How Much Is Disney Plus and Is It Worth It?

What is Disney Plus?

Disney Plus (also styled as Disney+) is the Walt Disney Company’s paid video-on-demand streaming service. The service is home to exclusive content from Disney’s owned properties. This means that not only do you get add-free on-demand access to all your favourite Disney flicks, but content from Disney companies such as:

• Pixar
• Marvel Studios
• Lucasfilm
• 20th Century Fox
• National Geographic

There’s also plenty of brand new Disney Plus originals coming out, in a similar vein to other streaming services that are focusing on new and original content.

How can I watch Disney Plus?

Similar to other streaming services like Netflix and Neon, Disney Plus can be accessed via an app, or on the web. This means it can be accessed via computers, laptops, tablets, phones, or smart TVs.

It’s also compatible with casting devices such as Chromecast and Apple TV, and gaming consoles, such as the PS4 and PS5.

How many devices can you have with Disney plus NZ?

You can watch all your content through a single account, or create up to seven accounts and stream on four different devices simultaneously. The service also offers an offline viewing option, just download shows you want to watch later. 

How much does Disney Plus cost?

Disney plus costs $14.99 per month. Or, you can save by paying for the year up front, with a 12-month subscription costing $149.99.

This is comparable with many other streaming shows:

• AMC+: from $4.99/month
• AppleTV+: $12.99/month
• Hayu: $8.99/month
• Netflix: from $12.99/month
• Neon: from $12.99/month
• Prime Video: $10.99/month

What can I watch on Disney Plus?

When Disney first announced Disney Plus, people assumed it was a hub for classic Disney content. Which, while nice to have for the kids, wasn’t necessarily enough to justify adding another subscription service to the billing cycle.

However, while you can watch all the classic content you love, thanks to Disney having its fingers in many pies, it’s much more than just animated movies. It’s packed full of shows and films from many of the companies Disney owns. Content includes the wildly popular Marvel and Star Wars franchises, and classic Fox shows like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Arrested Development, Glee and more.

This is, of course, alongside films by companies like 20th Century Pictures, Searchlight Pictures, and Touchstone Pictures.

What’s more, most of this content is exclusive to Disney Plus, and not found on other streaming services.

Original content

Like other streaming services, Disney Plus is releasing plenty of original content. Some popular original shows include:

• The Mandalorian
• The Book of Boba Fett
• Ahsoka
• Only Murders in the Building
• The Beatles Get Back
• Hawkeye
• WandaVision
• Dopesick

What is Disney Plus’s Star channel?

Star is Disney’s new entertainment brand, and a home for much of Disney’s vast catalogue from its various companies. So you’ll find plenty of classic shows and series that you likely weren’t aware were even Disney affiliated!

Star is also home to brand new original content, which you can expect to continue expanding in the future.

Do I have to pay extra for Star?

If you subscribe to Disney Plus, nope! Star is included in your Disney Plus subscription.

The general idea behind Star is that while Disney Plus is suitable for the whole family, Star is full of shows and films for older audiences. It makes sense, then, that Disney Plus launched parental controls alongside Star, which include the ability to set limits on what content each profile can access.

How does Disney Plus compare with other services?

Disney Plus is ideal if you need a streaming service for the kids, that still offers something for you. It’s also great for the adults that never quite stopped being a kid, with plenty of Marvel and Star Wars content, plus classic cartoons like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Futurama, and Bob’s Burgers.

An important factor to consider is Disney’s strategy of maintaining exclusive rights. Much of Disney’s content has already been pulled from other platforms, and the rest will likely follow as existing streaming deals expire.

If you want to watch anything by any of Disney’s affiliate companies, Disney Plus may be the only way you can.

Is Disney Plus worth it in New Zealand?

Value is always going to be determined by what interests you. If you don’t like Disney movies, or don’t have kids, much of the appeal of Disney Plus is already lost. Likewise, if you prefer hard-hitting dramas over Star Wars or Marvel flicks, Disney Plus probably isn’t your best bet.

But if these things do interest you, Disney Plus is certainly worth consideration.

With such an array of streaming video on-demand services on the market, consumers are really spoilt for choice. However, it can be daunting having to sign up to multiple services to watch your favourite shows.

The best broadband

Of course, if you’re watching a lot of Disney Plus, you’re going to need a zippy broadband connection with unlimited data. And if you’re wondering if there’s a better deal out there, perhaps there is. And this is where Canstar Blue can help.

Compare broadband providers for free with Canstar!

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.