The Disney Channel has been a staple for many kids for generations now. It is easy to say the network's golden days were in the 2000s, as it introduced the world to high-profile stars like Raven Symone, Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez, yet even today, the network is still growing strong. It has been a constant source of joy and laughter for families.

Update August 18, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great television series from Disney Channel.

While there are other kids' television networks, Disney Channel stands apart from Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Nickelodeon had a sort of outside-the-box, fun, gross-out style, while Cartoon Network was very much inspired by the wacky Hanna-Barbara style; Disney Channel shows had a warm comfort to them. They were about love and family and could be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Here is a look at the best Disney Channel series.

13 Brandy & Mr. Whiskers

Brandy & Mr. Whiskers
Buena Vista Television

Created by Doug TenNapel and Russel Marcus, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers is a nostalgic show about a dog and a bunny who gets stranded in the Amazon rainforest. Now, with their pampered and foolish personalities, they must try to survive a new dangerous world. Can they manage to keep themselves from being eaten alive? The amusing little show aired in 2004, and while it was never a breakout hit for the network, it was still a respectable hit with a passionate fanbase. Also worth noting, it features voicework by Kaley Cuoco, who would later play Penny on The Big Bang Theory, and voices Harley Quinn on the animated series of the same name.

12 Girl Meets World

Girl Meets World Feeny, Riley, and Maya
Disney--ABC Domestic Television

A spin-off and continuation of the popular series Boy Meets World (which aired on ABC, but lots of fans also saw reruns on Disney Channel), Girl Meets World follows Riley, the daughter of Corey and Topanga. Girl Meets World was filled with memorable callbacks to the original series for older nostalgic fans, but it also managed to forge its own path and remembered to put the focus on the new characters that connected to the target demographic for the series.

Girl Meets World is now an interesting launch for the career of many exciting young stars like Rowan Blanchard and Sabrina Carpenter. Yet it is memorable in an age of nostalgia-driven IP that brings back legacy characters as one that knew how to balance the old and the new while always remembering that to keep the franchise going; the new stars need to take center stage.

11 That’s So Raven

The Raven family in That's So Raven
Disney Channel

With Raven-Symoné taking over the role of the protagonist, the show focuses on Raven's life. Raven is an aspiring fashion designer with a psychic ability that allows her to see glimpses of the future, which, in turn, becomes the source of the comedy of the show as Raven tends to miscalculate her visions. That's So Raven, similar to The Proud Family, became an important piece due to its representation of Black culture. However, it does not stop there as the show brings out important lessons on racism, body image, and other social topics.

10 Phil of the Future

phil-of-the-future
Disney

Phil of The Future is one for science fiction lovers. Phil Diffy and his family are from the year 2021 but get stuck in the year 2004, and now they are trying to fit in this odd world. Can their secret be kept under the cover? The show boasts a very likable cast starring Raviv Ullman, Amy Bruckner, and Craig Anton. With a touch of fantasy and futuristic elements, Phil of the Future was a refreshing original Disney show when it aired that attempted a very different premise from the usual, which is why it has become infinitely memorable.

9 The Proud Family

Penny Proud poses with her family
Buena Vista Television

The Proud Family is one cartoon that played an important role in the discourse surrounding the lack of black representation on mainstream media. Kyla Pratt, who voiced the protagonist, Penny Proud, points this out; there "wasn't a mainstream cartoon character whose story really resembled mine as a pre-teen".

Related: The Proud Family: Funniest Characters in the Series, Ranked

However, by bringing in The Proud Family, Disney allowed the overlooked Black stories to be seen. With his lovable and fun characters, this cartoon explores the strong family bonds while tapping into the insecurities of the protagonist, in turn, making it a relatable cartoon. Disney + has brought back this wholesome cartoon with the same characters now entering a whole new era.

8 Phineas and Ferb

Candice trying to bust Phineas and Ferb
Disney

Phineas and Ferb is undeniably one of the best cartoons ever to be created. The show is imaginative and inventive, with the two protagonists, Phineas and Ferb, creating the most bizarre inventions. The humor in this cartoon is evoked through the sister's, Candice failed attempts at trying to expose her brothers' ingenious inventions to their mother. From the colorful animation to the music, the generous and kind villain, and the detective pet-platypus, Perry, there are so many elements that make Phineas and Ferb a fun watch.

