Disney+ says bibbidi bobbidi bye to password sharing

Disney+ Joins the Password-Sharing Crackdown Bandwagon!

The Mouse House is tightening its grip on password sharing, following in the footsteps of other streaming giants like Netflix. This means that your days of sharing your Disney+ login with friends and family outside your household may be numbered.

Disney+ users will now have the option to add an “extra member” to their account for an additional fee. This change affects those who share their account with people outside their immediate household, particularly those who have been enjoying the service at a discounted rate by splitting the cost.

This move follows a similar crackdown by Netflix last year, which saw a mixed response from subscribers. Some were willing to pay extra for the convenience of sharing, while others chose to cancel their subscriptions altogether. It seems that streaming services are betting on users valuing convenience over cost savings, hoping they will absorb the extra fees.

In addition to the password-sharing restrictions, Disney+ is also raising its subscription prices in October. The basic plan (with ads) will increase from $7.99/month to $9.99/month, while the premium ad-free plan will jump from $13.99/month to $15.99/month.

Disney+ justifies these changes as a way to offer more flexible viewing options for families and friends. However, these moves are likely part of a larger strategy to increase revenue and combat account sharing, which the company perceives as revenue loss. Whether this strategy will pay off in the long run remains to be seen.

For those who have been relying on shared accounts, the message is clear: either pony up for the extra member slot, buy your own subscription, or start planning those old-fashioned group movie nights. The streaming wars are heating up, and it seems the viewers are caught in the crossfire.