If you signed up for Disney Plus but don’t know anything about the Disney bundle, now is the time to find out. That’s because prices are rising all over the streaming world, following the step Netflix made at the beginning of the year.
The Disney Plus price hike is a significant $3 increase for the ad-free version of the service, which comes to $10.99 per month from its previous price of $7.99. This happens on December 8, 2022. This is the second Disney Plus price increase, after March 2021’s hike of $1 per month. Yes, it’s hard to remember, but Disney Plus launched at $6.99 per month in 2019.
Next, we have Hulu’s price hike, which isn’t nearly as terrible. Ad-supported Hulu will increase to $7.99 (previously $6.99) per month, while ad-free Hulu will rise by $2 to $14.99 (previously $12.99). This change will happen on October 10, 2022. This is in addition to the price hike for ESPN Plus, which has seen it rise 43% to $9.99 per month.
Although ESPN Plus is no match for our imaginations like Hulu or Disney Plus, we know that UFC fans need it, among other things. Here’s a table if you’d prefer to see things like this:
| Old monthly price | New monthly price | |
|---|---|---|
| Disney Plus | 7.99 US dollars | $10.99 (December 8) |
| Disney Plus with ads | not available | $7.99 (December 8) |
| Hulu with ads | 6.99 US dollars | $7.99 (October 10) |
| Hulu without ads | US $12.99 | $14.99 (October 10) |
| ESPN Plus (always contains ads) | 6.99 US dollars | $9.99 (August 2022) |
It’s always a bad time for a price hike, but for that to happen as Hulu continues to get great deals (watch The Bear, please) and since inflation is an increasing reality of life?
All this makes Disney Bundle (currently $13.99, up to $14.99) (Opens in a new tab) – which was just one package containing Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus – all of which are much more interesting. Especially now that there will be four different Disney packages. It’s annoying, though, that the Disney Bundle we have now is getting more expensive this fall, going to $14.99 from $13.99, if you’re already a member.
Disney package prices
| $14.99* | US $12.99 | $19.99 | US $9.99 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Plus without ads | yes | number | yes | number |
| Disney Plus with ads | number | yes | number | yes |
| Hulu without ads | number | number | yes | number |
| Hulu with ads | yes | yes | number | yes |
| ESPN Plus | yes | yes | yes | number |
| you save | US $13.98 | US $12.98 | US $15.98 | $5.98 |
* Available only to “existing subscribers”. While this appears to work for anyone who signs up before Hulu’s October price hike, Tom’s Guide reached out to Disney to confirm whether you need to be a Disney Bundle subscriber before this announcement to lock in the $14.99 price. We will update this if and when we get a response.
And since we think Disney Plus and Hulu are the best parts of this bundle, let’s take a look at these bundles for people who aren’t interested in ESPN Plus.
Disney Plus Package $14.99
What did you get: So, if you keep your existing Disney Plus package, you’ll pay $14.99 per month. That’s a saving of about $4 on ad-free Disney Plus and ad-supported Hulu on its own, which costs $18.98 per month. That’s closer to 50% off Hulu as long as that price is available. And yes, you get ESPN Plus on top of that.
for whom: People who like ad-free Disney Plus and want Hulu and/or ESPN Plus.
Disney Plus Package $9.99
What did you get: The cheapest deal is $9.99 from Disney and Hulu with ads. Provides $5.98 in savings. This is like cutting Hulu to just $2 a month.
for whom: People who accept ads but don’t need ESPN Plus.
Disney Plus Package $12.99
What did you get: If you want ESPN Plus (which contains ads), you can get it through ad-supported Disney Plus and Hulu for $12.99 per month. This is a 50% discount on all of the above options.
for whom: ESPN Plus subscribers who want Disney Plus and Hulu.
Disney Plus Bundle $19.99
What did you get: Finally, there is the most expensive package. For $19.99, you can get ad-free Disney Plus and ad-free Hulu, with ad-supported ESPN Plus. That’s $15.98 off, and it’s basically the same as getting Hulu without ads for free.
for whom: People who don’t like ads.
Outlook: It’s better to group, unless you’re floundering
Of course, these packages only save you money if you want two or more of these services. While I pay for Sling TV, and can get some shows there, I need Hulu for shows like Abbott Elementary (Sling doesn’t have ABC, where it originally airs) and FX on Hulu’s exclusive Reservation Dogs.
Currently, I’m striking a better deal: the 2021 Hulu Black Friday deal, which paid Hulu a monthly profit for a calendar year. This deal expires after, after Price increased, so I don’t think I’ll be able to lock this bundle.
So, if you love Hulu and Disney Plus (and even ESPN Plus), it’s time to collect. However, your best alternative is ripple. It’s the thing that streaming services hate most, but if you don’t think you need Hulu, Disney Plus, or ESPN Plus for a month ahead, you can just cancel and come back when the shows you like come back. This is the easiest way to save money.
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