Look, I’m not saying streaming services have been bleeding us dry, but when’s the last time you actually counted how many monthly subscriptions you’re paying for? Yeah, me neither. I’m scared to look at my bank statement.

But here’s some genuinely good news for once – Disney just dropped a Black Friday deal that’s kind of absurd in the best way possible. We’re talking about getting Disney+ and Hulu (with ads, but still) for $2.99 per month for an entire year. That’s not a typo. That’s basically what a single fancy coffee costs, except this lasts you a whole month instead of 20 minutes.

For context, this bundle normally runs you $10.99 a month. So you’re looking at savings that actually matter – like, real money you could spend on literally anything else. Holiday gifts, maybe? Or just more coffee, I don’t judge.

Breaking Down What You’re Actually Getting

Okay, so let’s be clear about what’s included here because the streaming bundle landscape has gotten ridiculously confusing over the past few years. This deal gets you access to both Disney+ and Hulu’s ad-supported tiers, which honestly isn’t the worst thing in the world when you’re paying less than three bucks a month.

The Disney+ Side of Things

You know what you’re getting with Disney+. All the Marvel stuff (and there’s a LOT of it now), Star Wars shows that range from surprisingly good to “why did they make this,” Pixar’s entire catalog, classic Disney animation, and whatever new thing they’re pushing that week. The Mandalorian alone probably justifies the subscription for some people, though your mileage may vary depending on how you felt about Season 3.

Plus – and this is actually pretty significant – you get access to National Geographic content and a bunch of stuff from their other properties. It’s not just princesses and superheroes, though there’s certainly plenty of both.

Hulu’s Massive Library

Here’s where things get interesting. Hulu’s catalog is, well, it’s huge. We’re talking current-season TV shows from major networks (usually available the day after they air), a growing collection of original series that are actually worth watching, and a pretty solid movie selection that changes regularly.

The ad-supported version means you’ll sit through commercials, sure. But honestly? It’s not nearly as bad as traditional TV, and if you grew up watching cable, this will feel downright luxurious by comparison. The ads are usually pretty short, and you can grab a snack or check your phone without missing much.

How This Compares to Other Streaming Deals

Let me put this in perspective for a second. Netflix’s cheapest plan (which also has ads) costs $6.99 per month. That’s more than double what you’d be paying for this Disney-Hulu combo. And Netflix has been raising prices fairly consistently – remember when streaming was supposed to save us money compared to cable? Those were the days.

Amazon Prime Video technically costs less if you break down the annual Prime membership, but that’s kind of cheating since you’re paying for a bunch of other stuff too. Plus, half the content on Prime Video tries to charge you extra rentals anyway, which is its own special frustration.

The Catch (Because There’s Always a Catch)

So what’s the fine print here? Well, this promotional price only lasts for 12 months. After that, you’ll get bumped up to whatever the regular price is at that point – currently $10.99/month, but who knows what it’ll be a year from now given how these companies love their price hikes.

• You need to be a new subscriber or eligible returning subscriber: If you’re currently subscribed to either service, you might not qualify. Worth checking though.
• The deal expires soon: Black Friday promotions don’t last forever, and this one runs through December 2nd, so you’ve got a limited window here.
• Auto-renewal at full price: Set a calendar reminder for 11 months from now if you want to avoid getting charged the regular rate. Seriously, do this. We all forget.

Is It Actually Worth It?

Here’s my genuine take – at $2.99 a month, you’d almost have to actively avoid watching anything to not get your money’s worth. That’s like the price of a single candy bar at a movie theater (and somehow still cheaper than movie theater candy, which remains one of life’s great mysteries).

Even if you only use it to catch up on one or two shows you’ve been meaning to watch, you’re coming out ahead. Binge The Bear on Hulu, watch whatever new Marvel series just dropped on Disney+, show your kids Encanto for the 47th time – whatever floats your boat.

The Bigger Picture on Streaming Value

You know what’s kind of wild? We’ve come full circle with streaming services. It started as this cheap alternative to cable, then everyone and their mother launched a streaming platform, and suddenly we’re all paying more than we did for cable if we want to watch everything. The average American subscribes to four streaming services now, which adds up fast.

So deals like this actually matter. They’re not just marketing gimmicks – they’re real opportunities to save money on stuff you’re probably going to watch anyway. And in an era where every service keeps raising prices and cracking down on password sharing (looking at you, Netflix), a genuine discount feels almost radical.

The timing is pretty smart too. Holiday season means people are home more, families are gathering, everyone’s looking for something to watch between meals and gift exchanges. Having access to Disney and Hulu covers a pretty wide range of viewing preferences, from kids’ content to prestige TV to comfort food sitcoms.

How to Actually Grab This Deal

The process is straightforward – head to the Disney+ or Hulu website, look for the Black Friday promotion, and sign up. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one, provide payment information (obviously), and then you’re good to go.

One thing worth mentioning: if you currently have an existing subscription, you might need to cancel it first and wait for it to fully expire before you can take advantage of this promotional pricing. Yeah, it’s a bit annoying, but potentially worth it depending on how much you’re currently paying.

Also – and this should go without saying but I’ll say it anyway – make sure you’re going through official channels. There are always sketchy websites trying to sell “discounted” streaming accounts that are actually just stolen credentials or scams. Stick with disney.com or hulu.com and you’ll be fine.

The Bottom Line

Look, I’m generally skeptical of Black Friday hype. Most “deals” are just regular prices with flashy marketing. But this one actually checks out as legitimate savings on something a lot of people genuinely use and enjoy.

Is it going to change your life? Probably not. But will it give you access to thousands of hours of entertainment for less than the cost of a single month of most other streaming services? Absolutely. And in 2024’s economy, I’ll take those wins where I can get them.

The real question is whether you’ll remember to cancel (or at least evaluate if you still want it) before that year is up and the price jumps. Because that’s how they get you – the promotional period ends, you forget about it, and suddenly you’re paying full price for something you barely use. We’ve all been there.

But for now? Three bucks a month for Disney+ and Hulu is genuinely hard to beat. Just don’t blame me when you end up doom-scrolling through options for 45 minutes trying to decide what to watch. That particular streaming struggle is universal and unavoidable, regardless of how much you’re paying.