I'm a sentimental fool when it comes to my childhood. When I hear songs, or see a TV show or movie that reminds me of my adolescent I am instantly filled with warm fuzzes and transported back to that time.
I think the fact that I am so sentimental is one reason why I love everything about Disney so much, and why very single time Luke and I talk about where to go on vacation, without fail I always yell DISNEY WORLD!!!!
Disney was such a HUGE part of my childhood. Growing up watching movies that were made way before my time but were and still are amazing classics. Watching the cartoons that filled my young-kid years such as DuckTales and Gummi Bears, and watching all the disney channel shows and movies through my pre-teen years. It ALL brings back such awesome memories.
Do you remember when the Disney Channel was a channel that you had to pay for? It didn't come with standard cable, it had to be purchased separately. I remember specifically when my parents finally broke down and paid the extra money for it. It was the greatest thrill of my life at that time.
I saw this video on this Disney blog tonight that prompted all of these memories. It's amazing how you can forget something and then when you see it, you are instantly flooded with hundreds of memories and feelings.
Some of my favorite movies and shows from the Disney Channel:
I LOVED LOVED LOVED the made for Disney movies and would watch them all the time.
Does anybody remembered "Wish Upon a Star" starring a young Katherine Heigl?
This was SUCH A GREAT movie. Think "Freaky Friday" but with sisters. I loved Katherine Heigl in this movie and thought she was so pretty.
The movie Susie Q was another favorite of mine.
This was one that was shown on the Disney channel over and over and I don't think I ever grew sick of it. Well maybe I did at the time, but I haven't seen it in so long I couldn't imagine not wanting to watch it at this point.
And then of course the TV shows:
We all have heard about the new Mickey Mouse Club because of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears, but I watched it long before we even knew who they were, and at that time I wanted to BE Keri Russell. I loved her so much. I wanted her hair!! And I always hoped that she would marry that Tony guy.
And let's not forget Kids Incorporated! I would pretend I was on this show all the time in my backyard. I had a pretend microphone and I had marked out a trail in my backyard that was my "stage". I would walk up and down my marked out trail singing and trying to dance. I was a special kind of kid.
Does anybody remember the show "Adventures in Wonderland"? This show will always remind me of when my baby sister (who is now 18) was born because my middle sister and watched it ALL THE TIME during that time. I even think we were watching it the day my mom brought her home form the hospital.
Even Stevens came several years later and was during my "I should probably be too cool for the Disney Channel but I still love it and want to watch it but I should probably hide it from my friends" stage.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to my old kid self and tell myself to stop thinking I need to be cool and "grown up". Growing up will happen on its own, enjoy your childhood because it is so short. But that is a whole post in itself!
And who could forget Bug Juice, the show about real kids at a real summer camp. This was my first "reality" show to watch and probably the reason why I love Real Housewives so much today. Bug Juice was the "housewives" of my teen years.
And who can forget the days that the Disney Channel ran reruns of shows such as Boy Meets World, Brotherly Love, and Growing Pains. I would race home from school to watch a young but still extremely cute Leonadro Dicaprio on Growing Pains.
I could go on and on recounting memories of old movies and shows but I need to reign it in somewhere. Sometimes I really miss the carefree days of being a kid and watching these movies and shows after school.
I really wish Disney would have a "throw back" weekend and would show all of these old movies and TV shows. It would be so awesome!
Oh gosh! I LOVED Kids Incorporated when I was a kid!! (and yes I could still remember the words to the theme song!) Thanks for that memory!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think I was that much younger than you, but the only ones I remember from your list are Even Stevens & Boy Meets World....?!? :) Maybe I was too busy watching Nickelodeon?
ReplyDeleteMemories! But are you saying you're too old for Disney now? Because that's pretty much all I watch...
ReplyDeleteLOVE these. They still play Halloweentown on Disney every year - but now there's a 2 and maybe a 3. The Katharine Heigl was my favorite!
ReplyDeleteBug juice doesn't come in a jar. Bug juice cones from who you are. Loved that show!!! And Kids Incorporated......definitely a big part of my childhood!
ReplyDeleteOhmygosh! This is my favorite post EVER! I loved the Disney channel (and all shows listed) and wish they had still played all of them, maybe we should campaign for a "Vintage Disney". But then I would feel old =)
ReplyDeleteThey still show Halloweentown on the Disney channel!! My kids were watching it the other day. Still love that movie.
ReplyDeleteholy dang i loved this post. "wish upon a star" was my FAVORITE disney movie when i was little. i loved that movie! and susie q and bug juice. completely forgot about those two!
ReplyDeleteand i am 25 and would still watch halloweentown every october if it was up to me.
Ahhhh LOVED Kids Incorporated! I even remember loving going to my friend's house because she had the theme song on...wait for it... record.
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOSH!!! This post has brought back so many memories. I believe that we are roughly the same age so I grew up watching all of these too. I LOVED Bug Juice and Suzy Q. They were absolute favorites for me. Great post!!!
ReplyDeleteDitto to ALL of this! Every single bit.
ReplyDeleteKatherine Heigl's character in that movie led me to love the name "Alexia" for several years, lol.
Lindsey Alley from MMC is from my hometown and lived down the street from my best friend. We would minorly stalk her when we were in middle school. I used to beg my mom to let me audition for MMC. The year I was old enough to audition? They cancelled the sticking show. I was devestated.
Bug Juice? Slightly obsessed with that show. Especially since I'd never gone to sleep-away camp. I was probably too old to be watching it, but still loved it.
