Okay, so Disney just confirmed something that’s been rumored for ages and honestly, people are LOSING THEIR MINDS over it. Hulu as a standalone app is DONE. Finished. Kaput.
Starting sometime in 2026 (they won’t tell us exactly when because of course they won’t), Hulu is getting completely absorbed into Disney+ and the separate Hulu app is going away forever. Like, you won’t be able to download it, you won’t be able to use it, it’s just GONE. Everything that was on Hulu will be crammed into Disney+ whether you like it or not. And based on the comments we’ve been seeing from actual subscribers? Most people do NOT like it. Not even a little bit. This isn’t just about having to use a different app.
This is about parents who are genuinely worried about their kids’ safety, people who are confused about whether they’re going to be charged twice for the same content, and subscribers who are just absolutely DONE with Disney’s constant changes and what they’re calling pure corporate greed.
The reactions have been BRUTAL, and honestly, a lot of them make really valid points about why this decision is terrible for customers even if it makes perfect sense for Disney’s bottom line.
Because let’s be real here: this is 100% about Disney wanting to cut costs and simplify their operations. They don’t want to run two separate apps with two separate billing systems and two separate customer service teams. They want everything under one roof so it’s easier and cheaper for THEM. Whether it’s better for YOU is apparently not really part of the equation. So let’s break down what’s actually happening, and more importantly, let’s talk about what real subscribers are saying about this mess because their reactions tell you everything you need to know about how this is going to go over.
What’s Actually Happening to Hulu
Starting sometime in 2026 (seriously, Disney, give us a DATE), all of Hulu’s content is moving into the Disney+ app. At that point, the Hulu app itself stops working. You’ll have to access everything through Disney+, which means Hulu originals, all those next-day TV shows, everything that made Hulu Hulu, it’s all getting dumped into Disney+.
Disney’s been testing this already by letting bundled subscribers see Hulu content in Disney+, but this is the full shutdown. No more separate app. No more separate interface. It’s all Disney+ whether you wanted that or not.
And they’re also changing how subscriptions work. Used to be you could have Hulu as your main thing and add Disney+ as a discount. Now it’s the opposite. Disney+ is the main service and Hulu is just… content that lives inside it. So if you’ve been managing everything through your Hulu account, that’s changing too.
Which brings us to the MASSIVE amount of confusion and anger in the comments section.
Parents Are REALLY Not Okay With This
So here’s probably the biggest issue, and honestly it’s completely valid. Parents are FURIOUS because Disney+ used to be this safe space where their kids could browse around without running into inappropriate content. One subscriber put it perfectly: “As someone with kids I despise this decision. Disney plus felt like a safe space my kids could explore for shows for a long time, but theres so much content on there thats not family friendly now. Im fine keeping an eye on what my kids are doing, but this just becomes a freedom i have to take away from them through no fault of their own.”
Like, think about that for a second. Parents could let their kids use Disney+ unsupervised because everything on there was appropriate. Now you’re throwing Hulu content into the mix, which includes R-rated movies, mature TV shows, all kinds of stuff kids shouldn’t see. So parents either have to constantly monitor what their kids are watching OR they have to lock down the whole app with parental controls and kids profiles.
Not everyone sees this as a problem though. One commenter responded: “That isn’t the problem for my family; it’s easy to Google or online search how to create PIN options and create ‘Kids’ accounts, etc., without the need to take away adult’s night for those not interested in more adult titles.”
Sure, parental controls exist. But that’s not the point. The point is that parents are losing something that was genuinely simple and safe, and now they have to do extra work to recreate that safety. It’s adding complexity where there used to be none.
And at least one person said this might be enough to cancel: “I feel the same way. I might cancel Disney now.”
The Money Situation Is a MESS
But it’s not just about content safety. People are REALLY confused about the money part of this. The same person who talked about parental controls also said: “That said, the problem for us lays in double-paying for both Hulu+ and Disney+. I had both, and the hefty bill gets to be an unnecessary expenditure. Until they fix that mess, we might have to wait on making any changes at all. I fear our long-built viewer histories will dissappear as a result, but any answers on that would be greatly appreciated.”
So like, are people going to have to keep paying for both services? Or will it merge into one price? And what happens to all your watch history and recommendations? Nobody knows! Disney hasn’t explained this part yet!
Another subscriber asked the question everyone’s thinking: “I’m just confused. I have both Disney+ and Hulu. When it all goes completely under Disney+ will I still have to pay for Hulu to watch it?”
