Jingle Binge

What Time is the ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas Special on Disney+? How to Watch

By Angela Tricarico
Published Dec. 25, 2024, 8:00 a.m. ET
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It’s Christmas Day and for fans of Doctor Who that can only mean one thing: it’s time for the yearly Christmas special!

This year’s special is titled Joy to the World and will once again star Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor; he’ll be joined by Bridgerton‘s Nicola Coughlin as companion Joy Almondo.

Former showrunner Steven Moffat (also known for his work on BBC’s Sherlock) returns to the Who-niverse as the writer behind Joy to the World; it’s his 50th script for the series since its reboot in 2005 and he also claims it could be his last contribution to the show.

In Joy to the World, Joy (Coughlin) opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel, discovering danger, dinosaurs, and the Doctor behind it. A deadly plan is also unfolding across Earth, just in time for Christmas.

In the United States, there’s just one way to watch Doctor Who: Disney+. Below, find everything you need to know to tune in, from how to subscribe to what time it’ll drop in the app.

Doctor Who: Joy to the World Date and Time: What Time Is the Doctor Who Christmas Special on Disney+?

Doctor Who: Joy to the World debuts on Disney+ Christmas Day, December 25, at 12:10 p.m. EST.

How to Watch Doctor Who: Joy to the World:

You’ll need a subscription to Disney+ to watch the Doctor Who Christmas special in the US, but luckily, the new episode will be available no matter which plan you’re subscribed to.

The service offers two plans: one with ads for $9.99/month and one without ads for $15.99/month.

Get the Disney Bundle:

If you want to stream even more and save a few bucks a month while you’re at it, we recommend subscribing to one of the Disney Bundles. The Disney Bundle starts at $11.99/month for ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu, and goes up to $29.99/month for ad-free Disney, ad-free Hulu, and ad-free Max.

SUBSCRIBE TO DISNEY+

Doctor Who: Joy to the World Trailer:

Doctor Who: Joy to the World Cast:

  • Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor
  • Nicola Coughlan as Joy Almondo

Per Disney+, Joel Fry, Steph de Whalley, Jonathan Aris, and Julia Watson will also appear in the special.

SUBSCRIBE TO DISNEY+

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, how to watch your favorite sports teams and movies on each streaming service and the very best in tech, like soundbars, to enhance your viewing experience. Not only does Angela test and compare the services, devices and merch she writes about, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and the New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews. 

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