over the years, Disney Channel has branded itself as the premier channel for family-friendly shows and movies, and that includes Disney Channel Halloween episodes. It sure worked for them, considering the channel has been around for 40 years. Still, keeping things broadly appealing sometimes means it’s hard to delve into scary fare.
Disney Channel is usually better known for offering seasonal content in the form of their Disney Channel Original Movies, but many of the network’s television shows have also included themed episodes. Since Halloween is often synonymous with scary movies and TV shows, many people write off Disney Channel Halloween episodes as too childish. However, that doesn’t stop Disney Channel from creating unique, spooky and sometimes even hilarious Halloween episodes of their best shows, year after year.
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Sonny with a Chance: “A So Random Halloween Special”
(Season 2, Episode 18) It’s built on the popularity of things like Nickelodeon’s All that And starring Demi Lovato…
Sunny with a chance was the Disney Channel’s answer to a show like 30 stone. It combined the child-friendly sketch show So random Featuring the behind-the-scenes antics of the show’s fictional cast, giving audiences a fictional look at what went on on the set of a sketch comedy series. It’s built on the popularity of things like Nickelodeon’s All that and stars Demi Lovato as the titular Sonny.
The episode, however, doesn’t rely so much on the behind-the-scenes antics of Sonny and the rest of the cast. Instead, it focuses on the sketches, which are Halloween-themed. One of the most memorable includes Sonny and Tawni as employees at a Store similar to Trader Joe’s as they deal with monsters instead of regular customers. In the usual sketches themed around Trader Joe’s, these two aren’t the most efficient retail employees. When they are faced with potential monsters, their skills seem even worse, whether they even notice that they are dealing with monsters or not.
Shake It Up: “Haunt It Up”
(Season 3, Episode 25)
A lot of the best Disney Halloween episodes involve a ghost story of some sort, which is very much the case for this season 3 episode of Shake it up. A good portion of the episode deals with some of the kids feeling like they’ve outgrown trick or treating and finding something else to do on the spooky holiday. This idea is definitely one that will appeal to the teens and tweens who have not quite aged out of the prime-time fare of the Disney Channel, but still want to continue some of the activities they participated in as children.
In this episode, Flynn, Deuce and Ty all decide to visit a local house that is rumored to be haunted while Cece and Rocky explore their Halloween options. But the two girls run in Lost little girl who just might have a connection to the haunted houseGive the episode an appropriately creepy twist. It’s still family-friendly, but the final moments of the episode are enough to make kids gasp. It just doesn’t quite grab the same level of attention as some other Disney Channel Halloween episodes.
Jesse: “The Winning”
(Season 2, Episode 1)
Although there are some Halloween episodes of Disney Channel shows that are even better, “The Winning” is great because It offers a kid-friendly version of something adults will appreciate: The Shining. The horror movie has been one of the most loved for decades, and there have been many parodies or nods to the horror genre. It is rare for a children’s program to attempt it.
This episode of JesseHowever, the Ross kids plan on trick-or-treating on the 13th floor of their building after an old doorman tells them a story about a “crazy nanny” who once lived there. Just as they get into the Halloween spirit, however, they get a little scared, only to find Jessie in a scary costume and start to think she may be following in the footsteps of the other nanny.
The only reason why this episode is not higher among Disney’s Halloween episodes is that it really would have benefited from being a longer episode and having the opportunity to delve more into the idea.
ANT Farm: “Mutant Farm 3”
(Season 3, Episode 11)
Every season of Ant farm Features one chapter of the “MutANT Farm” episodes. While the first two played out as fantasy sequences with monstrous versions of the main characters, like China Ann McClane playing a Medusa, the latest chapter, which aired in the show’s final season, reveals that The monstrous versions of the characters are actually from an alternate universe.
While the series usually focuses on the natural talents of the core cast and uses them in specific storylines, this episode sees the main cast cross over with their alternate universe counterparts. There is an opening between the two universes, allowing the monstrous versions of the characters to take the place of the humans and try to trap the humans in their world. It’s very sci-fi for the series though Uniquely pays off the two previous Halloween episodes.
This is a great way to maintain continuity even with supposed one-off episodes for those who have watched the series since the beginning, especially since children’s programming so often does not pay much attention to continuity, and prefer episodes to stand alone so kids can watch them. In any order they want.
Girl Meets World: “Of Terror 2”
(Season 2, Episode 18)
like Ant farm, Girl meets world Also has themed Halloween episodes each season. The episodes, however, were in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents With Auggie Matthews acting as the narrator in each episode. In the second of the “Girl Meets World of Terror” episodes, the story centers on Riley and Maya meeting the ghost of Riley’s bay window.
Riley’s window plays a big role in the series. Maya climbs through it from the fire escape to visit Riley periodically. She and Riley also often sit in the window to have some of their great discussions. The window to the outside world becomes something of a symbol for Riley’s dreams and Maya’s imagination.
