How to avoid the Disney+ price hike in the US

Disney+ US subscribers are in for another price hike later this year.

The cheapest ad-supported tier will increase from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month – the first price increase we’ve seen since this option was introduced. There is no annual version available for this level.

The standard ad-free tier will increase from $13.99 per month and $139.99 per year to $15.99 per month and $159.99 per year for both new and existing subscribers.

In addition, two other streaming services under the Disney umbrella will see a price increase. Hulu’s ad-supported tier will change from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month, while the ad-free tier will increase from $17.99 per month to $19.99 per month.

The prices of sports service ESPN+ will increase from $10.99 per month to $11.99 per month.

With the cost of living rising, this price increase will not be a joy for many. However, if you time it right, you can save money for longer. We’ve rounded up all the options you can try to keep costs down.

You can also read about Disney’s plans to tackle password sharing.

Buy an annual subscription

The first thing you can do is buy or renew your account with an annual subscription before the price increase starts.

An annual subscription currently costs $139.99. If you’re a new subscriber, you can sign up for it on the Disney+ website.

To renew, complete the following steps before October 17, 2024:

• Open the Disney+ website in your browser
• Click the profile icon on the right and tap “Account” from the drop-down menu
• Follow the steps to manage your account and change your subscription – this will differ depending on how you pay for Disney+

The closer you wait to the date the price increase takes effect, the longer you can avoid the price increase.

However, if you’re halfway through your annual subscription in October, this can be annoying. Fortunately, there is still something you can do.

Buy a 12-month Disney+ gift subscription

Another way to save money ahead of the Disney+ price hike is to buy yourself a 12-month gift subscription.

Gift subscriptions can be activated at any time. Therefore, you can take out an annual subscription first and then activate it when your 12 months are up so you can enjoy the lower prices for longer. There is currently no expiration date on gift subscriptions, so we don’t see why this wouldn’t be possible.

This is what you need to do before October 17, 2024 if you are in the US:

• Visit the Disney+ gift subscription page
• Enter the recipient’s name and email address. Make sure this is an address that is not already registered with the site as this only applies to new customers
• Buy the 12-month subscription for $139.99
• Once the gift card arrives in your inbox, don’t activate it until you want to
• To use the gift card, sign up for a brand new Disney+ account with the gift card as a payment option

Switch to a Disney+ bundle subscription

If you often switch between different streaming services, it may be worth choosing a bundle that is much cheaper.

The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ bundle starts at $10.99 per month. In addition to all your Disney staples like The Acolyte and MCU films, you also get access to shows like Only Murders in the Building and Shōgun, and a plethora of sports.

There’s also a new bundle with Disney+, Hulu and Max – so you can stream House of the Dragon and The White Lotus. This starts from $16.99 per month.

Bundle into Disney+ with a broadband contract

Another way to keep costs low with your streaming subscription is to bundle Disney+ with a broadband contract. The longest Disney+ offering we’ve seen yet is a six-month service plan with one of Verizon’s unlimited data plans in the US.

You can read more about this deal in our article about how to get a discount on Disney+.

Cancel your subscription completely

If none of these options are right for you, you can cancel your Disney+ account altogether. You can always join again further down the line if a show/movie you would like to watch becomes available on the platform.

Here’s what you need to do to cancel a subscription:

• Open the Disney+ website in your browser
• Click the profile icon on the right and tap “Account” from the drop-down menu
• Follow the steps to manage your account and cancel your subscription

More detailed instructions, including how to cancel from a phone or TV, can be found in our guide to canceling Disney+.