Dancing with the Stars streams on Disney Plus, but only the newest seasons
Dancing with the Stars moved to Disney Plus starting with Season 31 in fall 2022. If you have a Disney Plus subscription, you can watch current and recent seasons there. Older seasons (Season 1 through 30) are not on Disney Plus — they remain on other platforms or behind paywalls.
The show airs new episodes on Monday nights during its broadcast season, typically September through November. Episodes usually appear on Disney Plus the next day, though timing can shift by a day or two depending on your time zone and when Disney's servers update the app.
You do not need a separate cable subscription or live TV service to watch on Disney Plus. A standard Disney Plus membership covers it, the same way it covers Marvel and National Geographic content.
Key Takeaways
- Seasons 31 and newer are on Disney Plus; seasons 1–30 are not available there.
- New episodes post the day after they air on ABC, usually in the early morning hours.
- You need only a Disney Plus subscription — no cable or live TV add-on required.
- You can watch on any device that runs the Disney Plus app: phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV.
- If you want to watch live as the episode airs Monday night, you will need ABC access through cable, a live TV streaming service, or ABC.com with a cable login.
How to find Dancing with the Stars in the Disney Plus app
Open Disney Plus and use the search bar at the top of the screen. Type "Dancing with the Stars" and tap the show title when it appears. You will land on the show's main page, which lists all available seasons and episodes.
The episodes are organized by season, with the newest season at the top. Click or tap any episode to start watching. Disney Plus remembers where you stopped, so if you pause mid-episode, the app will ask if you want to resume the next time you open it.
If you have trouble finding the show, check that your Disney Plus account is current and that you are signed in. Disney Plus occasionally moves show tiles around during app updates, but the search function is the fastest way to locate it regardless.
What devices let you watch on Disney Plus
Disney Plus works on phones and tablets (iPhone, iPad, Android), computers (Windows and Mac via web browser), smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV), and some gaming consoles (PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S). read the Disney Plus app on any of these devices, sign in with your account, and you can start watching.
Picture quality depends on your internet speed and the device itself. On a phone or tablet, you will see good quality. On a large TV with a fast internet connection, Disney Plus can stream in 4K (ultra-high definition) if your plan includes it — the standard plan streams in 1080p HD.
You can watch on up to four devices at the same time with one Disney Plus account, though only one can stream in 4K simultaneously. If you hit that limit, you will see a message asking you to stop playback on another device.
How to watch live episodes on Monday nights
Disney Plus does not stream the live broadcast of Dancing with the Stars on Monday nights. To watch the episode as it airs, you have three options: watch on ABC through cable, use a live TV streaming service that carries ABC, or visit ABC.com and sign in with your cable provider credentials.
Live TV streaming services that include ABC are Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV (in most markets), and Fubo. Each charges a monthly fee separate from Disney Plus. If you already subscribe to one of these, you can use it to watch the Monday night broadcast, then watch the same episode again on Disney Plus the next day if you want to rewatch or catch anything you missed.
ABC.com streams the episode live if you log in with a cable or live TV service account. You do not need to pay extra — it is included with your existing subscription to that service.
Watching older seasons of Dancing with the Stars
Seasons 1 through 30 are not on Disney Plus. You can watch them on Hulu (which is owned by Disney) if you have a Hulu subscription with ads or without ads. Some older seasons are also available for purchase on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, or Google Play, usually for $1.99 to $2.99 per episode or $14.99 to $19.99 per season.
Hulu's availability of older seasons changes occasionally, so if you are looking for a specific season, search Hulu first before buying. The Hulu search bar will tell you when ready whether a season is included with your subscription.
If you want to watch a particular contestant or professional dancer from an earlier season, checking Hulu is usually the fastest and cheapest route. You can also search YouTube — some clips and highlights from older seasons are posted there for free, though full episodes are not.
Troubleshooting playback problems
If an episode will not play, first check your internet connection. Disney Plus needs at least 5 Mbps for HD streaming and 25 Mbps for 4K. You can test your speed using a free tool like Speedtest.net. If your speed is lower, move closer to your router or restart it by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
If your connection is fine, try closing the Disney Plus app completely and reopening it. On most phones and tablets, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top on older Android phones) to see open apps, then swipe the Disney Plus app away. Wait a few seconds and reopen it.
If the problem continues, sign out of Disney Plus (go to your account settings and select "Sign Out"), then sign back in. This refreshes your session and often fixes playback glitches. If you still cannot watch after trying these steps, contact Disney Plus support through the app — tap your profile icon, select "Help," and choose "Contact Us."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read episodes to watch offline?
Yes. On the Disney Plus app for phones and tablets, tap the read icon (usually a downward arrow) on the episode page. The episode will read to your device and you can watch it without an internet connection. Downloaded episodes expire after 30 days, so you will need to refresh them periodically if you want to keep them.
Do I need a Disney Plus subscription to watch Dancing with the Stars?
You need a Disney Plus subscription to watch seasons 31 and newer on the app. If you want to watch the live Monday broadcast, you need either cable, a live TV streaming service, or a cable login for ABC.com. Older seasons require a Hulu subscription or a purchase on another platform.
What time do new episodes show up on Disney Plus?
New episodes typically post between midnight and 6 a.m. Eastern Time the day after they air on ABC. The exact time varies, but checking the app in the morning after a Monday broadcast will usually show the new episode ready to watch. Disney Plus does not announce the exact minute episodes arrive.
Can I watch with subtitles or closed captions?
Yes. Open an episode and tap the screen to show playback controls. Look for a speech bubble or "CC" icon and tap it to turn captions on or off. You can also adjust caption size and style in your Disney Plus account settings under "Accessibility."
Is Dancing with the Stars included in the Disney Plus bundle with Hulu and ESPN Plus?
The newest seasons are on Disney Plus, so yes, they are included in the bundle. If you want to watch older seasons on Hulu as part of the same bundle, those are included too. The bundle costs less than buying all three services separately.