Like other shows, Disney programs have come and gone throughout the years. There were days when children were able to tune into whatever hit sitcom was appealing to their demographic that year, but as children turned into teenagers and adults, Boy Meets World turned into Jessie and Sydney to the Max — shows that might even sound foreign to different generations. But once The Walt Disney Company launched its streaming service in 2019, there quickly became one place to binge Disney shows from different eras.
Disney+ has granted its millions of users original movies, throwback short films, and, of course, its many TV shows. You might not be able to watch some old programs on cable anymore and due to Disney’s ownership, you definitely can’t find them on other streaming services. There are a handful to choose from, but here are the best old Disney shows you can stream on Disney+.
8 Boy Meets World
Boy Meets World undoubtedly raised a bundle of preteens back in the 1990s. The family TV sitcom saw its protagonist Cory Matthews grow from a goofy, immature sixth grader to a slightly less goofy, still kind of immature married college man — the audience essentially watched its lead actor Ben Savage grow up. The coming-of-age sitcom featured a cast of unforgettable characters: Cory’s heartthrob, troublesome best friend, Shawn; Cory’s childhood sweetheart and eventual wife Topanga; Cory’s wise life mentor and teacher laughably from kindergarten to university, Mr. Feeny Though Boy Meets World dabbled in light-hearted, child-friendly topics, it occasionally took serious turns and dealt with death, alcohol abuse, and sexual harassment. The show ran for seven seasons and came to an end in the year 2000. A spinoff centered on Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley, Girl Meets World, ran from 2014 to 2017.
7 Even Stevens
A 14-year-old Shia LaBeouf took the role as Louis Stevens on the 2000-2003 Disney Channel show Even Stevens. He starred alongside Christy Carlson Romano, who played Wren, as the two played a clashing brother-sister duo. The two both won awards for their performances in 2002 and 2003. Even Stevens ran for 65 episodes, the then-limit for Disney Channel shows, and each is available to stream, along with the show’s series finale: The Even Stevens Movie.
6 Hannah Montana
When Miley Stewart put on a blonde wig, makeup, and glitzy clothes, she instantly became unrecognizable to the entire world who totally believed she was a full-time pop star named Hannah Montana. But when the wig was off, she was just an average teenager. Through Hannah Montana’s five-year run, Miley balanced a double life on school and on stage, all while managing to keep her identity a secret to everyone other than her close friends and family. Miley Cyrus starred as the lead character in this 2006 series that would stem four albums, a 3D concert movie, and a feature-length film.
5 Lizzie McGuire
Like Boy Meets World, Lizzie McGuire served as a show about being a teenager. Hilary Duff starred as the titular character facing the average problems a teenage girl does: identity, crushes, puberty. Though live-action, Lizzie McGuire mixed in animation as Lizzie’s inner thoughts were shown via a cartoon version of herself. Lizzie McGuire ran for three years, totaling 65 episodes. It also had a theatrical film portraying Lizzie’s moment in the spotlight on her eighth grade field trip to Rome. A revival series was in development for Disney+, but was ultimately scrapped. Per Decider, the reboot was canceled because its plot was allegedly too mature for the studio. Luckily for Hilary Duff fans, she now stars in the Hulu sitcom How I Met Your Father.
4 Phil of the Future
No one can exactly predict what the 22nd Century will be like, but the writers of Disney’s Phil of the Future had somewhat of an idea. The Diffy’s were once a family from the distant future, but when an escapade with their time machine goes wrong, they get stuck in the year 2004. With their futuristic contraptions and knowledge of what the upcoming years hold, the family attempts to adapt to the modern lifestyle, despite it being incredibly outlandish to them. The show ran for 2 seasons with a total of 43 episodes, which were added to Disney+ in November 2019.
3 Smart Guy
From 1997 to 1999, Disney ran Smart Guy, a sitcom starring Tahj Mowry, the younger brother of twin actresses Tia and Tamera who starred in Sister, Sister. Smart Guy saw the main character TJ as a ten-year-old with an IQ so high, it put him into high school. But being the age of a fourth grader surrounded by teenagers — including his older siblings — is frequently met with moments of entertaining embarrassment.
2 The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
Some Disney shows focused on a comedic protagonist, but Dylan and Cole Sprouse delivered twice the amount of laughs on their sitcom, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Zack and Cody Martin were two middle school twins who constantly wreaked havoc throughout their home in the Tipton hotel. A smart candy counter girl called Maddie, London, the spoiled hotel heiress, the twin’s mother/singing sensation Carey, and the stern, uptight Mr. “No running in my lobby!” Moseby made for a perfect recipe for an enjoyable show that ran for 87 episodes. The Sprouse twins were ultimately far too popular to quickly exit from the network and thus, a spinoff hit the Disney Channel in 2008, but this show – The Suite Life on Deck – saw the two in their typical twin tomfoolery, this time on a cruise ship that doubled as their new school and home.
1 That’s So Raven
The hit sitcom That’s So Raven ran from 2003 to 2007 on the Disney Channel. Following a teenage psychic named Raven Baxter, That’s So Raven often found its lead character staring off into space for a couple of seconds as she saw what she believed would occur in the near future. And due to her outrageous, albeit hilarious, shenanigans, things often went incredibly wrong in her attempts to fix things. Still, Raven Baxter was arguably one of the best characters written onto a Disney Channel show with consistent Emmy-worthy performances from the show’s lead actress, Raven-Symoné. Following a 100 episode run, the show had two spinoffs: Cory in the House in 2007 and Raven’s Home in 2017.