Another price hike. For what, exactly? Your Disney Plus bill just jumped again, and it feels like a slap in the face for loyalty. According to a CNET report from August 2023, the ad-free plan shot up to $13.99 a month, a nearly 27% increase. You're not imagining the frustration; it's a shared sentiment. Over on Trustpilot, Disney Plus is sitting on a dismal 1.5-star rating, with countless users complaining about billing issues and terrible customer service. It's a similar story on their Better Business Bureau profile, which is flooded with complaints about unauthorized charges and the nightmare of trying to get a straight answer. It seems like they're more focused on squeezing wallets than keeping customers happy.
Best Ways to Lower Your Disney Plus Bills
| Lowering Bill Method | Ease of Action | Why use this method |
|---|---|---|
| Downgrade to an Ad-Supported Plan | Easy | The quickest way to instantly reduce your monthly cost without losing access to the content library. |
| Switch to Annual Billing | Easy | Pay a lump sum upfront to get a discount equivalent to two free months. Best for long-term savings. |
| Cancel and Wait for a 'Win-Back' Offer | Tricky | A gamble, but Disney often sends promotional offers to former subscribers a few months after cancellation. |
| Utilize the Disney+ Bundle | Easy | If you use Hulu or ESPN+, bundling them is significantly cheaper than paying for each service separately. |
| Check Partner Deals (e.g., Verizon) | Tricky | Some mobile or internet providers offer Disney+ for free or at a discount. Requires having a specific plan. |
Step-by-step Guide on Lowering Your Disney Plus Bill After Complaining
1 Identify and Review the Bill
Ugh, another one. Log into your account and find the exact date and amount of the price increase. Note your current plan (ad-free, bundle, etc.) so you know exactly what you're paying for before you contact them.
2 Consider Downgrading Your Plan
If you can tolerate commercials, switching to the ad-supported plan is a surefire way to lower the monthly charge. It's a bitter pill to swallow, paying for ads, but it keeps a few bucks in your pocket.
3 Re-evaluate Your Bundle
Are you actually watching Hulu and ESPN+? If you signed up for the bundle but only use Disney+, you're just throwing money away. You can downgrade to a Disney Plus only plan to cut costs.
4 Look for Promotions and Offers
Scour their help pages or your account dashboard for any promotions. Sometimes they hide loyalty offers, but you have to dig for them. Don't expect them to make it easy.
5 Check for Student, Military, or Low-Income Discounts
Disney Plus itself doesn't offer these directly, which is annoying. However, some third-party services or student discount programs (like UNiDAYS) occasionally have limited-time offers. It's worth a quick search.
6 Pay Annually Instead of Monthly
If you plan on keeping the service, switching to an annual plan saves you money. It's basically paying for 10 months and getting 12. It's a bigger hit upfront, but the math works out if you can swing it.
🔍 How to Negotiate for a Lower Bill with Disney Plus
Your Goal:
Get a promotional rate or a one-time credit applied to your account due to the recent price increase.
The Script:
Hello, I'm calling because I noticed a significant, unexpected increase in my monthly bill. I've been a subscriber for [Number] years and have always enjoyed the service, but this new price of [New Price] is making me reconsider my subscription. I'm looking at other options like Netflix and Max right now. Before I make a decision to cancel, I was hoping you could tell me if there are any promotions or loyalty offers available for long-time customers to bring the cost down to something more reasonable?
Key Phrases to Use:
- "Unexpected price increase"
- "Long-time subscriber"
- "Considering my options"
- "Competitors like Netflix or Max"
- "Any retention offers available?"
- "This new price is hard to justify"
If They Won't Budge
- Ask for a one-time 'courtesy' credit for the inconvenience.
- Politely end the chat or call and proceed with downgrading to the ad-supported plan yourself.
- Cancel the service. You can always resubscribe later, possibly with a new customer promotion.
Best Alternatives to Disney Plus
Sometimes, no amount of negotiating is worth the headache. If you've had enough of Disney Plus's price hikes and poor service, you have options. Here are a few of the top competitors people are switching to:
| Competitor | Why it's Better Alternative to Disney Plus | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Users who want a massive, constantly updated library of original content and international shows. | Offers a wider variety of genres and a more mature content library. Their plan tiers are straightforward. |
| Max (formerly HBO Max) | Users looking for premium, high-quality series and blockbuster movies from Warner Bros. | Combines HBO, Discovery+, and Warner Bros. content. Often considered the go-to for prestige television. |
| Paramount+ | Users who want a budget-friendly option with live sports (like the NFL) and a solid back catalog. | Generally cheaper than Disney+. Includes content from CBS, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Pictures, plus live TV options. |
Consider the following before leaving Disney Plus
- Check your bundle. If you cancel Disney Plus, what happens to your Hulu or ESPN+ subscription? Make sure you don't accidentally lose a service you want to keep or get charged a higher rate for it individually.
- Download key content. If you have kids and a road trip coming up, download their favorite movies to their devices before you cancel. It can be a real lifesaver.
- Make a 'must-watch' list. Quickly binge any shows or movies you've been putting off before your subscription ends.
- Note your renewal date. Cancel a day or two before the renewal date to maximize the time you paid for without getting charged again.
Let Pine AI Help Lower Your Disney Plus Bill
Feeling drained from just thinking about dealing with Disney Plus? We get it. It's frustrating when a service you love starts to feel like a burden on your wallet. Instead of spending your time navigating their website or waiting for a chat agent, let Pine AI handle it. Our AI-powered tool can analyze your bill, find the best way to lower it, and even negotiate on your behalf. Think of it as your personal advocate for a fairer price. You get to keep watching 'The Mandalorian' without the stress of overpaying. Give Pine AI a try and see how much you could save. It's simple, quick, and built for people who are tired of being overcharged.
Frequently Asked Questions When Trying to Lower Your Disney Plus Bill
What if Disney Plus doesn't lower my TV Streaming bill?
Should I email rather than phone to complain about my TV Streaming bill costs?
What's the easiest way to contact Disney Plus TV Streaming?
What is the average Disney Plus TV Streaming monthly bill?
Why did my Disney Plus TV Streaming bill suddenly increase this month?
How to get a discount on my Disney Plus TV Streaming bill?
What promotions does Disney Plus offer to lower bills?
Chloe Anne-Bennett
Streaming & Entertainment Editor
Chloe Anne-Bennett is the Streaming & Entertainment Editor at Pine AI. Chloe is a leading voice on the business of streaming, entertainment and the evolving landscape of digital media. Before contributing to Pine AI, Chloe was an entertainment correspondent for a major news outlet, where she reported on everything from box office trends to the impact of streaming services on traditional media. At Pine AI, Chloe leverages her deep industry knowledge to provide our readers with insightful analysis of the latest trends, helping them make sense of their subscriptions and where to hit the sweet spots in how to handle customer service reps.