7 Even Stevens

even-stevens
Buena Vista Television

The series that launched Shia LaBeouf's career, Even Stevens, was a fan favorite for anyone who had Disney Channel. The series focused on the clash between two siblings, Ren (Christy Carlson Romano) and Louis (Shia LaBeouf). The series was fun, charming, and overall heartwarming. The series kicked off the millennium, premiering in June 2000, and concluded in June 2003 with the release of The Even Stevens Movie.

6 Hannah Montana

Miley with her friend Lily.
Disney–ABC Domestic Television

Miley Cyrus shot to fame through her portrayal of Miley Stewart, a normal teenager who secretly transformed into an infamous pop star named Hannah Montana. The show seemed to portray the dream of many teenagers of becoming a pop star. This particular series is known for her upbeat music and dazzling transformations, which awestruck the young audience.

Similar to other Disney Originals, Hannah Montana also focused on the theme of family and friendship while adding in the comic element. Even though many kids absolutely enjoyed the show, in turn, making it one of the best Disney Channel originals, it must be noted that Cyrus, like many other Disney child actors, had a complicated relationship with the character.

5 The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Zack and Cody goes bowling with Mr. Mosby, Maddie, London and their mom, Carey
Disney Channel

Before Cole Sprouse became known for his portrayal of Jughead in Riverdale, he was one of the notorious Martin twins in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. With Cole portraying Cody, the smarter and more responsible one of the two, and Dylan Sprouse portraying Zack, the more mischievous and outgoing one, the show focused on the daily lives of these very contrasting twins while they live in the Tipton Hotel.

With the inclusion of Ashley Tisdale as Maddie, Brenda Song as London and Phill Lewis as Mr. Mosby, the show was an explosion of comedy. The success of the show can be seen through its development via a sequel titled The Suite Life on Deck, which focused on the teen years of the twins.

4 Lizzie McGuire

Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire with her animated version
Egmont Imagination

An OG Disney Channel favorite that went on to win two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Program. Lizzie McGuire is a fun TV series that focused on the hardships and the challenges of being a teenager. With Hillary Duff taking over the role of Lizzie, we find an animated version of the character performing soliloquies to illustrate, quite literally, the inner thoughts of the protagonist.

The relatable nature of the show with its focus on friendships, teenage hood, school life, and family made it very popular among the 2000s kids. In fact, Disney tried to recreate the nostalgia through a reboot of the show, with Lizzie "doing 30-year-old things". However, it was canceled for numerous reasons.

3 Kim Impossible

Kim Impossible
Disney Channel

Kim Impossible was a breakout hit for Disney. Kim Possible is a super spy and also an average teenage girl. Her best friend and partner is Ron Stoppable, a loveable doofus who has a loveable pet naked mole rat, Rufus. The series featured an incredible cast of characters and memorable villains.

Related: Best Disney Channel Animated Series From the 2000s, Ranked

Kim Possible did what many great stories like Spider-Man or Static Shock do, tell fun, fantastic adventures but balance it with relatable human drama. The series was creative, clever, and popular enough to span two Disney Channel Original movies and a live-action remake in 2019.

2 Lilo & Stitch: The Series

Lilo & Stitch The Series
Disney channel

For all the Lilo & Stitch movie fans, Lilo & Stitch: The Series picks up right where the movie left off. In this universe, Lilo and Stitch go on adventures trying to catch all of Dr. Jumba Jookiba's 625 unleashed experiments across Hawaii. Just like Stitch was genetically engineered and adopted by Lilo, the duo fears that the experiments will be ill-fated and try to rescue them.

The heartwarming show has new characters with creative powers. On top of that, you get to see more of Lilo & Stitch's adorable dynamic and compassion through their missions once again on screen. It also forms an interconnected universe of Disney Channel Original series as it had crossovers with Kim Possible, The Proud Family, American Dragon: Jake Long, and Recess.

1 Wizards of Waverly Place

Alex with her brother, Justin
Disney Channel

The reason why this particular show lands at number one, is that it seems to have everything that is needed to make a brilliantly funny and homely show. From a family of quirky wizards to a not-so-perfect but definitely mischievous protagonist, Wizards of Waverly Place won a large fan base during its run. The show focuses on what seems to be a normal family running a subway station, but, in reality, the family consists of wizards.

During their spare time, we see the Russos engaging in wizard lessons and even entering the Wizardly world. Of course, the number one rule seems to be not to expose themselves to the general public, which Alex seems to have trouble adhering to. One can even find parodies of Harry Potter in this particular show. With Selena Gomez bringing in the humor and the mischief, the show is both comforting and funny.