Disney is rolling out GroupWatch, a new feature for Disney+ that lets subscribers host virtual watch parties with friends and family.
A limited group of users in Canada is testing it now, with a full launch planned for everyone this fall.
GroupWatch is Disney's take on synchronized streaming, allowing you to watch any Disney+ title in real-time with others. Streams sync across participants, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.
The feature was first spotted by users on the Disney+ subreddit and later confirmed by Disney to The Verge.
Currently in testing with select Canadian subscribers, GroupWatch will expand globally this fall. It follows similar offerings from Twitch Watch Parties, Amazon, and Hulu.
Host a session with up to six others—that's seven total participants. Up to four profiles from a single Disney+ account can join, though child profiles are excluded.
Share an invite link via text, email, or other apps. Guests must be Disney+ subscribers, and content availability is geo-restricted, so international mismatches won't work.
Anyone in the group can control playback—play, pause, rewind—with controls visible to all. Participants can also send reaction emojis that appear for everyone.
GroupWatch works on most Disney+ platforms, excluding PlayStation 4, certain Roku models, and some Fire TV devices.
While waiting for GroupWatch, third-party tools and browser extensions offer synchronized viewing for movies and shows across services.
