Disney is raising its Disney+ and bundle subscription prices in the U.S., effective October 21, 2025, with the ad-supported Disney+ plan going from $9.99 to $11.99/month, and the ad-free “Premium” tier increasing from $15.99 to $18.99/month (annual premium subscriptions rising by $30 to $189.99). Bundled offerings—such as those combining Disney+ with Hulu, ESPN Select, or HBO Max—will also face upward price adjustments. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Disney+ is raising its fees since its 2019 launch. The move comes amid recent public backlash over the temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC, which some reports say may have influenced Disney’s decision-timing. The price increases are part of Disney’s ongoing strategy to improve margins on its streaming business, which finally turned profitable in recent quarters.
Sources: Reuters, The Verge, 9to5 Mac
Key Takeaways
– Regular price hikes are now baked in: Disney+ has raised prices annually, showing a pattern of incremental subscription increases to improve profitability.
– Bundles are no longer a safe harbor: Not only are individual Disney+ plans increasing, but so are bundled offerings that combine Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select, and sometimes HBO Max.
– PR and content controversies may affect timing: The decision comes in the wake of backlash over the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, suggesting that brand reputation and public perception can influence business moves—even pricing ones.
In-Depth
So here’s the full picture, casually but with all the facts: Disney is pushing its streaming pricing up again, and this time it’s hitting both the standalone services and the bundles. Beginning October 21, 2025, Disney+ with ads will cost $11.99/month (a $2 increase), and the ad-free or “Premium” version will go to $18.99/month (up $3). The annual premium subscription also takes a jump—$30 more than before. But it isn’t just those two tiers getting adjusted. If you’re in one of the bundled plans (e.g. combining Disney+ with Hulu, ESPN Select, or even adding HBO Max), expect to see your bill go up there too. These changes represent Disney’s latest step in a multi-year trend: since launching in 2019, Disney+ has steadily increased prices nearly every year.
Why do this now? Several factors are likely in play. First: streaming itself is expensive. Content creation costs, licensing, technology, and competition all eat into margins. Disney’s streaming business only recently turned reliably profitable. Second: inflation and operational costs have pressured almost every media company to rethink pricing. Third: timing matters. The public uproar over Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled from ABC—temporarily—created a flash of negative sentiment, including calls to cancel or boycott Disney platforms. Some insiders believe Disney may have rushed a resolution to that issue in part to avoid losing more subscribers ahead of rolling out this price hike.
What this means for consumers: if you’re paying monthly, you’ll notice the increase immediately after your next billing cycle past October 21. If you’re in a bundle, or use more than one Disney-owned service, expect your combined cost to climb more than before. It’s also a clear signal that perks or content won’t be the only tools used to retain customers—pricing is now a front-line battlefield. For Disney, the goal seems clear: raise revenue per user steadily, manage costs, and reinforce streaming as a profitable pillar in the business.