Disney+ is a much-loved entertainment fixture in many homes — more than 150 million households, to be exact — for Disney shows and movies, old and new.
Since its release in 2019, the streaming service has also added packages that include access to ESPN and Hulu, with the option to bundle their package with a subscription to Max (HBO). On Sept. 4, Disney+ also added access to ABC News Live and a continuous playlist of content geared toward preschoolers, with the promise of four additional curated playlists for Premium subscribers this fall.
Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation
As the Disney+ catalog continues to expand, so does the price of a monthly subscription. Beginning Oct. 17, most Disney+ plans will increase between $1 and $3 monthly. The Disney Bundle Duo Premium will remain unchanged at $19.99 per month, and the newly introduced Disney+, Hulu and Max Bundle will stay at $16.99 per month with ads and $29.99 without.
Nobody likes a price hike, but there are still ways to save money on Disney+ — including a few that can help you get your monthly subscription with no out-of-pocket cost.
Using Disney+ when you travel
Disney+ is great for travelers who might find themselves on a plane without good (or any) Wi-Fi for hours. With most Disney+ plans, you can use the mobile app to download as many Disney+ shows and movies as your device can handle. This means your family members can watch all their favorites on the go without connecting to Wi-Fi.
Related: 5 ways using an authorized Disney vacation planner will improve your trip
You can download shows on up to 10 devices and stream up to four at a time (based on your subscription plan), so you can load your whole family’s devices with shows to watch during your next flight or road trip. There’s also an option for kid profiles that limit your child to shows rated TV-7FV and G.
If you are staying in a hotel that allows for casting, you can also watch your favorite Disney+ shows and movies from the comfort of your guest room, including hotels at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. All three of Disneyland’s on-site hotels have been upgraded, and Disney World is in the process of upgrading its TVs as room refurbishment projects are completed. Several Disney World hotels have already been upgraded.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
The best credit cards for Disney+
There are a few ways to save on your Disney+ subscription.
Beginning Oct. 17, the base price for Disney+ will increase to $9.99 per month with ads (currently $7.99), and Disney+ Premium with no ads will increase to $15.99 per month without ads (currently $13.99) or $159.99 per year. There are also several Disney Bundle plans that allow you to combine Disney+ with subscriptions to Hulu, ESPN and Max.
Luckily, a few credit cards can help you eliminate or reduce out-of-pocket costs for Disney+.
The Disney® Premier Visa® Card gives you $14.99 back in statement credits for up to three consecutive months on qualifying Disney Bundle subscription purchases. American Express also occasionally has an Amex Offer that issues cardholders a monthly $7.99 statement credit for up to six months of Disney+ charges.
Moreover, The Platinum Card® from American Express provides up to $20 per month ($240 annually) in digital entertainment credits that you can use toward Disney+, among other eligible services (enrollment is required).
Even with the price increase, if you have a Disney+ Basic, Disney+ Premium, Disney Bundle Duo Basic, Disney Bundle Duo Premium, Disney Bundle Trio Basic, Legacy Disney Bundle (no longer available to purchase) or Disney+, Hulu, Max Bundle (with ads), you can cover the full cost of your monthly subscription using the digital entertainment credit.
In some cases, you’ll even have a bit left over to help pay for one of the other streaming services or digital media subscriptions covered by the Amex Platinum monthly digital entertainment credit, like Peacock, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Related: How to use the Amex Platinum digital entertainment credit
If you don’t have any of the above cards that offer statement credits for Disney+ or would rather use a different card for Disney+ charges, there are other cards to consider.
Some of the best cards for streaming services include:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on select streaming services, including Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, Max, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling, Spotify, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV and Vudu.
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Get up to $7 back each month as a statement credit (up to $84 annually) after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription using your card.
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Get up to $7 back each month as a statement credit (up to $84 annually) after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription using your card. Card holders also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services (enrollment is required, cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout).
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Get 3% cash back on select streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu and Disney+.
Even if you don’t have any of these cards, eligible Verizon account holders can get a Disney Bundle with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ for $10 per month.
The information for the Capital One SavorOne card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
For years now, Disney+ has been an affordable way to help keep the family entertained both at home and on the road. As the prices of streaming services like Disney+ go up, it’s more important than ever to find ways to save.
Application link: Unlock Disney in-park perks and discounts with the Disney Premier Visa Card.
Related reading:
