Disney+ surged in popularity when it was first launched, but some now question whether they should keep the streaming service. Yet there are so many reasons Disney+ is worth subscribing to.
From its huge content library to its actual price point, Disney+ is still one of the best streaming platforms.
1 There’s So Much Content on Disney+
Disney+ hit the ground running with a huge wealth of content. That’s the advantage of being one of the biggest organizations in the world: the corporation already owns a massive amount of content. So, unlike Netflix, for example, deals don’t need to be reached with other companies to host TV shows and movies.
Since then, contracts have nonetheless been written so that non-Disney media has been added, even including series from the BBC like Doctor Who.
As of earlier in 2024, Disney+ boasts over 500 movies and 350 TV shows.
Some streaming services want you to pay extra for higher-quality downloads. Disney+ doesn’t.
Disney+ displays the highest-quality content your device can support automatically, so if your TV can handle 4K UHD, that’s how you’ll experience video. Some movies are also IMAX Enhanced, which means you see up to 26 percent more of the original image (as per Disney+’s FAQ), so you effectively have the cinematic experience at home.
What’s more, you can control additional things like aspect ratio. For example, take The Simpsons, where older episodes default to a ratio that can cut off the top and bottom of images. Some people are fine with this; it annoys others because it can cut off gags. But you can easily switch to the original 4:3 ratio.
3 There’s Almost Every Episode of The Simpsons
Speaking of The Simpsons, that, too, is a monumental draw for Disney+. It has almost every episode on there. That’s essentially having a channel that plays Simpsons 24/7, the dream of any ’90s kid.
In fact, in December 2022, The Wrap reported that The Simpsons had over 50 times more demand than other Disney+ programs, making it the most-watched show on the platform—by far. That’s why it’s perpetually on the sliders on the homepage.
This is still great, even if you don’t watch The Simpsons. Why? It shows a huge selling point for Disney+: nostalgia. Because of the wealth of content, you’ll find something on there that will make you feel like a kid again. Nostalgia is not to be sniffed at.
4 Content Is More Likely to Stay on Disney+ Than Other Streamers
Fed up of your favorite shows and films disappearing from Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming services? It’s one of the main reasons some think physical media is better than streaming platforms. However, content is more likely to stay on Disney+ than on its competitors.
That’s because Disney+ owns its productions. Copyrights and contracts won’t expire on Disney+-owned content; in fact, the opposite is true. For instance, Marvel’s Netflix TV shows vanished from Netflix and reappeared on Disney+ because the company owns Marvel, and Netflix was only a subcontractor.
5 It’s Still Cheaper Than Other Streaming Services
Yes, the price of Disney+ has increased, but it’s still largely cheaper than its rivals. At the time of writing, plans start at $8 a month. Considering the content on offer, that’s incredible value.
Price points are obviously different according to where you live, as are what’s included. However, a normal ad-free plan in the USA is $14 a month, or $140 paid annually. Add Hulu to your entertainment package, and it’s just $20 a month (although lots of Hulu content is included in the UK). Hulu with no ads, however, is a whopping $17.99 a month by itself!
If you want an ad-free experience with top-quality video on Netflix, that’ll cost you $23 per month. If you want an extra user added to your account, that’s an additional $8 a month.
Paramount+ is cheaper than Disney+, at $12 a month, but it doesn’t have as much content at all.
What’s more, Disney+ is cheaper than physical media, i.e. DVDs and Blu-rays.
The aforementioned $14 covers everything you want to see in a month. That’s Star Wars, Marvel, Disney animations, Disney live-action films, Pixar, and loads of TV. Each movie on its own could set you back $15 or more if you’re getting physical copies.
You won’t own it, but you can still view it whenever you like. Physical media still has its place, of course. Streaming platforms, though, are good testing grounds, so you can try out a series, and if you love it, you can get the box set for posterity. Similarly, if you find a movie you adore, you can buy the Blu-ray so you can keep it forever.
7 You Can Change Your Payment Tier
If entertainment is still getting a bit too expensive, you can switch to a cheaper tier on Disney+.
For US customers, you could drop down from having Hulu and ESPN to the basic Disney+ package—which is still very much worth the money. Or if that’s too pricey still, you could drop down to the ad-supported tier. That’s $8 a month, which is easily how much you could pay for a sandwich!
If life gets easier and your income goes up, you can increase how much you spend on streaming, but many are happy enough with the ads-supported platform. It’s not as time-consuming as traditional television, anyway.
8 You Can Check Out Bonus Features
So what other reasons might you prefer physical media? Value Added Material (VAM) is definitely a bonus. But in many cases, Disney+ offers special features too.
Should you want to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of a film, you can access documentaries and commentaries to satisfy that need. The same goes for deleted scenes, gag reels, original trailers, and more things you’d otherwise only expect from Blu-rays and DVDs.
Disney+ also has stuff that you won’t find on discs. The Marvel Studios: Assembled documentary series launched in 2021 and charts the makings of all the major films and TV shows of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). And you can’t get them on Blu-ray yet.
9 There Are Lots of Disney+ Exclusives
That raises an important point about Disney+: a lot of content is exclusive to the streaming service. Disney Originals include:
- Andor
- The Imagineering Story
- Hawkeye
- One Day at Disney
- The Mandalorian
- Noelle
- Moon Knight
- National Treasure: Edge of History
- X-Men ’97
- The Beatles: Get Back
- Muppets Now
- Baymax!
- Limitless with Chris Hemsworth
- WandaVision
And lots more. That means that, even if you just dip into Disney+ with a few months’ subscription, there’s plenty more being added that you’ll want to return for.
10 You Can Find Hidden Gems
Disney+ makes finding stuff you might otherwise miss easy by highlighting content on the main sliders and an extensive homepage. One of the coolest things is surely the National Geographic section, which you can access via the logo on the far right of your interface. There it is; the wonders of the world at your fingertips.
Nat Geo is a mind-blowing brand: you’ll find documentaries from years gone by, as well as up-to-date seasons that’ll take you from your living room to Ancient Egypt, Mars, or America’s national parks.
These are all gems that might otherwise be hidden in favor of, for example, Netflix’s algorithms, which only highlight more of the same stuff you’re used to. You’ll also find surprising shows on Disney+: Hulu offers Hit-Monkey, an animation that’s insane yet touching; BBC content is sometimes added too, like Killing Eve.
Ultimately, then, the wealth of amazing content available and its low price point mean Disney+ is still well worth subscribing to.
