Disney Dials Up Prices for Disney+, Hulu Streaming Services

The Walt Disney Company has increased prices for its streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu. The ad-free premium plans for both services will now cost $21.49 per month, a 13% increase from their previous price of $19. New subscribers will see the higher price immediately, while existing subscribers will be notified next month to update their billing cycles.

The price hikes apply to Disney+ and Hulu's standalone ad-free plans, as well as the Disney+/Hulu bundle with ads, which remains at $12.99 per month. The company also increased prices for its Hulu + Live service, which adds cable channels delivered over the Internet to Hulu's on-demand options.

The price increases coincide with the premiere of Pixar's blockbuster Toy Story 5 on Disney+. Some subscribers have expressed frustration and are calling for cancellations, suggesting that users will continue to pay higher prices if they don't take action. Others have noted that this is not a new trend and that companies will keep raising prices as long as consumers are willing to pay them.

Disney's price hikes mark the fourth time Disney+ has increased its prices in four years, with each previous increase also resulting in higher subscription costs for users.