The Walt Disney Co. is increasing prices for its Disney Plus tiered bundles, but members can still find a deal with its ad-supported service.
Disney announced this week there will be a Disney Plus price hike for its bundles without ads, but kept prices for its basic plan with ads unchanged, at $7.99 a month, an option that builds advertisements into the viewer experience. Disney Plus without ads will cost $13.99 a month or $139.99 a year starting Oct. 12.
Other streaming services, including Peacock and Paramount Plus, also have streaming options that come at a discount if you opt for ads. And just like Peacock and Paramount Plus, you'll have to sit through a handful of commercials — roughly a minute or minute-and-a-half. There’s no fast-forwarding in these ad-supported streaming services.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Disney Plus bundle options with ads:
- Disney Bundle Duo Basic: Disney Plus (with ads), Hulu (with ads), $9.99/month
- Disney Bundle Trio Basic: Disney Plus (with ads), Hulu (with ads), ESPN Plus (with ads), $14.99/month
- Trio Basic: Hulu (with ads), plus access to Disney+ (with ads) and ESPN+ (with ads), 14.99/month
- Trio Premium, Disney+ (no ads), Hulu (no adds) and ESPN+ (with adds), $24.99/month
The streaming options with ads was launched in December 2022.
“With these new ad-supported offerings, we’re able to deliver greater flexibility for consumers to enjoy the full breadth and depth of incredible storytelling from The Walt Disney Company,” Michael Paull, president of Direct to Consumer at Disney, said at the time.
Disney Plus Basic and other ad-supported bundle subscribers will have access to the same movies, series, documentaries and more under the Disney flag, including Disney classics and current films, as well as the Marvel and Star Wars universes. That includes the award-winning Abbot Elementary, made-for-Disney Plus Star Wars series The Mandalorian (think Baby Yoda/Grogu) and Andor, and originals like The Old Man and Only Murders in the Building.
Disney’s move came at a time when it was seeing a stock slump and disappointing earnings and a shakeup at the top. This could be an elixir, some analysts said in December.
“Disney Plus' ad-supported tier is going to be a game changer for its subscriber and revenue growth, and considering Disney's slumping average-revenue-per-user growth and increasing DTC operating losses, its launch can't come soon enough," wrote Third Bridge analyst Jamie Lumley. "Disney is in a better position than Netflix from an operational perspective because they already have a lot of advertisement technology and infrastructure in place through Hulu and ABC network channels."
Other streamers have also been making important moves to build customer bases and seek revenue. As we reported last December, HBO Max returned to Amazon Prime Video’s third-party streaming channels. Last summer, Warner Bros. Discovery slashed subscription prices on HBO Max.
-
6 Stunning Waterfront Homes for Sale Around the USFrom private peninsulas to lakes, bayous and beyond, Kiplinger's "Listed" series brings you another selection of dream homes for sale on the waterfront.
-
Six Reasons to Disinherit Someone and How to Do ItWhether you're navigating a second marriage, dealing with an estranged relative or leaving your assets to charity, there are reasons to disinherit someone. Here's how.
-
Don’t Panic About the “Retail Blackout” – See Which Stores Are Closing (and Which Aren’t) for Easter 2025Dozens of major retailers are planning to close their doors on April 20. Find out which of your go-to stores are on the list.
-
Amazon Haul Online Is Here – Shop Under $20 Deals Without the AppThe Amazon storefront where everything costs $20 or less is now available online.
-
Lowe's Stores Closing All Locations for 24 HoursLowe's will close all of its retail locations and contact center for one day in April.
-
Trump's Tariffs Could Make Your Favorite Clothing Brands More ExpensivePresident Donald Trump announced tariffs on imported goods from a litany of countries. See how these tariffs will impact your favorite clothing line.
-
GameStop Is Closing More Stores — Here’s Where to Shop InsteadAs GameStop closes more locations, here’s how to score similar deals on games, consoles and collectibles at other major retailers.
-
How Much You Could Save on Gas with Costco, Walmart and Other MembershipsGas prices jumped 10 cents this week. Compare gas savings perks and see how much you’d save with Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Walmart Plus and Amazon Prime.
-
Kohl’s to Close 27 Stores in March 2025 — Is Your Location on the List?Kohl’s is closing 27 stores this Saturday as part of its 2025 restructuring plan. Find out which locations are affected and why they’re closing.
-
Costco’s 4.5-Pound Tiramisu Cheesecake Might Be Your New Favorite DessertIf you haven’t visited your local Costco bakery to check out the Kirkland Signature Tiramisu Cheesecake, you'd better get there early, they are flying off the shelves.