The ghost, a flapper girl from the 1920s, loved the magic of the bay window so much that she became it, and she uses her ghostly abilities to do the same for Riley and Maya, including their 1920s Halloween costumes. During their adventures with the ghost, they visit a real haunted house and cross paths with Austin and Allie from their own Disney Channel show, providing a little Disney Channel crossover. The episode features interesting costumes and a ghost story with a happy ending, making for a fun Halloween episode.
Wizards of Waverly Place: “Halloween”
(Season 3, Episode 2)
Wizards of Waverly Place gave fans a fun and memorable Halloween episode in season 3 of the series. In this episode, the Russos are threatened with having their haunted house segment taken away from them because it’s not entertaining enough for the neighborhood.
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Determined to change that this year, Alex visits the Wizarding World to get some real monsters to scare them in their haunted house. But the monsters are not as scary as Alex hoped, so she and Harper go back to the wizarding world to find the scariest monster of all: “Mantotot.”
The episode acted as a great way to combine Alex’s usual antics involving magic with her desire to help her family and a few Halloween scares. It’s definitely not as creepy as some of the other Disney Halloween episodes, but it definitely has a plot more in line with the overall series and shows Selena Gomez at Alex’s most sarcastic.
Hannah Montana: “Torn Between Two Hannahs”
(Season 1, Episode 17)
Hannah Montana Wasted no time to jump into the Halloween spirit when it released its first Halloween-themed installment. In this episode, Miley gets an unexpected visit from her lookalike cousin, Luann. But the visit turns ugly when Luann dresses as Hannah Montana and attends her rich friend Tracy’s Hannah-themed Halloween party in the hopes of exposing Miley’s secret to everyone.
It’s one of the earliest episodes to demonstrate the very real stakes of Miley’s secret identity being exposed, though it does so with the usual Disney Channel cheesiness of an identical cousin. The episode, however, give Miley Cyrus the opportunity to play another character.
Elsewhere, Robbie and Jackson are determined to scare their annoying next-door neighbor, who turns out not to be scary. “The Tale of Two Hannahs” is one of the best Hannah Montana Episodes that continue today.
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: “Arvinstein”
(Season 3, Episode 12)
Although “Awrinstein” may not be the most memorable Sweet Life of Zack & Cody episode, it made a great Halloween special for the last season of the show that riffs on the idea of ​​Frankenstein’s monster. In the episode, the Tipton Hotel is hosting the annual Halloween party in London, which has attracted hundreds of guests to attend because of the costume contest.
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While everyone is busy perfecting their costume in the hopes of winning diamonds, Arwin is working on a robot that looks just like him. TThe stories are intertwined when Zack and Cody accidentally let Arvin’s robot escape, And he wins the costume contest because everyone thinks it’s really Arvin. It’s definitely a fun episode of the series that plays to the comedic strengths of its cast. There is quite a bit of physical comedy in this episode.
Jesse: “Ghost Boomers”
(Season 3, Episode 1)
Jesse May be one of Disney Channel’s most underrated shows of the 2010s era, so it’s no surprise that the show’s annual Halloween episodes are also overlooked. However, many Disney Channel fans agree that the season 3 Halloween episode was the best show.
The episode centers on Jesse and the Ross kids, who decide to throw their own Halloween party after not being invited to Mrs. Chesterfield’s rooftop party. Their party takes a turn, though, when Jesse and the younger Roses start seeing ghosts. This episode has the perfect amount of kid-friendly fun, lessons for the younger crowd, and creepy moments that are funny. It is perfectly balanced.
Like many other Disney Channel series that have ghosts or haunted houses in their Halloween episodes, this episode isn’t too scary for even the youngest kids, but it keeps things entertaining enough that adults can enjoy it with their children or younger siblings. .
Lizzie McGuire: “Night of the Day of the Dead”
(Season 1, Episode 24)
Before there was Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire was the most popular blonde on the Disney Channel. The series ran for two seasons, spawned a theatrical movie based on the series, and almost had a sequel produced for Disney+. The series also has some fun themed episodes.
The Halloween episode of the Disney Channel show centers on Lizzie’s 7th grade class, who are planning the school’s annual scare night celebration. Lizzie’s plans to be the dungeon mistress are cut short thanks to Kate, who turns Lizzie into a clown. Miranda also faces off against Kate, who is annoyed that Miranda and her family tried to incorporate the Day of the Dead into the Shrek Night decor.
It is one of the earliest Disney Channel shows to incorporate Day of the Dead into their storylines. Instead of sticking only to Halloween, and the acknowledgment of Mexican and Mexican-American culture was definitely appreciated by the audience then and now.
That’s so Raven: “Don’t have a cow”
(Season 2, Episode 2)
This is so raven is one of Disney Channel’s most iconic original series and one known for its groundbreaking episodes. But, it Also knew how to be wild and hilarious, like during the season 2 Halloween installment. This is one that goes more for the silly factor than the scary.
After Raven and Chelsea fail to be invited to the popular (and very bully) Alana’s annual Halloween party, they take matters into their own hands. Instead of simply crashing the party, the girls use Raven’s grandmother’s spell book to cast a wishing spell that will ensure they win the costume contest. However, the spell goes wrong and the girls slowly start transforming from humans into cows. The makeup for these two is amazing for the episode, and it’s almost worth watching for that alone.
