Take a quick mind-trip with me, will ya? 

Dig deep down into your memories before high school, middle school and for some, maybe even Kindergarten, to a time where Tivo and OnDemand were only a crazy idea in some tech wiz's mind, your favorite cosmetics were candy-flavored Lip Smackers and Limited Too basically owned you. Yep, way way back. 

If you are anything like me, this phase of your life probably haunts you in your sleep and you have gone to extreme lengths to rid your mind of those painfully embarrassing memories. I totally get it. However, I do have quite a few treasured memories that I keep tucked away in the back of my brain only to be revisited when I'm feeling real nostalgic. I believe they epitomize what it truly means to be a '90s-born kid and I don't ever want to lose that part of my identity: Disney Channel Original Movies. 

Believe it or not, Disney Channel Original Movies (or DCOMs if you want to sound really cool) have been around much longer than you or I have. The first one was released in 1983 ("Tiger Town"), however, at that time they were called Disney Channel Premiere Films. It was not until 1997 that Disney began to call them DCOMs, although you would be hard pressed to find a title you were familiar with before this year anyways (with maybe the exception of "Wish Upon a Star," starring our favorite ex-Seattle-Grace Doctor Katherine Heigl). 

Now, I don't know about you, but in 1997 I was 2 years old. The only Disney movies I was watching contained animations and princesses and if I could hold my attention to the screen for longer than 20 minutes my parents would probably have considered that a miracle. Though I don't remember the year exactly, I would venture to say that I really got into DCOMs around 2001 (a.k.a. first grade). At this point in time, Disney Channel still had the sense to air movies every night rather than the sub-par television series they now fill their primetime slots with (yeah Disney, I went there). At 7 o'clock on the dot (CT) I would park myself on the family room couch with a bedtime snack (probably applesauce or Teddy Grahams) and watch that night's featured movie for as long as I could before my mom insisted I go to bed, promising she would put a tape in the VCR to record the ending for me so that I could watch it in the morning while I ate my Eggo waffles. Oh happy times. 

This nightly routine continued through the end of my first decade of life and only got better with time, as the snacks improved with my age and my new bedtimes allowed me to actually finish the movie before I had to retreat upstairs. 

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And while technically Disney Channel is still cranking out the DCOMs, you know as well as I do that they in no way, shape or form compare to the DCOMs of our era. Give me 100 reasons why "Teen Beach Movie" is awesome and I'll give you 1,000 reasons why "High School Musical is better. Tell me that "Geek Charming" your favorite and I'll take you to town proving to you that few things in life are better than "Smart House." It's like comparing a fresh, juicy Honeycrisp apple to an old, rotting orange in the back of your refrigerator. There is just not comparison. 

But I don't want to dwell on the sad future of a once great present, when I can celebrate and commemorate a beautiful past. So let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit one of the greatest 11-year spans of our lifetime!

1997: "Under Wraps"

1998: "Brink!" "Halloweentown"

It just doesn't get more classic DCOM than this. I love my grandma dearly, but I wouldn't be upset having Grandma Aggie to call my own as well.

1999: "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century," "The Thirteenth Year," "Smart House"

You are lying to me if you did not parade around your house uttering "zedis-lupetis" at any moment; even if it wasn't that "stellunarious."

2000: "Up, Up and Away," "The Color of Friendship," "Quints," "Rip Girls," "Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire," "The Phantom of the Megaplex," "The Ultimate Christmas Present"

It just so happens this is my "ultimate favorite DCOM" (get it?). At this day and age it's only on once a year, but you can bet I NEVER miss it. 

2001: "Zenon: The Zequel," "Motocrossed," "The Luck of the Irish," "Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge," "'Twas the Night"

If you didn't have a crush on Ryan Merriman growing up, than this article is probably just irrelevant to you.

2002: "Double Teamed," "Cadet Kelly," "Get a Clue," "Gotta Kick It Up"

Classic, innocent, lovable LiLo before she lost her marbles. And the fashion in this movie...my god, I literally wanted to be her!

2003: "Right on Track," "The Even Stevens Movie," "Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off," "The Cheetah Girls"

The start of the movie musical movement- at a time when I could still semi-tolerate Raven. 

2004: "Zenon: Z3," "Stuck in the Suburbs," "Halloweentown High"

The soundtrack to this movie is so on point. 

2005: "Now You See It..." "Go Figure," "Twitches"

Camryn clearly lived the better life, but Alex was definitely waay prettier- don't you agree?

2006: "High School Musical," "Cow Belles," "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior," "Read It And Weep," "The Cheetah Girls 2", "Return to Halloweentown"

Say what you want, but I will NEVER not be an HSM fan. And the songs will NEVER leave my iPod. 

2007: "Jump In," "High School Musical 2," "Twitches Too"

If you don't start to tear up when Troy chases after Gabriella while she belts out "I Gotta Go My Own Way," you may not be human. 

2008: "Camp Rock"

If it weren't for the Jo-Bros I'm not sure I'd be able to tolerate this movie as much as I can (aka guilty of watching it on Netflix on multiple occasions), but you just can't deny the fact that "This Is Me," and "We Rock," are so damn catchy. 

So if you are reading this Disney Channel officials: hear me out: if you start playing the old classic Disney Channel Original Movies like you did 10 years ago, I can almost guarantee an increase in your ratings. Almost.