Key Takeaways
- The Disney Bundle, including Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, accounts for over 50% of all Disney+ subscribers.
- A new offering for bundle subscribers, Hulu on Disney+, has been introduced, saving $5 on the monthly price.
- While Hulu on Disney+ offers more options, it may not be worth it if you’re not interested in Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars content.
Disney’s streaming bundle gives access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for one discounted price. It’s been incredibly popular, making up for about half of all Disney+ subscribers since 2019. That said, its novelty is beginning to fade, so does the launch of the new Hulu hub on Disney+ make it worth reconsidering?
Hulu on Disney+ Explained
The Disney Bundle (the informal name for the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ subscription trio) first launched in 2019. It was originally offered for $12.99 a month for an ad-supported version but later saw a monthly price hike to $14.99 and an ad-free version for $24.99 a month.
By the time 2022 rolled around, over 50% of the 120 million Disney+ subscribers came straight from the bundle. Today, that total subscriber number hovers around 150 million, with Disney Bundle subscribers still on the rise, as well.
However, March 2024 saw the introduction of a new offering for bundle subscribers: Hulu on Disney+. It combines the two services, much like how HBO Max and Discovery+ came together under the Max umbrella.
It’s available to original Disney Bundle subscribers as well as those who signed up for the new Disney Duo. This option drops ESPN+ from the equation and shaves $5 off the monthly price for both ad-supported and ad-free options.
How to Add Hulu to Disney+
If you’re a Disney Duo or the Disney Bundle subscriber, you should already have access to Hulu on Disney+. All you have to do is head to Disney+ (either on your desktop, smartphone, or smart TV) and click the Hulu icon in the row of hubs.
For those who subscribe to either Hulu or Disney+ and aren’t part of any bundle, you’ll have to upgrade to reap the benefits of the hybrid service. (Compare this to Max, which doesn’t require a Discovery+ subscription to unlock the full library.)
To add Hulu to Disney+, log into your standalone Hulu or Disney+ account from a desktop computer and click on your profile icon in the top right corner. Then, click Account. Scroll to the Subscription heading, then click Manage. From here, you can upgrade to the Duo or Trio and access Hulu on Disney+.
If you’re a bundle subscriber who doesn’t see the option to watch Hulu on Disney+, you may need to adjust your parental control settings. From the Disney+ profile page on a desktop computer, click Edit Profiles and select the Pencil icon for the account you’d like to tweak. Then, scroll down to the Parental Controls heading and make sure titles rated TV-MA and below are available to watch.
Is Hulu on Disney+ Worth It?
Now, the big question: With the addition of Hulu on Disney+, is this bundled service now better than before? For those on the outside looking in, is it worth subscribing or upgrading to? It all depends on what you look for in a streaming service.
If you’re part of a household with a wide range of age groups, then the Disney Bundle makes a lot of sense. This is especially true for those hoping to cut cable or satellite TV, as Hulu offers a live TV offering that comes with ad-supported versions of Disney+ and ESPN+ for $76.99 a month. (That’s only a dollar more than you’d pay for Hulu + Live TV on its own.) This option gives everyone, from kids to teens to parents, something to enjoy.
That said, if you’re an adult who doesn’t particularly care about revisiting any childhood Disney favorites and can’t be bothered to keep up with the litany of Marvel and Star Wars spin-off shows, you may not need to explore the Hulu on Disney+ feature. You’re likely better off sticking with Hulu alone.
What’s more, many 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures films are now being added to Hulu the same day they come out on Disney+. That means, if trends continue, you’ll continue to have access to any of these releases dropped on one service or the other.
Is Hulu on Disney+ More of the Same?
If you’re wondering what the point of Hulu on Disney+ is, you’re not alone. Truth be told, it adds very little to the equation that wasn’t already there. It’s a classic case of Disney simply re-purposing something that already existed and calling it new. For example, the unreleased Moana series originally made for Disney+ that the studio has now edited into a feature-length film for theatrical release in November 2024. If you’re not a current bundle subscriber, adding Hulu on Disney+ likely won’t change your mind.
For better or worse, Hulu on Disney+ adds nothing you couldn’t already get from the Disney Bundle. Likewise, anyone looking for a true bundled service like Max will be disappointed to know that separate subscriptions are still needed for both Hulu and Disney+ to get the bundled service. It’s more of the same, just under the roof of a single platform.