The school holidays are just around the corner, and you might be wondering whether there will be enough kid-friendly activities and shows on TV to keep the children busy, glued to the screen and out of your hair.
There has never been a better moment to housekeep your family’s entertainment arsenal. The days when Netflix was the holy grail are now long gone, and you’ve now got to wade through a sea of competing platforms like Disney+, Viu Premium, et al.
Not to worry. If your kids dream of living on a diet of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and gang, this Disney+ guide is for you.
What is Disney Plus?
Disney+ is Disney’s streaming platform. Like Netflix, it lets you watch shows on a connected device like a desktop, computer or tablet.
That doesn’t mean you’ll be forced to watch Mickey Mouse reruns all day long. Over the past 15 years, The Walt Disney Company has gone on an acquisition spree, and they now own Pixar, Marvel and more. And under the Disney brand itself, you can watch not only the animated films for which they are most famous, but all manner of kid-oriented TV shows on the Disney Channel.
The range of content for users is limited to what’s available in their country, although you can bypass that with a VPN. Disney Plus Singapore includes shows for the following:
- Disney
- Pixar
- Marvel
- Star Wars
- National Geographic
- Star
How much does Disney Plus cost?
Disney+ uses a monthly subscription model that costs $11.98 per month.
You can save over 15% by signing up for a 12-month package, in which case you pay $119.98 per year.
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How can I get Disney Plus for free?
To those who think nothing in life is free, think again! There are actually ways to get free streaming services, the most obvious choice being through your telco. For instance, M1 is offering 12 months of free Viu Premium with their plans, while Singtel is offering HBO GO (unfortunately not free).
So which telco offers free Disney+? StarHub! They are supposedly the only telco that has the rights to sell Disney+, which explains why neither SingTel nor M1 have rolled out free Disney+ promos.
Simply sign up for a new StarHub TV+, Broadband or Mobile+ plan and you get free Disney+ access.
If you already have a StarHub plan, you can activate your free Disney+ access via the My StarHub app.
Disney Plus vs Netflix vs HBO vs Viu vs Hulu vs Apple TV vs Amazon Prime Video Price
Want to know where you should be spending your money? Here’s a quick and dirty guide to the various streaming services and what you can watch.
| Streaming service | Price | Highlights |
| Disney+ | $11.98 (Monthly)
$119.98 (Yearly) |
Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars films
National Geographic documentaries |
| Netflix | $12.98 (Basic)
$17.48 (Standard) $21.98 (Premium) |
Netflix Originals like Stranger Things, BoJack Horseman, The Queen’s Gambit
Popular series like Friends, The Office, Bridgerton Studio Ghibli films Anime series |
| HBO GO | $13.98 (Monthly)
$29.98 (3 months) |
HBO series like Girls, Big Little Lies, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Six Feet Under |
| Viu | $0 (Basic)
$7.98 per month (Premium 7 days) $3.98 (Premium Student Monthly) $7.98 (Premium Monthly) $22.74 (Premium 90 days) $43.09 (Premium 180 days) $76.61 (Premium Yearly) |
Asian dramas, films, variety/reality shows and music videos
Anime series |
| Hulu | 6.99 USD (Monthly with ads)
69.99 USD (Yearly with ads) 12.99 USD (Premium with no ads) |
Hulu Original series like The Handmaid’s Tail, Only Murders in the Building, The Great |
| Apple TV | $6.98 (Monthly) | Popular TV series like Peaky Blinders, Riverdale, Grey’s Anatomy
Apple TV Original series like Mr Corman, Little Voice |
| Amazon Prime Video | $2.99 (Monthly) | Popular TV series like Sherlock, Elementary
Amazon Prime Originals like Good Omens, Fleabag |
Is Disney Plus worth it in Singapore?
In terms of price, Disney+ is cheaper than the big boys Netflix and HBO GO, but cheaper than the smaller streamers like Apple TV and Amazon Prime, which have far fewer shows.
Disney+’s main selling point is that all of its shows are owned by Disney and cannot be found anywhere else. This is in contrast to the other platforms, which tend to have some exclusives but also share many popular titles.
So, is Disney+ worth it? That depends on whether you plan to watch Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars/National Geographic shows frequently. If you have kids, it is probably worth it, as children like watching their favourite films on repeat. After being forced to watch Frozen for the 500th time, you can at least congratulate yourself on getting your money’s worth.
Can I cancel Disney Plus at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your Disney+ subscription at any time.
Cancelling your subscription does not delete your account, so you can always reactivate it when you’re ready for another Disney/Pixar/Marvel/Star Wars binge.
Best credit cards for entertainment such as Netflix, Spotify and Disney Plus
To get a little bit more for your money, use a credit card that rewards you with air miles, cashback or rewards points to pay for your subscription on Netflix, Disney+, Spotify or what have you.
If you’re an entertainment lover, here are 3 credit cards to consider:
The OCBC 90°N Card lets you earn 3 Travel$ reward points for every $1 spent on streaming subscriptions.
The Maybank Family & Friends Card allows you to receive up to 8% cash rebate on online TV streaming subscriptions.
Finally, use the UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card to earn 10 UNI$ reward points for every $5 spent on entertainment.
Do you have the best credit card for entertainment? Here are all the best credit card promotions in Singapore.