Disney test: should you subscribe and why? A serious rival for Netflix? Cnet’s opinion

The content download functionality is only available on the Disney application+. You have a week to view downloaded videos in offline mode. This feature is not available on the Disney website+.

Disney+ reviews: our catalog test, price and its interface

Disney+ is a streaming platform that offers a wide selection of content, ranging from the greatest classics Disney to the latest news. Although often considered as a children’s video service service, the catalog of Disney+ has evolved well since its launch, thanks to the addition of the section “Star“”. Indeed, this category displays various programs, intended for a more adult audience.

Easy to use, with simplified access to content, the platform offers an optimal 4K streaming experience, with standards Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos. User opinions are very shared with regard to the proposed content. However, many consider Disney+ as a serious competitor of Netflix Or Amazon Prime . So is this really the case ? Is it really interesting to take out a subscription ? To answer you in the best way, we have tested it and we take stock through this complete guide.

The Disney+ catalog: a wide variety of content at your disposal

THE Disney catalog+ offers a wide range of content for all ages, with six main categories: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic And Star.

A well -stocked library

You will find all the greatest classics of Disney, such as “The Lion King“,”Aladdin” And “The beauty and the Beast“,”Snow Queen” or “The jungle Book“, As well as more recent titles like”Inner” And “Raya and the last dragon“”. In addition, the selection Disney also allows you to view documentaries based on parks Disney or on artists like Miley Cyrus.

Pixar is also well represented on the platform, with a complete collection of its best short and feature films, such as “toy story“,”Cars“,”Monsters and Cie” And “Indestructibles“, to only cite a few.

Marvel fans will be able to immerse themselves in their favorite universe and enjoy access to all the films of the franchise, with the exception of “iron man” And “The incredible hulk“, but also to derivative series, like”Wandavision” Or “Falcon and the winter soldier».

For lovers of cult saga “Star Wars“, you can rediscover the films of George Lucas, as well as the highly successful series “The Mandalorian“”.

If you are rather a follower of documentaries of all kinds, then, again, you will be served with the selection of various themes offered by National Geographic.

Finally, the category Star Allows you to view films aimed at a more adult audience, such as “A day in hell” Or “Alien, the eighth passenger“, For example.

In short, you will understand, the Disney+ catalog has nothing to envy the competition and can satisfy all generations and all tastes.

Disney+ exclusives: “The Mandalorian” in the spotlight

When it comes to exclusives, it is impossible to miss the Disney successful series+, “” “The Mandalorian”, Which soon completes its third season. But this is not the only essential exclusivity of the platform. Marvel fans will also be able to discover new films and series, such as “Ant-man and the wasp: Quantumania“,”Wandavision“,”Loki” And “Falcon and the winter soldier».

Pixar also offers exclusive content, including the live-action film “Mulan». On the other hand, the category Star mainly offers popular, older titles from 20th Century Fox, as “Predator“, the saga “Die Hard“,”The Planet of the Apes“,”Titanic“, etc.

Diversified content for all ages

When Disney+ was born, the platform mainly focused on children’s content, but the integration of the category Star has changed the game, by offering series and films addressed more to an adult audience. Thus, to offer a more varied viewing experience, a Range of user profiles is now available.

Children’s access profiles do not have access to Star Without parental agreement. In addition, certain contents of Marvel and Star Wars are not intended for children because of their degree of violence, such as “The Punisher».

For documentary lovers, the catalog National Geographic is a source of wonders, with incredible stories of flora and fauna worldwide.

Furthermore, if you subscribe to additional subscriptions with the channels Hulu And Espn+, You will have access to television channels and sports shows to complete your viewing experience.

Disney+ vs other streaming platforms

Although Disney+ has diversified, he has not yet reached the variety of content offered by other streaming platforms, such as Netflix Or Amazon Prime. Indeed, Disney+ only has 2,000 titles, half of the titles present on Amazon Prime and a third of those offered on Netflix.

However, Disney+ has a faithful audience of more than 150 million subscribers in the world, largely thanks to its popular franchises. If you are a fan of the universe Disney or its flagship products, Disney+ is the streaming platform you need.

Impeccable and accessible streaming quality on all devices

Disney+ offers a Impeccable streaming quality, with a diffusion of the UHD resolution, as well as the standards Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos. In addition, the platform is accessible on all devices.

Image quality and excellent

There Resolution on Disney+ can reach up to 4K at no additional cost, with standards Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmos, For exceptional sound and visual quality. Only a few titles are exclusively available in 1080p resolution, but they still benefit from the standard Dolby Vision. The titles offered on the platform are selected to offer image quality and optimal.

