We consider "higher dimensional Teichmüller discs", by which we mean complex submanifolds of Teichmüller space that contain the Teichmüller disc joining any two of its points. We prove results in the higher dimensional setting that are opposite to the one dimensional behavior: every "higher dimensional Teichmüller disc" covers a "higher dimensional Teichmüller curve" and there are only finitely many "higher dimensional Teichmüller curves" in each moduli space. The proofs use recent results in Teichmüller dynamics, especially joint work with Eskin and Filip on the Kontsevich-Zorich cocycle. Joint work with McMullen and Mukamel as well as Eskin, McMullen and Mukamel shows that exotic examples of "higher dimensional Teichmüller discs" do exist.[-]