What, again? Yes, it’s time for price increases, and they’re coming for virtually everyone who subscribes to Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, or one of the many Disney packages. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it, but you’ll want to act soon.
Disney announced its latest price increase on Tuesday, almost a year to the day after announcing the previous price increase (I know, it’s getting hard to keep track).
Here are the details – and yes, virtually all Disney plans, including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ and the various Disney packages, are scheduled to be available starting October 17, 2024:
Price increase for standalone streaming from Disney
- Disney+ with advertising costs $9.99 per month, an increase of $2 per month
- Disney+ Premium will increase to $15.99, or two dollars per month. The annual price will increase from $139.99 to $159.99 per year.
- Hulu with ads costs $9.99 per month, a price increase of $2 per month, while the annual price rises to $99.99 per year, an increase of $20 per year
- For Hulu without ads, the surcharge will increase by $1/month to $18.99/month.
- Ad-free Hulu will rise to $18.99 per month, an increase of $1/month
- ESPN+ will cost $11.99 per month, up a dollar per month. The annual plan will cost $119.99 per year, up from $109.99 per year.
Price increases for Disney packages
- Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads) will rise to $10.99/month, an increase of $1/month
- Disney+ and Hulu (both with ads) and ESPN+ cost $16.99 per month (previously $14.99/month).
- Disney+ and Hulu (ad-free) and ESPN+ cost $26.99, a price increase of $2 per month
Price increases for Hulu + Live TV
- Hulu + Live TV (with ad-supported subscription channels) will rise to $82.99 per month, an increase of $6/month
- Hulu + Live TV (with ad-free subscription channel) costs $95.99 per month, previously $89.99.
Yes, pretty much every Disney-owned streaming property and option is preparing for an increase. Recognize the Disney plan that is not Increase? We’ll come back to that in a moment.
The good news is that there is a way – five ways, actually – to avoid the coming price increases. But you need to act soon to take advantage.
Sign up for the ad-free Disney+ and Hulu package
While all other Disney packages will increase in price on October 17, the Disney Bundle Duo Premium package – consisting of the ad-free Disney+ and Hulu – will be spared a price increase this time.
For now, the Disney Bundle Duo Premium will remain at its current price of $19.99 per month.
Sign up for a Disney+ Premium annual plan
Not all Disney+ standalone packages offer annual plans, but Disney+ Premium (ad-free) does. Sign up for an annual Disney+ Premium subscription now and secure the plan before the price increase.
Remember that the price for a full year of Disney+ Premium will increase to $159.99 per year on October 17, up $20 from the current price of $139.99/year.
Sign up for a year of Hulu with ads
Like Disney+, Hulu is stingy when it comes to annual plans, but there is one: Hulu with ads, which currently costs $79.99 per year.
But just like Disney+ Premium, Hulu with ads will increase its price by $20 per year on October 17, so you should secure the annual plan before the increase while you still can.
Sign up for the Disney+, Hulu and Max bundle
There is one other bundle that will be spared from the upcoming price increase: the bundle that includes Disney+, Hulu, and Max.
You can get the ad-laden version of this triple pack for $19.99 a month, while the ad-free version of the Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle costs $29.99 a month.
Sign up for one year of ESPN+
Finally, there is the annual subscription to ESPN+, which currently costs $109.99 per year.
Starting October 17, the annual plan for ESPN+ will increase to $119.99 per year, so if you’re only interested in ESPN+ and want to avoid the price increase, this is the way to go.
Do not wait too long
If your billing period prior to October 17 extends beyond October 17, when Disney price increases occur, your contract may be renewed at the new, increased billing rate. before until October 17. (I learned this the hard way.)
So pay attention to your Disney billing cycle dates and secure the annual plan during the last full monthly billing period before the price increase occurs.