Regarding sound, basic format is stereo, but digital format 5.1 is available on almost all content and track Dolby Atmos is offered on recent titles. However, an internet connection of 15 Mbit/s minimum is necessary to read the 4K videos with the audio track Dolby Atmos.

Compatibility with all devices

Disney+ is Accessible from the official website and the mobile application, available on iOS And Android. The application is also compatible with many other devices, such as Amazon Fire TV, TV boxes, Apple TV and Smart TV from Samsung, Sony, LG, Hisense, as well as on PlayStation 4 consoles and 5, Xbox One, One X, X and S Series. However, the Disney+ application is not available on the Nintendo Switch portable console, but the counterpart Steam deck Allows you to access it from a browser.

Simultaneous connections on 4 different devices

Disney+ allows the simultaneous connection up to 4 screens on a single account, which is ideal for families. Each user can create their own personalized profile and watch different content at the same time. In addition, users can develop and watch together a film or a series, even if they are physically distant from each other.

This feature is available on all streaming platforms compatible with Disney+, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs and game consoles.

Complete features and successful user experience

L’Disney user experience+ is a success, thanks to a clean interface and easy navigation. The platform also offers practical features, such as the creation of several profiles, the possibility of changing the language of the audio track and adding subtitles to different languages, as well as the download functionality for available content offline.

Intuitive interface and navigation

L’Disney interface+ is unique. As soon as you access the platform, you can select your profile which is illustrated by characters in the catalog Disney, as Mickey, Groot, Elsa, Snow White or Loki. Once you have chosen your profile, you are redirected to the home page. This presents the different categories of content, such as films, series and documentaries, as well as suggestions based on your preferences. The navigation bar at the top of the screen allows you to quickly access features such as looking for titles, the reading list and the exclusive content in Disney+.

Dubbing and subtitles in several languages

Disney+ offers the possibility of choosing from several languages ​​for subtitles and the audio track. However, there is no personalization option for subtitles. Only recent titles offer several languages, otherwise the English version is used by default.

Outline features and content download

The content download functionality is only available on the Disney application+. You have a week to view downloaded videos in offline mode. This feature is not available on the Disney website+.

Creation and personalization of Disney user profiles+

You can create up to 7 different profiles on Disney+. Each of them will have their own journey and their experience on the platform. When creating your profile, you must indicate an age category: 6+, 9+, 12+, 14+, 16+ and 18+. Disney+ recommendations vary depending on the age chosen. Some content will not be accessible to children’s profiles.

More or less affordable subscription prices

Disney+ offers attractive prices In comparison with other streaming platforms, apart from Amazon Prime Video. It also offers promotions and a trial period to attract new subscribers to its universe.

Cost of Disney subscriptions+

The addition of Star raised the price of the subscription of € 2 per month. Now, to access Disney+, you have to pay 8.99 euros per month or 89.99 euros per year. However, compared to the prices of other streaming platforms, Disney+ is much more affordable. Netflix, For example, offers a subscription of 17.99 euros per month to access UHD content. However, to compare these two platforms, it must also be taken into account that Netflix offers much more content than Disney+.

Trial period

Disney+ offers a 7 -day free trial period. Currently, the only promotion offered in France relates to the subscription to 8.99 euros per month, with a reduction of 15% if the subscription is taken out annually.

Disney stale points and weaknesses+

Disney+ has undeniable assets, such as brand exclusives and the use of advanced technologies to offer image quality and optimal. However, the variety of content on the platform remains its main weak point, even if it is satisfactory, it does not reach the level of other competitors.

Disney’s advantages+

One of the main Disney advantages+ is the quality of its streaming. Subscribers can benefit from a 4K resolution and technologies Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmosphere For an immersive experience. The platform guarantees image quality and its exceptional.

Another Disney+ advantage is the richness of its exclusive content. Disney has many popular franchises, especially Star Wars, Marvel And Pixar, And it offers many series and films exclusive to these franchises. In addition, subscribers can access the longtime content of Disney and of Pixar, which allows them to immerse themselves in the nostalgia of their childhood.

Finally, Disney+ offers a wide variety of titles for all audiences, from children to adults. The oldest can take advantage of the series and films in the category Star, as well as documentaries of National Geographic. As for children, they can look at cartoons from Disney And Pixar, Follow the adventures of superheroes of Marvel or immerse yourself in the world of Star Wars.

