'I'm cancelling!' Parents fuming over Disney+ change in subscriptions

If you want the same access to Disney+ you’ve enjoyed for the past year, then it’s now going to cost you more for it. Are you affected?

Josephine Agostino

3 min read

March 22, 2024 - 10:11AM

Disney+ subscriptions are changing. Image: Disney

Lifestyle

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This month, Disney+ has made the wishes of thousands of Taylor Swift fans’ dreams come true with the exclusive release of The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version).

Unfortunately for subscribers to the streaming platform - whether they are a Swifty or not - all those sequins and glitter will now come at an extra cost.

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Disney+ subscriptions are changing. Image: Disney

Disney+ changes coming to subscriptions

As of March 5, 2024, Disney+ changed its plan structure, which has led to subscribers on a Standard Plan - which was previously $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year - automatically being switched to the new Premium Plan for $17.99 a month or $179.99 a year.

Say what??

Let’s break it down.

If you want to keep four simultaneous streams in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos audio - which used to cost $13.99 - that will now cost you $17.99 on the Premium Plan. That’s an increase of $4 monthly or $40 per year annually.

If you want to keep paying $13.99, then you’re only allowed two simultaneous streams and won’t have access to 4K and Dolby Atmos - which means downgrading to the Standard Plan. On the plus side for both plans, there are still no ads, and the unlimited downloads across 10 devices will remain.

The price hike is the latest in several changes made to Disney+’s fee structure since it launched in 2020 at just $8.99 per month. That’s right, it’s effectively doubled.

In 2021, it went to $11.99 per month, then in December 2022, it went to $13.99 per month.

How the Disney+ changes will affect you. Source: Disney

Parents are fuming over the Disney+ change

Members of the Mums On A Budget Australia Facebook group have voiced their outrage at receiving the recent notification of the price increase to their memberships - an email which does not make them aware of the option to drop down to the lower plan to keep paying the same fee.

“Just in time for them adding the Taylor swift concert. More subs higher cost,” wrote Becc.

“We have paid $80 a year previously so that seems huge,” Holly added.

Many mums said new fees were enough reason for them to leave the platform.

Source: Facebook

“Didn’t Disney just have a price rise a few months ago? This is bullshit. We just cancelled kayo so looks like Disney will be next,” Kelly commented.

“It was $8.99 when I first signed up, then $11.99 in 2022, then $13.99 in 2023 and now jumping up to $17.99. I’ll be cancelling, these companies are just taking advantage of “inflation” at this point,” Melissa-lee said. “They know that we all pay for multiple streaming services and they have honestly all gone up a ridiculous amount. Everyone needs to send them a complaint. It's the only way to make them stop taking advantage of us.”

“We go yearly, as when it started it worked out that you only paid for 10 months. ($99, it's now $190). Our plan ends in August, we will be cancelling,” Kate added.

“I’ve been meaning to cancel it! This’ll do it, haha,” Janey chimed in.

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How parents are getting around the price rise

Just as the cost of household items has also increased, other mums could predict a price rise was coming and prepared for it.

“That's why I paid annually a few months ago, everything else was going up,” Summar said.

“You can't expect prices to stay low. All prices rise. That's the economy for you … Either cancel or pay for it,” Demi told the group.

Kidspot has contacted Disney+ and it did not respond to questions as to why the company has changed its fee structure, and instead referred to its online notification.

It’s not just Disney+, either. Stan subscribers will also have to fork out extra, with the streaming platform recently notifying customers its Basic plan will rise $2 per month from $10 to $12.

Now that’s not an easy thing to shake off, is it Taylor?