still support many of these outdated models.

But if that’s a concern for you, keep in mind that a Roku costs just $26.99. A simple streaming device upgrade will open the wide world of Disney+ to you and your kiddos.

Disney+ plans and pricing

Different prices, same access

Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Choose your Disney+ plan

There are three ways to get the full Disney+ experience. The monthly price is $6.99, but you can pay for an entire year ahead of time, which saves you $13.89.

Or you can get Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month. That’s a savings of $4.98 each month.

Keep in mind the bundle plan only includes Hulu’s basic on-demand service. You won’t be able to upgrade to the no-ads or live-TV services. So the bundle deal is a nice package if you want just a taste of Hulu, but it won’t get you the full experience.

Disney+ shows and movies

On-demand shows and movies

Disney+ pried open the Disney Vault, releasing tons of classic films. You’ll also find Disney Channel, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic favorites.

But Disney+ isn’t a full archive. You won’t find any R-rated content here, and the problematic Song of the South is still tucked away. And this writer still hopes for the cult-favorite Aladdin animated TV series to join the lineup.

While we wait for Aladdin’s TV show to zoom in on a magic carpet, there’s a ridiculous amount of movies and shows for you to watch for the first or thousandth time. Consider starting with these favorites:

• Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• The Sandlot (1993)
• The Parent Trap (1961)

Original shows and movies

In addition to the opened vault, Disney+ brings with it original shows you can’t get anywhere else. It’s not just Disney IPs, either—Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic all have their contributions.

Unlike the Netflix style of putting up a whole series at once, Disney+ takes a page from traditional TV release schedules. New episodes come out about once a week.

The verdict is still out on which shows will become fan favorites, but there are a few strong contenders:

• The Mandalorian
• High School Musical: The Musical: The Series
• Marvel Hero Project
• The World According to Jeff Goldblum

And this writer admits that High School Musical: The Musical: The Series showed more self-awareness than expected, but I could endure only seven minutes and 30 seconds. (But I’m probably not the target audience, so take that with a grain of salt.)

Start binge-watching Disney+

Disney+ specs and features

Disney+ flew out of the gate with some of the most family-conscious features we’ve ever seen.

But no matter the size of your household—even if you’re single with a cat, like this writer—the 4K Ultra HD specs will look phantasmagorical. (Thanks for the five-dollar word, Jeff Goldblum.)

Personal profiles

How many profiles does Disney+ let you customize?

With Disney+, up to seven of your family members can have their own profile. They can build their own watchlist and get personalized recommendations on what to watch next.

And with the toggle of a button, you can make profiles kid-friendly. Kids Profiles have access only to TV-7FV, G, and some PG shows and videos. These limits will help you keep “big kid” shows out of your younglings’ grasps until they’re ready for them.

Multiple streams

How many simultaneous streams does Disney+ have?

Go ahead—set one kiddo in front of the TV and let the teen twins stream shows on their phones, while you kick back with Free Solo on your tablet.

If you need Disney+ on more than four devices at once, keep in mind Disney+ doesn’t offer any stream upgrades. But the easy workaround for that is to download titles ahead of time.

Offline viewing

Does Disney+ let you download shows?

You can stuff up to 10 devices full of as many Disney+ shows and movies as you want.

Really—you can download unlimited shows for the whole family. As long as you have a device ready for everyone, you can avoid every fight for movie-choosing supremacy. Road trips just became quieter than ever. Praise be.

Compatible streaming devices

Is your device compatible with Disney+?

Disney+ runs on most recent-generation streaming devices. There were a few stumbles with apps not working first thing on Disney+’s launch day. But most of those seem sorted out by now.

Keep in mind that Disney+ has a lot of 4K Ultra HD content. You can watch those shows on lower resolution devices, but they’ll look best on a nice new 4K TV.

Get Disney+ on all your devices

Video quality

This writer loves how Disney+ looks on their 4K TV and iPhone XR. It’s not quite as magical on their company-issued monitor, which maxes out at Full HD resolution (1080p).

All the new Disney+ originals are ready to play in 4K Ultra HD and HDR. It’s breathtaking to see the alien landscapes of The Mandalorian in such high resolution.

On top of that, Disney remastered its older titles for Disney+. We’re not telling you to toss your old Disney VHS and DVDs, but they’ll be collecting a lot of dust with all the visually superior content on Disney+.

If you’re watching on a TV or mobile device, you can check the highest available quality in each title’s Details section. This feature isn’t available on the browser version of Disney+, though.

And keep in mind that Disney+ will adjust the quality of your stream based on the strength of your internet connection. If you’re going to be out and about, you’ll get a better picture by downloading your shows ahead of time rather than relying on a spotty 4G LTE connection.

One shooty robot playing on Disney+, as viewed from a Full HD computer monitor.

The Disney+ interface makes it one of the most intuitive streaming services to navigate. It serves up studios, a personalized recommendation list, and a wide variety of collections like Feel-Good Sports Movies, Best Friends, and Fun Mysteries.

And if you don’t see the show you want on the front page, you can quickly search and find it. Or click on the title card for any show and go to the Suggested column for related things to watch.

Basically, you’ll always have something family-friendly to watch from now until the end of time. So start stocking that watchlist already.

The Disney+ home screen as seen on a computer browser.

Final take: Is Disney+ worth it?

Disney+ is a wish your heart made while you were fast asleep. There’s so much here for you and your family (or you and your cat) to enjoy. Your new subscription will be the best $6.99 you’ve spent on entertainment this month.

Pros and cons of Disney+

Discover the magic of Disney+

Disney+ FAQ

When will Disney+ be available?

Disney+ released on November 12, 2019. You can sign up for Disney+ for $6.99 per month.

Will Netflix still get Disney movies?

Netflix may host a few holdovers after Disney+ debuts, but it won’t get any new Disney movies. Captain Marvel is available exclusively on Disney+.

Does Disney+ have Disney Channel Original Movies?

Yes, Disney+ has Disney Channel Original Movies. You can get everything from the 1990s classic Halloweentown to the 2010s Kim Possible movie.

Is Disney+ 4K?

Yes, Disney+ offers originals and old favorites in 4K. You’ll need 4K-supporting devices to enjoy the full quality of this high resolution, so it might be time to buy a new 4K TV and an Apple TV 4K.

Does Disney+ include Hulu?

No, Disney+ is a separate service from Hulu. But when you sign up for Disney+, you can opt for a deal that comes with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $12.99 per month.