Disney disadvantages+

Despite its many advantages, Disney+ also has some drawbacks. One of them is the lack of diversity of its content compared to other streaming platforms. Although the platform offers a wide variety of titles, it mainly focuses on the franchises of Disney and does not offer as much original content as other platforms.

In addition, some subscribers may find that the platform lacks titles for adults, as it mainly focuses on the contents aimed at children and families. Although the platform has diversified with the series and films in the category Star, This may not be enough for some subscribers.

Summary of Disney’s advantages and disadvantages+

You hesitate to Subscribe to Disney+ ? To allow you to see more clearly, here is a summary table of the advantages and disadvantages of the platform:

Wealth of its exclusive content: Disney+ has a large number of popular franchises.

Titles that are aimed at all ages and for all tastes.

Our conclusion on Disney+

Disney+ is a streaming platform for all audiences, but it is mainly aimed at families with young children. However, the films and series of the category Star have changed things somewhat, bringing a breath of freshness to the video -on -demand video service, thus expanding its target audience. With the possibility of creating 7 different profiles and connecting simultaneously on 4 screens, adults will be able to view the documentaries of National Geographic or their favorite films, while their children will watch the adventures of their superheroes Marvel or the cartoons of Disney And Pixar.

Although Disney+ is not yet a direct competitor of Netflix, it remains a platform of quality streaming at an accessible price to all. Indeed, for only 8.99 € per month or 89.€ 99 per year, you can access all the exclusives of the franchises of Disney in 4K resolution and enjoy technologies Dolby Vision And Dolby Atmosphere.

So, is the Disney+ subscription worth it ? The answer to this question depends largely on your tastes in terms of content. So, if you are an unconditional fan of the cult saga of George Lucas or movies Avengers, So yes, the Disney+ subscription is made for you. On the other hand, if you rather want to view a great diversity of series and films, then in this case, the platform may not suit you. Anyway, you can take advantage of the 7 -day trial period, before deciding whether or not you want to take out a subscription for a longer period. This will give you time to look at a few titles and check if the Disney+ catalog is to your liking.

Disney+ test: should you subscribe and why ? A serious rival for Netflix ? Cnet’s opinion

You were waiting for her, she’s now here ! We are of course talking about Disney+, the Mickey subscription streaming platform. At CNET France, we were also impatient to test it as you and it is now done. Interface, catalog, application, functionalities. Here is our opinion and our first impressions on the new service of SVOD.

Posted on 03/17/2020 at 10:51

Disney fans, subscribers to Disney+ from the start, consumers still hesitating to take the plunge or simply curious readers: Hello everyone. Since that night (Tuesday 07 April), the new SVOD platform is officially available and the French are not asked to subscribe.

Summary :

• Reminder: Disney+ price and compatible devices
• The catalog of films and series: a weight argument ?
• Disney+ interface: good, but not revolutionary
• Same feeling for the mobile application ?
• And the video player in all of this ?
• The other features included with Disney Plus
• Bugs to report for the beginnings of the platform ?
• Disney+ faced with competition
• Verdict: Should we subscribe ?

For several days, impatience has been more and more felt on social networks. In Facebook fans groups, questions were raining and Disney aficionados were on the minutes before launch.

It therefore goes without saying that the arrival of the new subscription streaming platform in our country was eagerly awaited. Even if the health news has rightly done so, the launch of a new actor on the saturated march of the SVOD remains to be emphasized, especially when it comes to Disney.

For the occasion, we therefore went to the Disney Plus reel, its interface, its catalog, its functionalities and its particularities. Here is our test, with our impressions and our verdict on the announced competitor of Netflix and others.

Reminder: Disney+ price and compatible devices

Before getting to the heart of the matter, a necessary reminder of the prices in force. To subscribe to Disney+, you have to pay 6.99 euros per month or 69.99 euros per year. Besides, just follow this link and the instructions if you want to subscribe. Remember that 7 days ago available for free. Follow this tutorial to benefit from it.

It is affordable that Netflix, whose price can climb to 15.99 euros per month. The “standard” package of the Reed Hastings firm, the most acclaimed by consumers, costs 11.99 euros monthly. However, he does not include the same advantages as Disney+. We’ll come back to this point.

Otherwise, if you are a customer Pack Cine Séries Canal+ or Integle+, the service is directly added to your offer. For other encrypted antenna customers, a year of subscription is offered. Canal+ also multiplies promotions to celebrate the arrival of the platform in its formulas and packs.

