What does Disney+’s new paid-sharing policy mean for users? Explained

Disney+ is the latest streaming service to crack down on password sharing after Netflix did the same in 2023. The restriction is part of the streaming platform's plan to increase its revenue by turning non-paying users into paying customers.

According to the new plan, Disney+ users will no longer be able to share their subscriptions with members outside of their households. They can only add one extra member to their subscription for an additional fee. Conversely, other outside members can buy a new subscription plan to continue using this service.

The company made the following announcement to its customers on September 25, 2024:

"Your Disney+ subscription is meant to be used within your household, which is a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there."

It continues:

"(Those residing elsewhere) will need to sign up and pay for their own subscription or be added as an extra member to your account for an additional monthly fee to continue enjoying Disney+."

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What is Disney+'s new 'Extra Member' feature?

An image of the popular streaming service (Image via Facebook/ Disney+)

The streaming service first introduced its paid-sharing program in select regions in early 2024. In the last week of September, it rolled out the program in regions like the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. The company expects to expand the program to other regions in the next few weeks.

The new paid service offers access to all the members and devices within a single household. However, unlike before, the subscription cannot be used free of cost by people residing outside the household. Going forward, users who want to share their subscription with people outside their household can do so by choosing the 'Extra Member' add-on feature.

This new feature enables subscribers to add an extra member to their account by paying an additional fee of $6.99 per month for the Basic plan (with ads) and $9.99 for the Premium plan (without ads).

However, the streaming platform allows users to share their subscription with only one extra member per account. The extra member will have their own profile and get to stream content only on one device at a time. The extra member add-on feature is not available for Disney Bundle subscribers, or subscribers billed through third-party partners.

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Shared users can also purchase a new subscription

A logo of the streaming platform (Image via Facebook/ Disney+)

Another option for non-paying shared users is to purchase their own subscription plan by seamlessly transferring their profile details to their new account. The company assures users that their watch history, recommendations, and personalized settings will be preserved in such cases.

Primary profiles, profiles in Junior Mode, and minors’ profiles are the only exceptions that cannot be transferred.

Moreover, users who travel frequently need not worry about accessing their favorite content on the go. Such users will be able to update their household location or mark themselves as “I’m Away From Home”. However, note that this option requires a one-time passcode, which will be sent to the account holder’s email address.

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Disney+ services to see an uptick in prices

Disney is planning to raise the prices of stand-alone tiers of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Starting from October 17, 2024, the price of the Basic plan (with ads) will go up from $7.99 to $9.99 per month. Similarly, the Premium plan (without ads) will go up from $13.99 to $15.99 per month.

The price of the Hulu plan (with ads) will go up from $7.99 to $9.99 per month and Hulu (without ads) will go up from $17.99 to $18.99 per month. Additionally, the price hike will also affect the various tiers of Disney Bundles.

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