Disney Plus is an on-demand video streaming service that is home to popular movies and TV series from across the Disney content family. Many of these films and TV shows are also available for viewers to watch in 4K, the highest possible video resolution. This article will provide a review of Disney Plus, explore does Disney Plus have 4K content, and advise how to watch Disney Plus 4K. Take a look at our Disney+ review for more information about the service.
What does 4K mean and why would I need it?
The highest quality video resolution currently available is 4K. It delivers four times the pixel resolution of standard high-definition (HD) video. It provides 2,160 x 3,840 pixels compared to the 1,080 x 1,920 pixels offered by a 1080p high-definition image screen.
TVs with 4K video quality provide stunningly sharp, smooth pictures. Black and dark shades appear darker, which ensures that brighter colors jump off the screen, which ensures a more vivid viewing experience.
To watch content in 4K, viewers will need a TV set that supports the video resolution. If they have a 4K smart TV then they can watch their favorite streaming services directly through an app on the set. If not, then they will also require a 4K ready streaming device.
What 4K content is there on Disney Plus?
Plenty of Disney Plus 4K content is available at no extra cost to its subscribers. However, not all content on Disney Plus is available in 4K. Movies or TV shows that do support the video resolution will be signified by an ‘HD’ icon in the information section under their title. Furthermore, the service has helpfully collated its movies that are available in 4K in a curated section called Ultra HD and high dynamic range (HDR), but it has not provided such a list for its 4K ready TV shows.
The 4K content available on Disney+ includes all of the Star Wars movies. That means subscribers can watch every single episode of the movie franchise in the highest video quality. This includes 1977 movie Episode IV: A New Hope and the 1978 film Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back through to the more recent Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, Free Solo, and 2019 release Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Viewers armed with a TV set and a streaming device capable of handling 4K can also enjoy all of the Marvel movies in their finest visual glory. This includes films like Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2. The Marvel collection in 4K is home to Marvel’s The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Endgame, Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Captain America: Winter Soldier, as well as Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, Thor, Thor: Ragnarok, and Thor: The Dark World.
Other movies available in 4K include Nicolas Cage in National Treasure and National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, swashbuckling adventures in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Remember The Titans, Roger Rabbit, and The Santa Clause.
Disney+’s range of 4K movies includes plenty of family-friendly viewing. This includes the entire Pixar move collection, such as all four of the Toy Story movies. Other Pixar classics available in 4K are A Bug’s Life, Cars, Cars 2, Cars 3, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, and Up.
Classic Disney animated films are also available in 4K, with choices such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Moana, Tangled, and The Lion King.
Disney+’s range of original TV shows is also available in 4K video resolution. These include two Star Wars animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, as well as The World According to Jeff Goldblum. Head here for more information about all the movies and shows available on Disney+.
Which devices support 4K streaming on Disney Plus?
To watch Disney Plus 4K, users will require a 4K ready TV and a device that supports the video resolution. This includes gaming consoles, smart TVs, and streaming devices. Devices that enable viewers to watch Disney Plus in 4K video resolution include:
- Amazon Fire TV 4K
- Android TV
- Apple TV 4K
- Google Chromecast Ultra
- LG Smart TV
- PlayStation 4
- Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick+, Roku Ultra
- Xbox One
It is worth noting that Disney+ does not currently support streaming on Nintendo devices, such as the Nintendo Switch. However, Nintendo devices are compatible with other streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix.
What internet speed do I need for 4K streaming on Disney Plus?
Internet speed is an important factor in streaming content in 4K on Disney Plus. Streaming in 4K can eat up huge amounts of bandwidth, so users need to ensure they have a stable, high-speed internet connection. An internet speed of at least 25 megabits per second is generally advisable for streaming in 4K.
To guarantee the internet speeds required, ensure no downloads are clogging up bandwidth and try to limit other people from streaming on the network.
The final cut
Disney Plus is a relative newcomer to on-demand streaming but has a video library that is already competing with some of the biggest players in the market. A key appeal of Disney+ is that it holds the rights to the entire Marvel and Star Wars movie franchises, in addition to all Pixar movies.
Plenty of this great content is available for subscribers to watch in the finest picture quality available. To watch Disney Plus 4K content, viewers need to have a TV that handles the video resolution and a device that lets them stream their favorite movies and shows in 4K. Disney Plus costs $7.99/mo. For more information, check out our review of Disney+ deals, trials, and bundles.