Disney+ Premium went from $18.99 to $21.49 a month on Sept. 23, 2026, the same day Toy Story 5 started streaming. Hulu prices went up too, and one Star Wars YouTuber called the timing “diabolical.”
Toy Story 5 landed on Disney+ on Wednesday. So did a bigger bill.
Disney raised prices on most Disney+ and Hulu plans on Wednesday, Sept. 23, the same day Pixar’s biggest Toy Story movie ever started streaming. The ad-free Disney+ Premium plan jumped from $18.99 to $21.49 a month.
Variety pointed out the timing in its own post about the news: the new pricing “comes as ‘Toy Story 5’ debuts today on Disney+.” A lot of people on X noticed too.
How much is Disney+ now?
Here’s the new lineup, per TVLine and AppleInsider.
Disney+ Premium (no ads): $21.49, up from $18.99
Disney+ with ads: $12.49, up from $11.99
Hulu Premium (no ads): $21.49, up from $18.99
Hulu with ads: $12.49, up from $11.99
Disney+ and Hulu bundle, no ads: $21.99, up from $19.99
Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads: $12.99, no change
That’s about a 13% jump for the ad-free plans. ESPN bundles went up too.
When does the Disney+ price increase start?
Right now for new subscribers. If you already pay for Disney+, TVLine reports the new price kicks in on your next billing cycle.
Disney started sending notices to subscribers Wednesday. If you’re on an annual plan or a bundle through another company, check your account for your exact date.
Who called the Disney+ price hike diabolical?
The timing is what got people.
Mollie Damon, co-host of the YouTube channel Star Wars Explained, posted Wednesday: “Raising the price of Disney+ for the release of Toy Story 5 on streaming is diabolical.”
Other users went for jokes. One wrote that “Disney+ really said Toy Story 5 comes with a $2.50 plot twist.” Another posted, “infinity and beyond, monthly, billed to your card forever.”
And one had a practical point: “$21 for Toy Story 5? Could’ve just rented it.”
Is Disney putting ads on the ad-free plan?
Not commercials, at least according to Disney insiders.
Damon’s post also mentioned “ads on all tiers including premium.” That comes from an update to Disney’s subscriber agreement last week, which says plans may include “promotional content, sponsorships, and advertisements before/after playback.”
Two Disney sources told The Desk that the language covers promos for Disney’s own shows and movies, not regular commercials. Live events and ESPN content can carry ads on any plan, per Dexerto. The help page for Premium still promises streaming “without commercial interruption.” Kids’ Junior Mode profiles don’t get ads on any plan, Dexerto added.
So it’s murky, but you’re not getting car ads in the middle of Toy Story 5.
How many times has Disney+ raised prices?
Variety counts this as the fourth hike in four years.
Disney+ launched in November 2019 at $6.99 a month. Today’s no-ads price is more than three times that. One X user did the math and posted “200% increase in 6 years,” which is about right.
Is Toy Story 5 worth it?
It’s the biggest one yet. Toy Story 5 opened in theaters June 19 and made about $1.14 billion worldwide, the best of any Toy Story movie, per Forbes.
This time Woody, Buzz and Jessie go up against Lilypad, a tablet that becomes Bonnie’s new favorite toy. Greta Lee voices her, and Andrew Stanton directed. It holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Lilypad is also moving into Disney World. She starts DJing at Alien Swirling Saucers in Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land on Sept. 25.
How can you save money on Disney+?
The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle is the only plan that didn’t go up. At $12.99, it costs just 50 cents more than Disney+ with ads by itself, and you get Hulu thrown in.
If you only want to watch Toy Story 5 once, a digital rental might be cheaper than a month of Premium. But if you have kids, you already know it won’t be once.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Variety (Sept. 23, 2026), the price increase, the Toy Story 5 timing and the fourth-hike count
TVLine (Sept. 23, 2026), the full price list and effective dates
AppleInsider (Sept. 23, 2026), the prices and subscriber notices
The Desk (Sept. 21, 2026), the subscriber agreement language and Disney sources on ads
Dexerto (Sept. 2026), Junior Mode and the ad rules
Forbes (Sept. 22, 2026), the Toy Story 5 box office and streaming date
Laughing Place (Sept. 19, 2026), Lilypad at Alien Swirling Saucers
X (Sept. 23, 2026), posts from Mollie Damon and other users
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