The shows on Disney channel today are nothing like the shows on Disney channel during the late 90's and early 00's. Kids nowadays have no idea what they missed. The shows today are seriously weak in comparison.
Being a child star comes with so much pressure, but unlike so many child stars, some of those below have maintained their sanity as adults. Hilary Duff and Raven Symone are truly well adjusted, normal human beings.
They never had their Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears breakdowns. They were actually really good role models for our generation. Of course Shia Labeouf and Miley Cyrus (she's still my idol) have their moments. As much as I love Hannah Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place, they are not my OG Disney channel shows, so they were excluded.
All of the following shows made my childhood amazing and are why I never went outside and now have a Vitamin D deficiency. (Also includes where you can find them online today)! You're welcome.
1. Lizzie McGuire
Watch on Disney Video (video.disney.com)
I stand by the statement that Lizzie McGuire is the most relatable and hilarious show of my childhood. I owned all of her apparel and dressed as her for three consecutive halloweens and now that I'm thinking about it maybe this coming halloween. To this day I still watch The Lizzie McGuire Movie once or maybe twice a week.
2. That's So Raven
Watch on watchdisneychannel.go.com
As a child Raven Symone was literally my hero. I envied her powers of seeing into the future and may have stared at objects in attempts to do the same on more than one occasion. I swear when I met her a few years ago, I cried real tears.
3. Even Stevens
Nowhere legal. Some episodes are on Youtube
If you haven't watched Even Stevens, you're seriously missing out. I strongly identify with their weird neighbor, Beans, which made the show all the more enjoyable for me. Shia Labeouf is such a weird man and it's interesting to watch him as a child.
4. Kim Possible
Watch on Disney Video (video.disney.com)
Call me, beep me if you ever want to hang out and watch Kim Possible with me. I'm serious. This show is still awesome. Also having a ginger main character to identify with made the bullying much easier to withstand (I'm joking). But seriously, gingers are the most oppressed of all hair colors and Kim was still a boss.
5. Phil of the Future
Nowhere legal. Some episodes are on Youtube
What is cooler than a family of robots living in the suburbs pretending to be normal humans? Literally, nothing. For years I was convinced that the family living in the apartment next to me was like the Diffy's. To be honest, I'm still not sure they're not.