What are the devices compatible with Disney Plus ? The list is quite long:

• Web browser
• Fire TV Stick
• Apple TV
• Android TV
• Samsung TV
• LG TV
• Sony TV
• Xbox One
• PlayStation 4
• Google Play Store application (Android)
• IOS application
• Roku
• Chromecast

The catalog of films and series: a weight argument ?

Yes and no. We are really shared on this point, as we already pointed out in this article. On the one hand, it is impossible to deny that the offer of Disney Plus films and series has many advantages. Here are the main ones:

• All Disney / Pixar classics gathered in a single place. Several decades of cartoons and cult films accessible in one click. For fans of the Disney universe (and there are many), it is a reason largely sufficient to subscribe.

• Inevitably, this plethoric offer immediately made Disney+ a serious pretender under the title of Streaming platform number 1 for families. Netflix, Prime Video and the others also offer content dedicated to children, but their catalog does not arrive at the ankle of that of Disney.

• Other licenses purchased by Disney (Star Wars, Marvel), also make the charm of the new service. Thanks to them, the firm can offer a plethora of very popular blockbusters exclusively and produce original series (The Mandalorian, Wandavision…).

However, the 800 films and series offered from the launch do not do everything And Disney does not check all the boxes either. We explain to you why.

• There will be few original content, long -awaited when launching. The Mandalorian is a headliner and several Marvel series are in preparation. It’s a bit light, even if the list will obviously quickly grow. For the moment, Disney is therefore betting on its “archives” to seduce.

• Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic… a very varied offer on paper. But if you don’t add the Disney spirit, over-vitamin superheroes, galactic fights or animal documentaries, not sure that Disney+ will fill you. All this lacks more “adult” content (thriller, drama, police, horror …). Disney remains a little prisoner of its resolutely family offer, one of its main sales arguments.

• You may know, but the French catalog is less dense than the American offer. Some movies like Avengers: Endgame Or Star Wars IX: the ascent of Skywalker Lack. For what ? Because of the chronology of French media. It imposes on platforms like Disney+ a period of 36 months (after the end of the in the room) to be able to put the latest releases.

Disney+ interface: very good, but not revolutionary

On the interface side, Disney Plus decided to play the sobriety card. It’s simple, clean and it is easy to navigate. At the top, the different categories (reception, research, my list, original content, films, series) are difficult to miss and will effectively guide you.

Unsurprisingly, Disney highlights its flagship content in a carousel and its different universes in vignettes a little lower. It is rather sober, effective and largely sufficient. No more need to offer a successful experience to its users.

Then it’s classic: hits Disney, content recommended for you, regain reading … So many thematic categories that we also find in competition. Navigation is fluid, no hiccups to report for the moment.

Little downside : This home page could “hide” certain catalog classics. If you want to look MUPPET Show For example, you will not know if it is in the catalog. More popular films and series the eclipresent, just as they would on Netflix.

However, if you have any doubts about the presence of a program in the catalog, you only have to use the search bar to check. It is therefore obviously necessary to show nuance on this “downside”.

As for the recommendation algorithm, nothing special to report. Overall, the recommendations are consistent, even if we had a few surprises sometimes. Disney has also promised that its interface would adapt to the preferences of the subscriber over time. So it only remains to wait to check.

Same feeling for the mobile application ?

Absolutely, it’s simple, without fringe, but the essential is there. Ergonomics are good and access to different universes is facilitated. The settings are classic (download in Wi-Fi only, quality of downloads, locations of the contents downloaded, etc.) and really easy to tame.

And the video player in all of this ?

You have to greet its quality. Viewing of videos is fluid is without slowdown. Otherwise, all the classic features (break, resume reading, move forward and back up ten seconds, add subtitles, skip the introduction …) are there, and fortunately.

We first tested the platform with a very good quality flow. With a very average connection, everything has also worked very well. If the experience is equivalent with an even more modest flow, it would be a flawless for Disney+. Note already that on this point too, the SVOD platform is doing with the honors.

The other “features” included with Disney+

Remember that with the platform subscription, you can create up to Seven different user profiles, usable simultaneously on four devices.

The personalization options are welcome, such as the possibility of creating profiles for children (blocking the most mature content), or that of choosing a different language for each profile.

• You can also Disable automatic reading of the next episode (in “profile”, then “modify the profiles”, Customize your subtitles (in the dedicated part when you have launched a film or a series), or Access “bonus” content For each program. To do this, click on the content sheet and then on “bonus”.

