Almost a year to the day of its last price hike, Disney has decided to raise the prices once again for Disney+ and Hulu standalone plans, as well as bundles.
First of all, read the room, Disney. It’s not the best time for Disney to be asking for more from us after the backlash over the Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspension led users to cancel their Disney+ and Hulu accounts in droves. But the multi-billion dollar media empire can do whatever it wants, so here we are.
This is Disney+’s fourth price hike in as many years, so we can’t say we’re surprised. It’s just the latest streaming service to raise prices this year (Peacock jacked up its costs in July as well). Standalone Disney+ and Hulu plans with ads are rising $2 from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while Disney+ Premium (no ads) is jumping from $15.99 to $18.99 per month. Bundle plans are also rising by $2 to $3.
Credit: Mashable
When do the new prices go into effect?
There is some good news, at least: new pricing doesn’t go into effect until Oct. 21. That means you still have time to lock in a deal (more on that below). If you’re on a monthly plan, you’ll be charged the new prices once your subscription renews after that date. If you’re on a yearly plan, you won’t be charged the new cost until the year is up. If you wish to cancel, just click on your profile icon, then account, then “manage my account.” Click on subscription details and you’ll see options to change, pause, or cancel your plan.
How to save on a Disney+ subscription
The best way to lock in the best cost on a Disney+ subscription is to sign up for an annual plan before the Oct. 21 deadline. Unfortunately, Disney+ doesn’t offer an annual plan on its ad-supported tier, but it does offer an annual plan for its Premium tier. If you sign up now for a year of Disney+ Premium, it’ll only cost you $159.99. That effectively saves you $30 right off the bat, as the price will jump to $189.99 in a few weeks. You’ll have to fork over the cash up front, but future you will thank you. That breaks down to just $13.33 per month, which is a pretty solid cost for ad-free streaming.
If you’re a Verizon Wireless or Total Wireless customer, you also have the opportunity to get a discounted (or free) subscription to Disney+. Verizon Wireless customers can save $6.99 per month (which will jump to $9.99 per month with the price hike) on the Disney Bundle through Verizon myPlan. Just add the Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (all with ads). There’s no word yet if Verizon will change the cost of the bundle, but as it stands, you’ll only pay $10 for all three services.
Total Wireless customers on the $60 per month prepaid unlimited plan can enjoy Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free — no questions asked. That’s a $15.99 per month (soon to be $18.99 per month) value tacked onto your phone plan for free. Just keep your account in good standing, and your Disney+ account will remain active.
How to save on a Hulu subscription
Just like Disney+, the best way to lock in the best price on a Hulu subscription is to sign up for the yearly plan before the Oct. 21 deadline. Unlike Disney+, however, Hulu only offers a yearly plan for its cheaper ad-supported tier. The yearly plan will jump to $119.99 come October, but if you sign up soon, you’ll only pay $99.99. That breaks down to only $8.33 per month, which is pretty major savings compared to the soon-to-be $11.99 monthly cost. Sure, you have to watch some ads here and there and pay upfront for a year, but the savings is totally worth it.
Mashable Deals
If you’re a T-Mobile customer on a Go5G Next or Experience Beyond plan, you can get Hulu for free — price hike be damned. Already on one of these plans? Just head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose “redeem now” to claim the offer. You’ll need to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.
Other ways to save on Hulu and Disney+
There are a few other ways you can save on either a Hulu, Disney+, or bundle subscription. If you’re a sports fan, you can sign up for the new ESPN Unlimited bundle for the promotional rate of $29.99 per month. It includes ESPN Unlimited, Disney+ with ads, and Hulu with ads, and locks you into that rate for an entire year. Of course, if you’re not a sports fan, this would end up costing you. If you happen to be a Spectrum customer with TV Select, TV Select Signature or TV Select Plus service, you can get the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle for free.
If you’re a student, you can also unlock savings on Hulu and Disney+. You can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month for as long as you remain a student or save 15% on a Disney+ subscription through UNiDays. Either way, you’ll have to prove your student status.
