Trying to figure out if you should keep your Disney+ subscription given the latest price increase? We’re breaking down the new costs and the value of what’s included so you can decide if it’s worth keeping.
Did you hear that Disney+ is raising the cost of subscriptions and introducing new subscription tiers and bundles? That’s right: Every Disney fan’s favorite streaming service is introducing a steep price increase for current and new subscribers. With these rising costs, it’s a tricky balance to decide which streaming services deserve your attention – and your money – and which offer the most value.
Fortunately, Disney+ offers plenty of content for its subscribers. With so much to watch on the platform, you might be wondering if the latest Disney+ price increase is worth paying for, we’re breaking down what you need to know in terms of costs to help you decide if it’s the right investment for you.
Current Disney+ Prices
Beginning on December 10, 2023, Disney+ subscribers will see new pricing in effect on the platform. Here’s a look at those prices.
Disney+ Subscribers
If you’re only a Disney+ subscriber, here’s what you need to know:
- Disney+ Basic: Subscribers can stream Disney+ with ads. $7.99/month
- Disney+ Premium: Subscribers can stream Disney+ without ads. $13.99/month or $139.99/year
One of the biggest changes to come to Disney+ since its launch is the switch from no ads to ad-supported plans. Disney+ Basic will include ads once the price increase takes effect, while Disney+ Premium does not include ads. Plus, there’s another perk to the Premium plan: It allows viewers to download Disney+ content on the go.
Your payment options also vary, depending on which plan you choose. The basic plan is only billed monthly, while the premium plan can be paid either monthly or over the year, for a discount.
Disney Bundle Subscribers
If you’re currently subscribed to a Disney Bundle plan (or are considering switching to a bundle), here’s the latest on pricing for each plan:
- Disney Bundle Duo Basic: Subscribers can access Disney+ and Hulu, both with ads. $9.99/month
- Disney Bundle Duo Premium: Subscribers can access Disney+ and Hulu, both without ads. $19.99/month
- Disney Bundle Trio Basic: Subscribers can access Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ with ads. $14.99/month
- Disney Bundle Trip Premium: Subscribers can access Disney+ and Hulu without ads, plus ESPN+ with ads. $24.99/month
- Legacy Disney Bundle: Subscribers can access Disney+ without ads, plus Hulu and ESPN+ with ads. $18.99/month
Keep in mind, the only bundle plan that allows you to download content to watch on the go is the Disney Bundle Trio Premium. All other bundle plans do not feature that benefit. They are all also monthly plans and include more than one streaming service.
What Do You Get on Disney+ for the Subscription Price?
So, with prices rising for Disney+ subscriptions, is it still worth paying for each month or year? The best way to assess its value is to consider what’s available on the streaming service, how much of that content you’ll watch as a subscriber, and if there are any other perks that come with your Disney+ subscription. Here’s a look at what kinds of content and additional benefits you’ll get as a Disney+ subscriber, both right now and after the price increase takes effect.
Disney+ Original Content
Disney+ is home to some of the most popular and original content out on any streaming platform. From beloved series starring characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, like Loki (seasons 1 and 2) and WandaVision, to classic films turned into brand-new original series, like The Santa Clauses (which has a new season premiering in 2023!), to new adventures within the Star Wars universe, such as Ahsoka, and more, you’ll find original classic content on Disney+ that you won’t find anywhere else. Oh, and did we mention that you’ll also get original Disney content that explores the theme parks and resorts, like Behind the Attraction, too?
If you are a fan of unique content, Disney+ has a seemingly endless stream of brand-new original content coming throughout the year. Disney is constantly releasing new shows and the original content lineup grows monthly, which helps the platform stay fresh.
Classic Disney Movies
If you’re more of a classic Disney movie fan, you really can’t find what Disney+ offers anywhere else: all of Disney’s “in the vault” films! Disney+ is home to the full vault of classic Disney movies you know and adore, and you have the ability to stream your favorites anywhere, any time. The vault is always open if you’re a subscriber!
We love that you can always watch fan favorite movies like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Sleeping Beauty, with just the touch of a button. However, it’s not just Disney animated classics from the 1950s forward that are available on Disney+ – you’ll also be able to catch some classics that you might not even realize are part of the Disney family. For example, you can stream films like Miracle on 34th Street (a longtime Christmas classic), Flight of the Navigator, Big, and all of the iterations of The Parent Trap. Plus, Disney Channel Original Movies like You Wish!, Get a Clue, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, and Don’t Look Under the Bed are also available, giving you a super extensive selection.
National Geographic Series and Documentaries
If you enjoy National Geographic programming, then Disney+ is the streaming service for you. Thanks to a partnership between Disney and National Geographic, Disney+ features exclusive Nat Geo content that’s available solely for streaming. That means Disney+ subscribers are able to watch shows like the Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Incredible Dr. Pol, and Limitless with Chris Hemsworth. This expands your streaming library significantly, taking your options far beyond Disney-centric content.
Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar Content
If all of the content mentioned above wasn’t enough, there are three more categories of films, series, and shorts available to watch: You can access the entire libraries of Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar content. From the Avengers film franchise to every one of the Toy Story films to Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University to Star Wars films, animated series, and live-action series, there are hundreds of different options from these beloved studios. Plus, with new Pixar shorts, original Marvel and Star Wars series, and upcoming films planned for the future, you can trust there will be even more coming to Disney+ from these three studios within the Disney family.
Occasional Discounts at Disney Theme Parks, Resorts, and ShopDisney
Disney+ isn’t solely about streaming content! From time to time, subscribers can actually get access to special deals, discounts, and offers that are valid at the theme parks, resorts, or online at shopDisney. While these special discounts aren’t available all the time, they do release discounts for subscribers occasionally. For example, in fall 2023, Walt Disney World offered Disney+ subscribers a 35 percent discount at Walt Disney World Resorts. This is an extra perk that’s definitely worth the cost of your monthly subscription in our book!
Should You Keep Your Disney+ Subscription With the Latest Price Increase?
While the Disney+ streaming platform has all of the above content, deciding whether or not to keep your subscription with the latest price increase is a tricky choice to make. Here’s how we suggest looking at your subscription and its potential value.
If you’re looking to keep your Disney+ subscription affordable, we recommend changing your plan to the Disney Bundle Duo Basic. At $2 more than the Basic Disney+ Plan, this will give you everything Disney+ offers, plus access to Hulu with ads. It makes the most sense economically.
If you don’t want any ads on Disney+, your only two options are the Disney+ Premium Plan, which only includes Disney+ without ads, or the Disney Bundle Trio Premium, which includes Disney+ without ads, Hulu without ads, and ESPN+ with ads. We recommend the Premium Plan for $13.99/month, as there’s a significant price difference between the two. since there is a big price difference between the two.
Regardless of which plan you’re most interested in – or which best suits your budget – we think Disney+ is a great subscription service that shouldn’t get the ax due to the price increases. There’s so much content, both original and old, that you can watch for the price, which means it’s a streamer that delivers a whole lot of value. To learn more about what’s available on Disney+, keep reading:
The 5 Craziest Things We Learned From ‘The Imagineering Story’ on Disney+
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