Furthermore, know that Disney+ is “4K compatible”. Clearly, some content will be available in ultra-high definition (and Dolby Atmos). This is very good news, especially at the monthly price of 6.99 euros. For the same price, Netflix is ​​far from offering as much.

However, the UHD is not available at the moment. Like the other streaming platforms, Disney has decided to Bride the quality of its video flows To reduce its bandwidth consumption during confinement.

Otherwise, the other parameters are also classic. You can change the default video quality, activate or deactivate automatic reading of the following episode, authorize or not the background videos during navigation on the interface ..

Bugs to report for the beginnings of the platform ?

For the time being, everything seems to be fine for the new service. Unlike the American launch, the platform is holding for the moment and there has been no “crash” to report. However, the fears of the French authorities were numerous. It is for this reason that the release of Disney+ (first scheduled for March 24) was postponed on April 07.

The government was afraid that the influx of connections will scam the network of operators by consuming too much bandwidth.

Across the Atlantic, the output of the platform had been enamelled with several hiccups. The connection bugs passed, many accounts had been hacked and sold on the web. For the time being, no solid flight flights to report in France. Let’s touch wood and hope that the situation does not evolve in the wrong direction.

On mobile, the offline mode is practical and completely functional. Like that of Netflix, it allows you to download your favorite movies and series to watch them without connection then (On Android and iOS applications only)). To use it, simply go to the program of your choice and click on the dedicated icon. Small advantage for Disney on this parameter: all films and series can be downloaded, this is not the case on Netflix or Prime Video for example.

Also be careful: Recall that for Disney+ to work, the devices must have Widevine L1 certification, the highest level of DRM of Google. Problem: even today, not all terminals are compatible with this technical protection measurement.

For those who ignore it, a DRM or Digital Rights Management is a system that limits the hacking of works, whether music, blu-ray, games or programs available on Netflix and others.

Disney+ uses the highest level of security for the entire catalog, regardless of resolution. Concretely, it therefore means that if your smartphone, computer or tablet is not compatible, you will not be able to access Disney+. An error message, type “error code 83” should be displayed and you will not be able to do anything.

A solution will save you from having this bitter experience. A diagnostic application called DRM Info, available on Android, allows you to control if your smartphone is compatible with level L1. You just have to download it and check the counter rendering that appears.

Disney+ faced with competition

It is no secret: the subscription streaming sector (SVOD) is increasingly congested and the different actors are jostling. However, Disney+ should not have too much trouble getting a place of choice.

Its offer is attractive enough to seduce spectators in number. Disney aura is a key factor, such as dozens of catalog animation classics, coupled with productions Star Wars and Marvel.

In short, the question is not ” Will Disney+ succeed ?” , but rather ” How Disney+ will succeed ?“” . Will the platform manage to exceed Netflix and Prime Video in the hearts of the French ?

To achieve this, she will surely have, like Netflix, investing massively in original productions. Disney Plus cannot be satisfied with its offer of cult cartoons to hope to surpass its rivals.

With The Mandalorian And the Marvel series in preparation, it already holds some promising content. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to accelerate again to position yourself as a really credible alternative to the armada of the Reed Hastings firm.

Technically, however, not much to blame the new offeror. For a contained price (a detail that is important), it offers a complete offer and without real false note. 4K compatibility is also a plus. In short, Disney+ starts on very good bases and if the service succeeds in consolidating its offer with diverse content, it could quickly establish itself as a reference of streaming by subscription.

Verdict: Should we subscribe ?

Disney+ therefore has many advantages, it’s undeniable. If you are a fan of Disney and its enchanting universe, you will have no problem making your subscription profitable and we therefore advise you to subscribe.

With its contained price, the ultra-high definition, seven profiles and up to four connected devices simultaneously, the new SVOD platform is a good plan. The presence of the majority of Marvel productions, Star Wars And National Geographic is also an asset of weight, such as some exciting exclusives (The Mandalorian, Wandavision…).

In short, if you are a fervent lover of the universes that we have just quoted, go for it, you will not be disappointed with the trip.

Otherwise, it may be better to wait or favor competition. Today, Netflix, Video Prime or OCS can boast of having more mature and varied catalogs. Horror or author films, drama, animated, thriller, police, foreign cinema … There is really something for everyone.

In the future, Disney Plus will undoubtedly be able to compete by expanding its proposal. The fact remains that in the meantime, it has not yet to satisfy all the spectators and this can undoubtedly brake some when choosing between the different services.

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