Back in the day, the word “Disney” brought thoughts of fairy godmothers, evil stepsisters and happily ever afters into our minds. The Disney stars that most of us looked up to were Cinderella, Pocahontas and, of course, Mickey Mouse (although now I’m not sure why).

But nowadays, all that has changed. When most children and teenagers hear the word “Disney,” they tend to think of the famous actors whose careers were launched on the television network, the Disney Channel. 

Due to shows like ‘Hannah Montana’ or the Disney Channel Original Movie ‘High School Musical,’ it is now virtually impossible to ignore any gossip associated with Disney’s princess Miley Cyrus or Brangelina wannabes Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.

With plenty of shame, I will admit that even I watch some of these shows on a somewhat regular basis (I fully blame my boyfriend’s younger nieces for my sudden semi-addiction to shows like ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ and ‘Sonny With a Chance’).

But while some Disney Channel stars have what it takes to establish a lifelong successful career outside of the Disney franchise, others, frankly, do not.  

And so, here is a short homage to certain Disney Channel actors who, for some reason or another, will stay here for some years to come:

The “Creepy” Disney Channel Star:

Kevin Jonas: As the eldest brother of the overrated Jonas Brothers music group, Kevin takes the cake for the creepiest member. I’m not quite sure if it’s his awkwardness on the television screen that freaks me out (remember his role in ‘Camp Rock’?) or the fact that he looks like he’s about to turn thirty instead of twenty-two. Either way, this Jonas bro, along with Joe and Nick, needs to stop polluting the music and television biz before I start having Kevin/Bogeyman-like nightmares.

The “Heartthrob” Disney Channel Star:

Zac Efron: When it comes to this ‘High School Musical’ actor, I can see why teenagers and yes, even adults, adore this young man. Sure the earwax situation was a bit…gross but Zac is still cute and charming, even if his ears are filthy.  When Q-Tips aren’t thrown in his face, Zac proves he can sing, dance and act in roles like ‘Hairspray,’ and ‘Summerland.’ On top of that, his gorgeous and talented co-star/girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens also proves that this young guy is worth having around.  

The “Triple Threat” Disney Channel Star:

Ashley Tisdale:  Actress, singer, songwriter Ashley Tisdale demonstrates she has what it takes to make it in the showbiz for years to come. From her role as Maddie on ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ to her performance as Sharpay in the High School Musical movie franchise, Ashley knows she will always stay in the spotlight. Her passion, personality and dedication to her work will make this star last years longer in Hollywood than most of the other actors on the Disney Channel network.

The “One to Steal the Spotlight” Disney Channel Star:

Brenda Song: If you ever watched an episode of ‘The Suite Life with Zack & Cody’ you should realize that show is watchable because of one character: London Tipton. Brenda plays the ditzy spoiled hotel heiress London (yup, an allusion to Paris Hilton) and, if I could say so myself, she does quite an excellent job doing so. Unfortunately, this 21-year-old has yet to truly make it big in Hollywood.  Blame it on the Jonas Brothers.

The “Underrated” Disney Channel Star:

Selena Gomez: From all of the actors who found fame on the Disney Channel, Selena, in my opinion, has the most natural acting ability. When you watch her as Alex Russo on ‘The Wizards of Waverly Place’ it’s hard to believe this young starlet is only sixteen. Currently, Selena is better known for her YouTube videos with best friend/other Disney Channel star Demi Lovato. After the two girls posted a clip back in 2008, Miley Cyrus and her friend Mandy uploaded a parody video of Selena and Demi—fuelling rumours the girls were feuding (however, according to their constant Twitter posts to one another, the girls actually seems like “the best of friends!”).

Either way, Selena has everything that Miley lacks. Maturity, self-control and, oh yeah, a good-girl image.

The “Overrated” Disney Channel Star:

Miley Cyrus: Just like with Kevin Jonas and the creepy thing, Miley Cyrus is her own competitor in this category. Even though I can see the allure in ‘Hannah Montana,’ it does not excuse the fact that Miley is a poor role model. By sixteen, Miley appeared in more provocative poses and eyebrow raising behaviour than plenty of other actors who are in their mid twenties. From a girl who apparently comes from a “wholesome family” she needs a bit more control. Miley is well on the path of becoming the next Britney Spears (the mentally unstable one). Just because Miley brings in the money, she’s still relatively a child and needs to be treated and act like one. 

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3. Disney Greenlights Jonas Brothers Reality TV Series

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