Is Disney Plus Worth It? 4 Reasons to Sign Up

Disney+ is Disney Entertainment’s subscription streaming service. With a content library primarily made up of Disney-owned IP, including Star Wars and Marvel, Disney+ is one of the top streaming services for families. But does it have enough for everyone else?

This guide will help you determine whether or not Disney+ is worth subscribing to, weighing factors such as your budget, viewing preferences, household, and overall affinity for the Disney brand.

What is Disney Plus?

Disney+ originally launched in 2019 as a direct competitor to Netflix and other major streaming services. Disney had previously licensed streaming rights to much of its content to Netflix, but the company effectively put an end to this practice with Disney+. Now, instead of sifting through a variety of platforms, viewers can find (almost) every Disney production under one roof.

Since its launch, the Disney+ library has grown considerably. While dominated by Disney Animation, Marvel, and Star Wars, you’ll also find content from 21st Century Studios (formerly Fox), National Geographic, and more.

Who Should Get Disney Plus?

Many people subscribe to Disney+, and you should consider joining them if:

• You have young children
• You’re a big fan of Marvel and/or Star Wars
• You want to bundle your Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+
• You're looking for a low-cost entry plan with good value
  

Who Shouldn’t Get Disney Plus?

Disney+ isn't a good fit for everyone. You may want to avoid it if you:

• Don’t care about Disney content
• Want a lot of high-quality original programming
• Live in the US and don't want to pay extra for Hulu

Why You Should Get Disney Plus

The main advantage Disney+ has over many of its competitors is its wealth of popular franchises, as it’s hard to compete with the sheer popularity of movies like Avengers: Endgame or Frozen. But it also has more going for it than just obvious exclusives. Here are some of the main reasons to get Disney+.

You Have Young Children

While there’s plenty of entertainment on Disney Plus+ everyone, it’s hard to deny that the library skews to a younger crowd. Between the massive Disney Animated Classics catalog and wide array of children’s programming, Disney+ is one of the best streaming services for kids.

The service also has very little R-rated content, making it less likely that children will stumble upon an inappropriate TV show or movie. However, you can add an extra layer of protection with parental controls, as Disney+ lets you create a profile for your child and set restrictions based on age rating. 

You're a Diehard Fan of the MCU and Star Wars

This arguably applies to any of the big properties under the Disney umbrella, as you’ll probably want to subscribe if you’re a big Pixar fan, for instance. However, let’s just focus on the two titans at the top of the pile. 

To date, Marvel and Star Wars have been one of, if not the driving force behind Disney's streaming content strategy. For one thing, you can watch the Star Wars back catalog and almost the entire MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) front-to-back.

But Disney has also made original streaming content a big focus for both franchises. The Mandalorian, Andor, Loki, Moon Knight, and more are all exclusive original series. If you want to keep up with the MCU or Star Wars, a Disney+ subscription is pretty much required.

You Want to Subscribe to Hulu and ESPN+

Like many streaming services, Disney+ has significantly increased its prices in recent years and now offers arguably too many tiers. However, you can get pretty good value if you take advantage of certain plans and bundles.

Disney+ currently offers the following plans:

• Disney+ Basic (with ads) - $7.99/month
• Disney+ Premium (no ads) - $13.99/month
• Duo Basic (Disney+ and Hulu, with ads) - $9.99/month
• Duo Premium (Disney+ and Hulu, no ads) - $19.99/month
• Trio Basic (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, with ads) - $14.99/month
• Trio Premium (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, no ads) - $24.99/month

Adding Hulu to your plan may or may not be worth it, depending on how interested you are in the service. However, if you’re a sports fan, the Trio Basic or Trio Premium plans are hard to pass up, thanks to the inclusion of ESPN+. This option makes Disney+ a good choice if you’re looking to simplify your streaming bill, as you can cover a huge variety of entertainment with one bundle. 

You Want a Good Value Basic Plan

As mentioned above, the core Disney+ service comes in two tiers: Basic and Premium. Both plans offer the same amount of content, but Premium removes ads, lets you download content for offline viewing, and offers visual fidelity perks like 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, and Dolby Vision (the Basic plan restricts resolution to 1080p).

While Disney+ Premium is the better plan, Basic offers decent value for the cost. If you can put up with ads and the lack of offline viewing, the restrictions are pretty reasonable for $7.99/month.

When You Shouldn’t Get Disney Plus

The streaming wars are much more competitive than they were when Disney+ first launched, making it harder than ever to decide which platforms are worth your time and money. While Disney+ remains one of the better services on the market, there are a few reasons you may want to pass on it.

You're Not a Big Disney Fan

If you’re only a casual fan of most Disney IP, including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, it’s hard to recommend splurging for a Disney Plus subscription.

Yes, there’s more to the service than this, and it may even be worth it just for access to The Simpsons. But unless you’re bundling Hulu and ESPN+, you’ll probably be better served by other streaming services with deeper, more diversified content libraries.

You Want a Steady Stream of High-Quality Originals

Original content is king in the streaming era, and while Disney+ has had its share of hits, its overall offering lags a bit behind some of its closest competitors. Compared to the “quality over quantity” approach of Apple TV+ or Netflix’s sheer scale of original programming, Disney+ has focused on its big franchises for original content, and not all of it has worked.

While there have been undeniable wins like Andor and Loki, other Disney+ originals like Obi-Wan and Secret Wars feel inessential. Again, much of this issue comes down to your affinity for Disney franchises, but if you’re expecting a steady stream of can’t-miss originals, you may be disappointed.

You Live in the US and Don't Want to Pay Extra for Hulu

Since Disney owns both this platform and Hulu, it’s fair to expect the two services would be combined at some point. Instead, Disney has kept the two services separate, meaning you have to pay extra to get both.

Outside of the US, many Disney+ subscribers get a better deal. Internationally, Hulu is rolled up in the Star brand, which comes included with Disney+. While there are some restrictions, international subscribers get to watch a lot more on this platform without a Hulu subscription.