When Disney skyrocketed into the streaming stratosphere in 2019 with the launch of its direct-to-consumer service, Disney Plus, longtime fans were thrilled. It meant that a vast amount of Disney-licensed content, that we couldn’t previously stream online, was going to be accessible by millions of people — and for a pretty decent price too.
For many, the mass multinational media conglomerate was renowned for films that dominated childhoods. And yet, the studio continues to dominate, with releases like Pixar's Elemental and Inside Out 2 topping the charts — and the latter even became the highest-grossing animated film of all time!
That said, Disney has also catapulted into different universes, like Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, and created new endings to beloved character arcs in live-action remakes (which are pretty hit or miss, to be honest). Consequently, the company has undoubtedly cemented the fact that there’s a Disney film, show or documentary out there for everyone.
However, some question whether Disney Plus is worth maintaining an ongoing subscription to, especially if you’re in a pinch and can’t afford to pay for multiple streaming services. So if you’re questioning whether you want to stay subscribed to the Mouse House, we’ve got you sorted.
We’ve put together this comprehensive guide on what Disney Plus will cost you in 2024, spelling out what’s included in its plans and more. If you’re interested in price comparisons across Aussie streamers, the best streaming services currently available, or simply what to watch in Australia this month, we’ve got you covered too.
How much does Disney Plus cost in Australia?
When Disney Plus first arrived on the Australian streaming scene, it was considered the family-friendly alternative to Netflix and seemed to be worth the value. With no ads, four screens streaming at once, unlimited downloads for 10 devices and no restrictions on streaming resolution, there was not much else Disney could offer. Disney had pretty much every other streaming service trumped, as an alternative.
That was until March 2024, with the rollout of the new Premium subscription tier across Australia and New Zealand that hikes up the price of the previous Standard offering. This means current subscribers will lose out on some of Disney Plus’ benefits, including four screens and 4K streaming. The platform, however, will remain ad-free across both tiers, debunking our previous speculation of an ad-supported tier potentially being rolled out Down Under.
Disney Plus currently offers four subscription plans:
Standard (monthly) plan | AU$13.99
Premium (monthly) plan | AU$17.99
Standard (yearly) plan | AU$139.99
Premium (yearly) plan | AU$179.99
Standard plan
The standard plan remains priced at AU$13.99p/m and AU$139.99 annually, however, it only has two screens in HD resolution and up to 5.1 audio playback. The only thing you won’t miss out on with this downgraded service is unlimited downloads across 10 devices.
Premium plan
The Premium tier features all of the inclusions originally included with Disney Plus — namely, four simultaneous streams in 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos audio and unlimited downloads across 10 devices.
How to pick the right plan for your needs
For most streaming services — Disney Plus included — plan prices typically revolve around two key factors: number of screens and streaming resolution. Obviously, some other factors go into this, like catalogue access and other non-streaming-related benefits, but for the most part, plans are based on the former.
As mentioned above, both standard and premium Disney Plus plans feature no ad breaks, and you can download unlimited amounts of content for offline viewing. The biggest factor now is determining how many screens you would need. If you live in a larger household with multiple devices or you’re keen for some 4K viewing, it may be worth forking out the extra AU$4p/m for a Premium plan. Otherwise, we’d recommend sticking with a Standard plan if you don’t require four concurrent streams.
For most households, a monthly subscription would suffice for multiple users and devices. However, if you’re looking to save some extra cash on subscription costs, then an annual plan may be the right choice for you.
Saving AU$27.89 for Standard and AU$35.89 for Premium per year, an annual subscription offers the exact same benefits of a monthly subscription, but without recurrent billing. Currently, only five streaming services in AU offer yearly subscriptions — Disney Plus, Paramount Plus, Prime Video, BritBox and Apple TV Plus — and offer customers decent savings, so it might be worth switching over if you’re looking for more bang for your buck.
Are there ways to save on subscription costs?
For most subscribers, switching to an annual plan is the best way to save on subscription costs. This would save you AU$27.89 over the year for Standard subs, and AU$35.89 for Premium.
How does Disney Plus pricing compare to other services?
When it comes to comparing Disney Plus to other streaming services available in Australia, Disney is smack dab in the middle. While it’s not the cheapest for a monthly subscription, it also isn’t the most expensive. The Standard plan costs AU$13.99p/m and AU$139.99 per year. Our research shows that standard plans average at AU$13.74p/m.
Disney's premium plan is on par quality-wise with Netflix, Binge and Stan’s respective premium plans — but it costs roughly AU$4 less per month. Coming in at AU$17.99p/m and AU$179.99 per year, the premium tier cost is just under the AU$18.99p/m average.
How does Disney Plus' content catalogue compare?
In terms of content, Disney Plus houses shows, movies and documentaries from across its umbrella (Star, National Geographic, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel). Notably, Disney Plus is known for its original shows, which almost rival Netflix’s originals. Namely, its original Marvel shows are as essential to the MCU as any theatrical release.
Disney Plus currently is home to 3,084 titles, which comprise 2,099 movies and 985 television shows. Across streaming services we monitor, the service comes in fourth highest for its content catalogue, following behind Prime Video, Netflix and Foxtel Now.
Some of Disney Plus’ originals like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Zootopia+, The World According to Jeff Goldblum and American Born Chinese have breathed serious life into the platform. Not to mention the endless Star Wars spin-offs too, like The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, weaving more intricate storylines into George Lucas’ expansive universe. Or if Jedi aren’t up your alley, you’re more than welcome to sink yourself figuratively into James Cameron’s near 4-hour smash-hit sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water.
Some of Disney Plus' 2024 releases include Marvel's Agatha All Along, The Acolyte, a Star Wars prequel series, the third course of The Bear, and season three of the award-winning mockumentary, Abbott Elementary. This month's originals include a feature-length documentary on the career of movie score composer, John Williams, and a new FX series called Say Nothing.
And it would be remiss to gloss over the inclusion of Star and National Geographic into Disney’s library. Star, akin to Hulu, graces us with grown-up fare such as Pam & Tommy and The Kardashians, providing more than enough adult-focused content to justify that the service is not just for kids. NatGeo, meanwhile, feeds curiosity with endless amounts of nature docos, wildlife content, and more.
Has the Australian Disney Plus price increased over time?
Since its introduction in 2019, Disney Plus' monthly subscription has risen by AU$4p/m, and its annual plan has been increased by AU$50. The newest tier rollout marks the fourth time that Disney Plus has been hiked for Aussies.
The last jump saw the service rise from AU$11.99p/m to AU$13.99p/m — a relatively minor hike. However, despite not spending more this time, current subscribers will pay the same for a downgraded service.
Meanwhile, the Premium tier will set you back AU$17.99p/m and AU$179.99 annually.
Is a Disney Plus subscription worth it?
If you’re gotten this far, you’re probably still wondering if a Disney Plus subscription is worth your hard-earned cash, so here’s our advice.
Largely due to its relatively affordable price point, a steady stream of new releases, and enormous content library, Disney Plus is one of the few streaming services that we would stay subscribed to full-time — particularly if you have children in your household.
That said, it’s proven that Disney Plus is not only for kids, with hours of entertainment for adults (or big kids), and has delivered blockbuster after blockbuster, with its original lineup continuing to grow. There are numerous new shows and movies planned for 2024, so there’s sure to be a wealth of content to stick around for this year.
However, with recent price hikes and the introduction of a new premium tier, we know that some households may not be impressed by new changes that have impacted their Disney Plus subscription. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether Disney Plus is worth it for you, so if it isn’t, we have a guide on how to cancel Disney Plus AU that you may want to check out.
