Disney+ is about to get more expensive this week
Well, it's Groundhog Day again... Disney is about to increase the price of its streaming platform, Disney+. I just received an email this week from Disney reminding me of an upcomign price increase for my Disney+ streaming plan.
I've still got the Legacy Disney Bundle which includes Disney+ with no ads along with Hulu and ESPN+ with ads for $18.99. That's increasing to $21.99 on October 17th, a fairly substantial price hike at nearly 16%.
That's not the only change though. Disney is raising its prices across the board for all its different Disney+ bundles. All of the price changes go into effect on October 17, 2024. Here is the updated pricing:
- Disney+ Basic (With Ads): $7.99 to $9.99 monthly
- Disney+ Premium (No Ads) $13.99 to $15.99 monthly or $139.99 to $159.99 annually
- Extra Member (for family plans not in the same household): $6.99 to $9.99 monthly
In addition to the individual plans, the Disney Bundle plans are also increasing in price.
Disney Bundle Duo Classic, which includes Disney+ (with ads) and Hulu (with ads) is increasing from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. The Disney Bundle Duo Premium, which removes the ads on both, will remain at $19.99 a month.
The Disney Bundle Trio Basic which is Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ all with ads will increase from $14.99 to $16.99 per month. The Premium version of this plan with no ads on Disney+ and Hulu, but with ads on ESPN+ (likely because its live sports) will increase from $24.99 to $26.99 per month.
Finally, there are the Max Bundle plans which offer Disney+, Hulu, and Max all in one package. These bundles will not change in price at all. So Disney+, Hulu, and Max with ads will cost $16.99 per month, while removing ads will cost $29.99 per month.
Disney just recently started turning a profit with its streaming platform. The company announced a combined profit of $47 million for its direct-to-consumer business for the first time in the first quarter of 2024 (Walt Disney Company's fiscal Q2). Turning Disney+ profitable has been one of CEO Bob Iger's primary goals since returning to the company.
But as a consumer, I do have to wonder what the tipping point will be. I'll admit when I saw the price of my bundle increasing to $21.99 a month, I started looking at other options. I'll keep it for now, but we're getting dangerously close to cancelation territory.