Loved 'Adventures in Wonderland'.... her life house used to be on "Residential Street" at MGM (now Hollywood Studios). I was the only person who ever knew that house right off the bat.
There was another Disney Channel show.... slightly before "Even Stevens" time.... about two best friends. Their parents were best friends, so the guy and the girl grew up as best friends. The girl had really pretty hair. Anyway, the show ended right as the guy and girl kiss and realize they like each other. I wish I could remember the name of the show. Anyway, loved that one, too.
Clearly, I loved the Disney Channel as a child..... and teenager.
You know you and I are united in our love for all things Disney.
ReplyDeleteI watched way beyond when it was cool.
Oh my gosh, I love ALL the shows you listed. I think I need to start DVR-ing some of these classics to watch in my spare time... gosh, SUCH good TV!
ReplyDeleteOH I loved Kids Incorporated!
ReplyDeleteWe were the last to have cable & a vcr, but when I could catch it, I just LOVED it!!
Love your blog!
This post made my day!
ReplyDeleteMy older sister and I were obsessed with "Wish Upon a Star." And we loved "Kid's Incorporated."
Did you ever watch "FraggleRock?"
Susie Q was awesome! I also LOVED Adventures in Wonderland when I was little. Boy Meets World and Growing Pains watching lasted well into my teen years! Love Disney!
ReplyDeleteI loved all of these shows growing up and still watch Boy Meets World from time to time on ABC family. Do you remember Hey Dude - I think it was a Nickelodean show but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteMy parents didnt let us have Disney channel until they didnt have to pay extra for it! But by that time I was in high school I think. I have seen a ton of those disney movies and I liked Lizzie McGuire :)
ReplyDeleteKids Incorporated was my all time favorite show! Do you remember the Mousersize show? Working out with the characters?
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the made for tv Disney movies, including all the ones you listed! Every fall I scour the tv listings for when they're going to show Halloween town :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think I did the majority of my Disney channel watching in High School. So no need to be ashamed ;)
Oh man you just brought back so many great memories. I was a huge disney fan.
ReplyDeleteYES! I remember Kids Incorporated (have the song in my head as we speak haha) and I LOVED Mickey Mouse Club with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, and JC Chavez!
ReplyDeleteLaura
laurasblondemoments.blogspot.com
I watched every single one of those. And though it goes back further, Under the Umbrella Tree and Mousercize in the morning before preschool. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteOld school Disney Channel was the best! And I, too, look forward to Halloweentown in the fall!
ReplyDeleteI seriously loved all of those shows. And Fraggle Rock!
ReplyDeleteI remember my parents got my sister and I The Disney Channel as a Christmas gift on year. We waited eagerly as the cable guy came and installed a cable box so that we could have it. I was over the moon!!
ReplyDeleteMy all-time favorite show as a kid was Adventures in Wonderland. I think I've seen every episode at least 10 times.
I freaking loved Kids INc! And, I still watched the Disney Channel movies in COLLEGE-loved the mermaid one. Never heard of Halloweentown though-but, I am 32, so...........yikes.
ReplyDeleteI seriously watched every single show you mentioned! I LOVED Susie Q even though the death thing made me sad! And did you know Fergie was on Kids Inc?! One you didn't mention was Lizzie McGuire. I was totally "too old" but loved her anyway! Adventures in Wonderland was my FAVORITE and I still think about Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum being rappers. Ahhh! Love this.
ReplyDeleteLoved all of these! Especially 'Wish Upon a Star'. Also @Jess, I believe the show you are talking about is 'Flash Foward' starring Jewel Staite and Ben Foster. I loved that show as well and wished they would show them all again!
ReplyDeleteYESSSS!!! I was such a huge fan of "Lizzy McGuire," but I couldn't tell anyone because I was like 14 when it came on, lol! Good times, good times. Now I don't tell people that I watch "Keeping up with the Kardashians." The cycle continues.... :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT post! My parents never caved and got us Disney, but once every few months the cable company gave us "free" Disney in hopes that we'd pay for it. I was always glued to my TV at that time. For the rest of the year, I enjoyed my Disney at friends houses and vacations where hotels had Disney.
ReplyDeleteLOVED Bug Juice and Even Stevens, even though I was totally too old for Disney. And when I was younger, I loved the Wonderland show!!
Oh boy, did I love old school Disney - nothing better than Kids, Incorporated.
ReplyDeleteI know it's Nick and not Disney, but do you also remember "Hey Dude" and "Salute Your Shorts"? CLASSIC.
Oh, I loved this post. I'm older than you, so I remember the late 80's versions of Mickey Mouse Club and Kids Inc. and I LOVED them! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I also love all things Disney!
ReplyDeleteI am SO with you!!!! Wish Upon a Star was one of my favorites and when Gray's Anatomy first came on the air, I remembering shouting "It's the pretty girl from that Disney movie I love! Ha!". I seriously watch the Disney channel with Addie and Blake everyday and I feel like a kid again myself. I love Wizards of Waverly Place. Haha! JUst wait until Eli watches everything. You will be hooked again too :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post! I LOVE Disney World & loved all those shows growing up! :) Very nostalgic post! Love it!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I love that you wrote about this!! I watched all of those shows and totally agree that Bug Juice was the "Housewives" of my early teen years. haha Great shows!! and I'm all for a throwback weekend on Disney too! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG I LOVED BUG JUICE!!!! I totally forgot about it until now!! I also loved Susie Q and Teen Witch, and there was another one where two girls with opposite family lives that had to trade places for a couple months or something. I could go on and on!
ReplyDeleteThat was an awesome walk down memory lane! Loved it!
ReplyDelete