Dancing with the Stars is not included with a standard Disney Plus subscription
Dancing with the Stars moved to Disney Plus in 2023, but it is not part of your regular Disney Plus membership. You need Disney Plus Premium — the ad-free tier that costs more per month — or you can watch through Hulu if you have a bundle that includes it. The show airs new episodes during its fall and spring seasons, and older seasons are available to stream on demand.
If you already pay for Disney Plus with ads, you cannot watch Dancing with the Stars on that plan. You will need to upgrade to Premium or switch to a different Disney service. The cost difference between the ad-supported and Premium tiers varies, but Premium is typically $13.99 per month as of 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Dancing with the Stars requires Disney Plus Premium (the ad-free plan), not the standard ad-supported Disney Plus subscription.
- The show is also available through Hulu if your bundle includes both services, and you can watch it on the same day new episodes air on television.
- New seasons air in the fall and spring, and past seasons are available to stream anytime on Disney Plus Premium.
- Upgrading from standard Disney Plus to Premium costs extra per month, but gives you access to all Disney Plus content without ads.
What tier of Disney Plus gives you access
Disney Plus offers two subscription tiers: the standard plan with ads and the Premium plan without ads. Dancing with the Stars streams only on Premium. If you are currently on the ad-supported plan, you will see the show listed in the Disney Plus app, but you cannot watch it — you will get a message telling you to upgrade.
To upgrade, open the Disney Plus app or website, go to your account settings, and select the Premium plan. Your billing will change when ready, and you will have access to Dancing with the Stars right away. You can downgrade back to the ad-supported plan at any time, but you will lose access to the show.
Watching through Hulu instead
If you have a Disney bundle that includes both Disney Plus and Hulu, you can watch Dancing with the Stars on Hulu instead of upgrading Disney Plus. The show appears on Hulu the same day it airs on television, so you do not have to wait. This works whether your Hulu plan has ads or not — the show is available on both tiers.
Check your current Disney bundle to see what services you have. If you only have Disney Plus, adding Hulu to your bundle may cost less than upgrading to Disney Plus Premium, depending on which plan you choose. Disney offers several bundle combinations, so compare the prices before you decide.
When new episodes air and how to find past seasons
Dancing with the Stars follows a seasonal schedule. New episodes typically air in the fall (September through November) and spring (March through May). During these windows, new episodes drop on Disney Plus Premium on Monday nights, the day after they air on ABC television.
All past seasons of Dancing with the Stars are available to stream on demand through Disney Plus Premium. You can watch any season from start to finish without waiting for weekly releases. If you want to catch up on earlier seasons or rewatch a favorite, they are all there in the app.
Checking your current subscription level
To find out which Disney Plus plan you have, open the Disney Plus app or go to disneyplus.com and sign in. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Account." Under "Membership," you will see your current plan listed — it will say either "Disney Plus Basic" (with ads) or "Disney Plus Premium" (without ads).
If you see "Basic," you are on the ad-supported tier and will not be able to watch Dancing with the Stars. The Premium option will be shown as an upgrade choice. Select it to change your plan when ready.
What happens if you cancel and resubscribe
If you cancel Disney Plus and come back later, your plan choice will not be saved. When you resubscribe, you will start on whichever plan you select at that time. If you want to watch Dancing with the Stars again, make sure to choose Premium when you sign up.
Some people cancel during the off-season (when no new episodes are airing) and resubscribe when a new season starts. This can save money if you only watch the show during certain months. Just remember that you will need Premium to watch it, and you will not have access to other Disney Plus content while you are unsubscribed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Dancing with the Stars with ads on Disney Plus?
No. The show is only available on Disney Plus Premium, which is the ad-free tier. If you have the ad-supported plan, you must upgrade to Premium to watch it. Hulu offers the show on both ad-supported and ad-free plans, so that may be an option if you have a bundle.
Do I have to pay extra to watch old seasons?
No. All past seasons are included with Disney Plus Premium at no extra cost. Once you have the Premium subscription, you can stream any season from the beginning. There are no per-episode or per-season charges.
Can I watch the new episode the same night it airs on TV?
On Disney Plus, new episodes arrive the day after they air on ABC — so Monday morning if the show airs Monday night on television. If you want to watch the same night, Hulu has it available when ready after it finishes airing on ABC.
What if I only have a Disney Plus and Hulu bundle without Premium?
You can watch Dancing with the Stars on Hulu through your bundle. The show is available on Hulu whether your plan has ads or not. You do not need to upgrade to Disney Plus Premium if Hulu is part of your subscription.
Will Dancing with the Stars ever be on the basic Disney Plus plan?
There is no indication that Disney plans to move the show to the basic ad-supported tier. It has been exclusive to Premium since the show moved to Disney Plus. If that changes in the future, Disney would announce it publicly.