Disney Plus UK: First Impressions

We’re experiencing a time right now in the world where streaming services and entertainment might offer a little bit of a distraction from things, and so it was perfect timing that Disney Plus landed in the UK on the 24th of March. The United States have had the service since November of 2019, so us fans here in the UK have been waiting anxiously for it to drop, and it finally has. I thought I’d take a look at the service, the options and how it works in this article for anyone considering subscribing to it.

So, right away I have to say that there is a whole lotta content to be had here. If you’re a Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, Simpsons or Nat Geo fan, then you’re gonna love the things on offer. Now, as a lifelong Disney fan I already have hard-copies of most Disney films, but having them all here is cool, especially for those who don’t already have them. All the Disney classics, Pixar movies and live-action Disney flicks are on here, from old-time favourites like Robin Hood, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty to modern greats like Moana, Toy Story 4 and Frozen. If you want to go back to the 90s and watch some of those amazing cartoon shows like X-Men: The Animated Series, Goof Troop, Darkwing Duck and Duck Tales, then those are on here too, and many more. The Marvel Universe is included, with everything from Iron Man until Endgame one click away. There’s also a bunch of other superhero goodness, with shows like Agent Carter available. Very cool. Star Wars is represented with all the Star Wars movies including spin-offs Solo and Rogue One, as well as Lego Star Wars stuff and the seasons of Clone Wars.

My favourites on here have to be the trilogy of The Mighty Ducks films, animated classics Oliver & Company, Zootropolis and The Princess & The Frog, the throwback 90s cartoon options, random movies like Adventures in Babysitting and Turner and Hooch, and of course everything else. As a fan of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and someone who grew up loving The Simpsons, the quality is up there. The original Disney Plus content is also a big selling point, especially for me. With shows like Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian, documentary series’ like The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and movies like the live-action Lady and the Tramp, there’s a ton already to go at, with more announced to be coming over time. I think this original content, with shows and movies from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars and elsewhere, will make it one of the standout reasons to subscribe to the service. Sure, it’s not all on here yet, but give it time and this could grow into a real beast.

Now, how is the layout and interface? Well, it’s slick and easy to use, which is a big deal. I’m a subscriber to many streaming services, and not all of them are easy to use, be it a poor search engine, a fiddly way to find content, or a slow and laggy movement, but Disney Plus is great. You are immediately on a screen with a a ton of options under different topics, and you can search easily for what you’re looking for. There’s sections to show Disney, Pixar, Nat Geo, Star Wars or Marvel, so you can narrow things down, too. It works very nicely and I’m yet to have a problem with it. Good job, Disney!

As far as the negatives go, I’d say they’re pretty minimal right now. I will say that it’s a shame that customers and subscribers here in the UK won’t be getting Onward or Frozen 2, whereas the US are getting those very soon. There are a few omissions here, with not every single Disney show, movie or release on the service, but most are here, and I would imagine those that are missing will be added over time. Really, I can’t complain about Disney Plus. It’s exactly what we hoped it would be. A one-stop shop for all your Disney needs, and with the addition of thirty seasons of The Simpsons, a whole load of natural history documentaries, original content and new things on the horizon, it really is difficult to feel short-changed. Oh, and that’s a good point too, how can you really feel short-changed? The service will only set you back a mere £5.99 a month, which is pretty damn good for everything you get. If you’re on the fence about it, I’d say at least jump into the 7 day free trial and give it a go, because I think it’s a great start to something that could easily become a massive success. Hell, who am I kidding, it WILL become a massive success, if it isn’t already.

Disney Plus is out now in the UK and can be streamed in a variety of ways. See their website for details!