Disney+ is making waves in the UK streaming market with a major revamp of its subscription tiers: instead of one single plan, Disney+ will soon offer three tiers – and we now have the full details.
Hot on the heels of its announcement to introduce an ad-supported model yesterday, the entertainment giant has now laid out the full blueprint of its new subscription offerings, set to roll out this November.
While the introduction of varied plans offers more choices for potential subscribers, it’s the existing users who need to brace for impact.
The restructuring is not just about added flexibility – it’s also a harbinger of a price hike in the UK (and several other countries).
Those loyal to the platform since its inception will soon find themselves at a crossroads: adapt to the new pricing structure or reconsider their subscription altogether (see full details below).
This move, influenced by the successful ad-tier launch in the US, marks another significant pivot in the UK’s streaming landscape, following in the footsteps of Netflix’s recent removal of its ‘Basic’ tier.
Adverts And New Tiers Coming To Disney+ UK
In a significant move that’s set to reshape (yet again) the streaming landscape in the UK, Disney+ has today unveiled its new subscription plans, offering more flexibility to its subscribers – along with a price increase.
Starting November 1, Disney+ UK will roll out three distinct subscription options in the UK:
Standard With Ads: Priced at £4.99/month, this plan offers Full HD 1080p video quality, two concurrent streams, and 5.1 and Stereo audio. However, it won’t support downloads (as Disney can’t show you adverts if you’re offline).
Standard: For £7.99/month or £79.90 annually, subscribers get Full HD 1080p video, two concurrent streams, 5.1 and Stereo audio, and the added benefit of downloads.
Premium: At £10.99/month or £109.90 annually, this tier offers up to 4K UHD & HDR video quality, four concurrent streams, Dolby Atmos audio, and download capability. In essence, this is the existing Disney+ tier that we all know – which will be renamed and repriced in November.
Here’s a full comparison of the new tiers:
| Standard with Ads | Standard | Premium | |||
| Ads | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ||
| Exclusive Originals and Library Content | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Subscription Price | Monthly | Monthly | Annual | Monthly | Annual |
| £4.99 | £7.99 | £79.90 | £10.99 | £109.90 | |
| Video Quality | Up to Full HD 1080p | Up to Full HD 1080p | Up to 4K UHD & HDR | ||
| Concurrent Streams | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| Downloads | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Audio | 5.1 and Stereo | 5.1 and Stereo | Dolby Atmos | ||
Disney confirmed to us that the content libraries will be identical on all three Disney+ plans (unlike Netflix’s ad-supported plan, for example, where some titles aren’t available).
Existing Disney+ subscribers will continue with their current plan, soon to be renamed “Disney+ Premium”, but will have the option to switch to the new Standard tiers.
However, a crucial point to note is that existing subscribers will only keep their current pricing until December 6.
At that point, they will be billed the new price starting from their next billing cycle (which can take up to a year if you sign up right before December 6).
Yes, Disney+ UK Prices Are Increasing
For the loyal base of Disney+ UK subscribers who have been with the platform since its inception or joined along the way, the introduction of new tiers brings about a crucial decision point.
While the company’s announcement paints a picture of flexibility and choice, there’s an underlying narrative that’s hard to ignore: a significant price hike for those who wish to retain their current viewing experience (and not watch adverts).
Existing subscribers are currently on a plan that costs £7.99/month. Post the revamp, this plan will be rebranded as “Disney+ Premium”.
On the surface, this might seem like a mere name change. However, the devil is in the details.
From December 6 onwards, if these subscribers wish to continue enjoying their current ad-free tier with its existing benefits, they will see their monthly subscription fee jump to £10.99/month.
That’s a substantial 37.5% increase in cost.
If you pay annually, the price will jump from £79.90/year to £109.90/year, for the newly named “Premium” tier.
While Disney+ is offering the option to switch to the new “Standard” or “Standard with Ads” plans, it’s essential to recognize that these come with their own set of compromises.
The “Standard with Ads” plan, despite being more affordable, introduces periodic adverts, potentially disrupting the immersive viewing experience that many have grown accustomed to.
On the other hand, the “Standard” plan, although ad-free, comes with other limitations – such as a reduced video resolution and only two concurrent streams.
In essence, existing subscribers are placed in a somewhat precarious position.
They can either accept a significant monthly price increase to retain their current benefits or opt for a potentially compromised viewing experience at a lower or similar cost.
While the company’s move can be seen as a strategic response to the evolving streaming landscape, it’s hard not to view it as a veiled price hike for its most loyal user base.
Disney+ VS Netflix’s New Plans
As the streaming wars intensify, both Disney+ and Netflix are now offering ad-supported tiers, with the ‘Standard With Ads’ tier being the lower-priced plan on both services (starting from November).
The plans are now somewhat similar – though Disney Plus’ Premium tier is still cheaper than Netflix’s highest tier:
Disney+ New Subscription Plans:
Disney+ Standard with Ads:
- Price: £4.99/month
- Video Quality: Up to Full HD 1080p
- Concurrent Streams: 2
- Downloads: No
- Audio: 5.1 and Stereo
Disney+ Standard:
- Price: £7.99/month or £79.90 annually
- Video Quality: Up to Full HD 1080p
- Concurrent Streams: 2
- Downloads: Yes
- Audio: 5.1 and Stereo
Disney+ Premium:
- Price: £10.99/month or £109.90 annually
- Video Quality: Up to 4K UHD & HDR
- Concurrent Streams: 4
- Downloads: Yes
- Audio: Dolby Atmos
Netflix UK Subscription Plans (Post Revamp):
Netflix Standard with Ads:
- Price: £4.99/month
- Video Quality: Full HD (1080p)
- Concurrent Streams: 2
- Downloads: No (with some content restrictions)
- Adverts: Yes
Netflix Standard:
- Price: £10.99/month
- Video Quality: Full HD (1080p)
- Concurrent Streams: 2
- Downloads: Yes
- Adverts: No
Premium:
- Price: £15.99/month
- Video Quality: UltraHD (4K)
- Concurrent Streams: 4
- Downloads: Yes
- Adverts: No
At a glance, both Disney+ and Netflix offer a similar tier at £4.99/month, introducing ads to provide a more affordable option.
However, while Disney+’s “Standard with Ads” and Netflix’s equivalent offer the same video quality and number of streams, Netflix’s ad-supported tier comes with some content restrictions.
On Disney+, the content libraries will be identical on all plans.
For those looking for an ad-free experience, Disney+ offers its “Standard” tier at £7.99/month, which is £3 cheaper than Netflix’s ad-free “Standard” option at £10.99/month.
At the premium end, Disney+’s “Premium” tier is priced at £10.99/month, offering 4K UHD streaming on four devices. In contrast, Netflix’s “Premium” tier is priced higher at £15.99/month but offers similar benefits.
In conclusion, while both platforms are introducing ad-supported models to cater to budget-conscious viewers, Disney+ seems to be offering a slightly more competitive pricing structure, especially for those seeking higher quality and ad-free streaming.
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Thanks for this great little article, which has given me enough clarity to determine next steps.