Disney+ Surprise Price Drop and Blockbuster Releases: Everything You Need to Know Today

Disney+ is bracing subscribers for another shake-up—one that combines rising monthly fees, a tighter grip on password sharing and a full Hulu migration that will reshape the platform’s catalog and pricing. Price hikes land this month Starting 21 October 2025, Disney+ Basic (with ads) will jump from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while Disney+ Premium climbs from $15.99 to $18.99. Hulu with ads is matching the new $11.99 price, and most bundle tiers—especially those that include ESPN Select—are also edging higher. It marks Disney’s third consecutive annual increase, outpacing U.S. inflation and putting the ad-free plan only a dollar shy of Netflix’s Standard tier. Hulu content moves in, standalone app phases out After closing its full takeover of Hulu in June, Disney confirmed that Hulu’s library will be folded directly into Disney+ beginning early 2026. The standalone Hulu app will sunset, though users who prefer separate subscriptions will still have that option. Expect a unified interface, shared watch lists and a single parental-control system—features designed to keep cord-cutters inside Disney’s ecosystem as rivals like Max and Prime Video beef up live-sports lineups. Password sharing crackdown goes global Disney+ started enforcing household-only streaming rules across North America and Europe in late 2024, and the policy is now rolling out worldwide. Accounts that stream from multiple residences will trigger prompts to add an “Extra Member” for an additional $6.99 (Basic) or $9.99 (Premium) per month. One-time passcodes let travelers keep access on the road, but long-term sharers will be forced to pay or lose their profiles. Disney says the tougher stance is critical to funding marquee originals and the looming Hulu merger. What subscribers can do now • Lock in a year: Annual Disney+ Premium plans bought before 20 Oct keep the old $15.99 monthly equivalent for 12 months. • Audit devices: Remove unused phones, tablets and smart-TV logins to avoid false household flags. • Compare bundles: The Disney+, Hulu & ESPN Select Bundle with ads stays frozen at $29.99 for the first year, still $7 cheaper than subscribing separately. • Consider ad tiers: Disney told investors its ad load will remain below four minutes per hour—roughly half of linear TV—making Basic less intrusive than many rivals. The 2026 outlook Disney expects the combined Disney+/Hulu app to debut in beta next spring, paired with new live sports add-ons tied to ESPN Unlimited. Executives project mid-single-digit subscriber growth for fiscal 2026 despite the price hikes, arguing that a consolidated catalog, fewer account leeches and a broader ad marketplace will lift average revenue per user. Bottom line For current members, the next few weeks are the last chance to renew at 2024 rates or decide whether Disney+ remains worth its steeper price. But with Hulu originals, FX dramas and a larger back catalog joining Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars under one roof, the platform is betting that bigger really is better—even if it costs a bit more.