GREAT QUESTION. We don’t have an answer. Disney says they’ll tell people before it happens but that doesn’t help anyone trying to plan their budget right now.
And then there’s this person who brings up a really specific problem: “What happens to the people who got the $2.99 Black Friday Hulu deal? We had to pay for the whole year up front! Do we now have to subscribe to Disney+ at regular rate and I lose that money I put up front for Hulu?”
Yeah, what DOES happen to promotional pricing and annual subscriptions? If you prepaid for a year of Hulu at a discount, does that just… disappear? Do you get credit toward Disney+? Does Disney just keep your money? These are legitimate questions that Disney needs to answer.
Another subscriber expressed frustration with the whole bundling situation: “I hate how Disney turned into this streaming service where if you want to watch Hulu then you have to pay a lot more. Why can’t we just decide on Hulu or Disney instead of having to pay for both? This really sucked because my favorite show that I am NOT done watching is ONLY on Hulu. So when this ‘switch’ happens I won’t be able to watch my show, along with plenty others that love shows like this.”
The theme here is pretty clear: people feel forced into buying things they don’t want.
People Are CALLING OUT Disney’s Greed
And oh boy, are people angry about what they see as pure corporate greed. The comments did NOT hold back. One person said: “Yeah those disney chumps are a bunch of greedy bastards im sick of all the moving around of these apps and buying out other companies just because they can they dont 2 *cks about the customers.”
Tell us how you really feel! But honestly, a LOT of people echoed this sentiment.
Another commenter wrote: “I’ll be canceling my accounts since disney is so money hungry. they did nothing but destroy hulu once they were allowed to purchase it.”
And another: “I Agree. Don’t Even Want Greedy Disney! Only Hulu And Locals.”
There’s clearly a lot of accumulated frustration here, and this merger is the thing that’s pushing people over the edge.
One subscriber explained why they specifically DON’T want Disney+: “As much as I actually enjoy princess Disney films, I do NOT want Disney+. This is precisely why I only have Hulu. So to force me to use it & jack up the price (with warning) to justify it is enough to force me to say goodbye to Hulu & never look back. If enough people pull out & boycott, they will be forced to reconsider their money grubbing strategy.”
This is someone who DELIBERATELY chose not to have Disney+ and now they’re being forced into it. That’s not a great customer experience.
Even people who are willing to wait and see what happens aren’t exactly optimistic. One commenter wrote: “I do hope they get rid of the silly local validations on Hulu. And I will be tracking their bundled offerings vs the open market. But I will wait and see, with the hope the app navigation gets better. They do have some catching up to do versus YouTube Tv.”
That’s a pretty lukewarm response at best.
And one person thinks this won’t even last: “I have a feeling that this ‘end’ of Hulu won’t be gone for long. It seems like a lot of others agree with how this is bad.”
Whether Disney will actually reverse course based on customer feedback remains to be seen, but the early reactions are NOT encouraging.
Disney Says More Info Is Coming
Disney’s official line is that they’ll give people advance notice and help with the transition. Which is great and all, but people need specifics NOW, not vague promises about information coming later.
The lack of clear details about pricing, how existing subscriptions transfer, and when this is actually happening is making everyone anxious and angry. Disney clearly thinks this makes business sense for them, but whether their customers agree is a completely different question.
Real Talk: Here’s What You Should Do
Alright, listen up. If you’re freaking out about this Hulu situation, I get it. The uncertainty is stressful and the comments show you’re not alone in being frustrated. But here’s what I’m telling you: don’t make any drastic moves until you have actual information.
We’re still months away from this happening, and Disney hasn’t given us the details that actually matter. Like, the REAL details about pricing and how your account works and what happens to your stuff. So canceling right now based on incomplete information might mean you lose all your viewing history and recommendations for nothing.
Keep checking your email because that’s where Disney’s going to send the actual important info about YOUR specific account. If you’ve got kids and you’re worried (which is totally reasonable), spend some time NOW learning how to set up kids profiles and parental controls on Disney+ so you’re not scrambling later. Get ahead of it.
And if you’re mad enough to cancel? That’s valid. Disney’s clearly putting their convenience over yours. But at least wait until you see what the final price is and how the transition actually works before you pull the trigger. Make sure you know what you’re walking away from and what you’re potentially saving or losing.
The bottom line is this merger is happening whether we like it or not. But you can at least make informed decisions about whether you’re staying or going once Disney finally gives us the full picture.
Have you ever felt like a streaming service made changes that put corporate convenience over your actual needs as a customer, and did you end up canceling or just dealing with it?