This episode gives a bit more backstory for the Baxter family though. Raven didn’t just inherit psychic abilities from her family. There is magic in her family too. Which makes it all the more interesting.
Liv & Maddie: “Haunt-A-Rooney”
(Season 3, Episode 4)
The creators of Love & Maddie Made it a point to include a Halloween-themed episode in all four seasons of the show. While all of them were fun and made fans laugh, the season 3 entry is the one that fans most want to rewatch. It also served as a crossover with Disney’s other shows Best friends when.
In this episode, Maddie and her friend Willow take part in a beloved Ridgewood tradition in which high school seniors scare the town’s middle schoolers. Elsewhere, Liv and her friends are planning to spend the night at the Central Park Spooktacular when a dodgy photographer accosts her. As it turns out, the Best friends when These characters are some of Dear Ronnie’s biggest fans and help her with the photographer so her Halloween celebrations are not ruined. It combines the antics the show is known for with two different Halloween stories for fans.
Good luck Charlie: “Scary has a little lamb”
(Season 2, Episode 25)
Good luck Charlie Has one of the best Christmas episodes of any Disney Channel show, but it also has some of the best Halloween episodes of all time. A fan favorite, however, is the season 2 episode titled “Scary Has a Little Lamb.” There’s a lot going on in this episode, which is why it’s so fun. In many other Disney Channel shows, the separate storylines can feel like too much, but the Duncan family is always a little chaotic enough to make the different stories work.
Teddy takes Charlie trick-or-treating, only to have it ruined for the little girl by a scary teenager. Gabe agrees to protect Mrs. Dabney’s house from the naughty kids who usually tease her (AKA yourself). And PJ takes Halloween a little too seriously by becoming God for his new girlfriend. Each of the different Halloween stories with the Duncan children highlights a different part of the way kids grow up with the holiday, making it just as much fun for parents as kids.
Zack & Cody’s Suite Life: “The Ghost in Suite 613”
(Season 1, Episode 19)
Ironically, one of the most iconic and scariest Disney Channel episodes of all time doesn’t actually take place on Halloween. Still, “The Ghost in Suite 613” episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody was released in October, making it Halloween adjacent. Many fans consider it a Halloween episode because it involves ghosts and a few scary moments for the young characters.
This episode happens in the first season of the show before the series really got into a lot of holiday episodes. Zack is on a roll scaring Cody, who leads housekeeping staff member Muriel to tell the boys about the Mysterious ghost that haunts suite 613. Intrigued, the boys make a bet to see who can stay in the room the longest and drag along some Tipton employees to join in the spooky fun.
This episode has a much more classic Disney feel than the modern shows on the network.
Big City Greens: “Squaded”
(Season 3, Episode 1)
Big City Greens is one of the most underrated animated Disney Channel Original shows of the 2010s. It centers on Cricket Green, a country boy who finds himself living in the big city with his family. The main story of the show is Cricket adjusting to city life, but some episodes delve into more themed storylines.
Although they have several Halloween episodes, the best one was aired during the third season of the show. In the episode, Tilly “borrows” an alien chemical compound to help Bill’s pumpkin patch grow larger than before. Unfortunately, it leads to disastrous effects.
With so much of the series focused on farm activities, trying to get super-sized pumpkins is a great way to highlight fall, not just Halloween. The pumpkins turning into monsters, however, makes it just scary enough for kids in Halloween.
Even Stevens: “A Very Scary Story”
(Season 2, Episode 13)
Even Stevens is arguably one of the best Disney Channel Original series from the early 2000s. Like most siblings, Levi and Ren are constantly at odds, and this was no different in the Disney Channel’s incredibly memorable Halloween episode. Although it takes a spookier twist than usual.
It’s one that strays far from the ordinary, but that’s what makes it so beloved by fans
The episode begins with Louis planning an epic Halloween prank on his school. However, he is sidetracked when he learns that the school’s annual “eye exam” is actually a ploy by their principal and coach to steal their eyes and control their minds. Like the musical episode of the series, it is one that strikes far from the usual, but that is what makes it so beloved by fans.
This episode actually feels like it would have fit better as part of the ’90s Goosebumps series rather than anything on the Disney Channel. That’s part of what makes it so appealing. It stands out as something not afraid to be different and restless.
Bunk’d: “Camp Kiki-Slasher”
(Season 1, Episode 7)
A spin-off from Jessie, Bunk’d Features a revolving door of cast members as the kids attend Camp Kikiwaka in Moose Rump, Maine before their family decides to buy and run the summer camp. With the actors already accustomed to Halloween episodes with Jesse, bunk’d He turned out a killer in his first season, even though it wasn’t even October on the show.
The episode begins after a night of horror movies leads to the campers pranking each other. HoweverWhen the girls get lost in the forest, and a warrior, a disguised figure is found.Things are getting very scary. It’s a great take on classic slasher tropes that’s still kid-friendly. It takes a lot of the same risks for upping the scare factor that episodes of Jesse Do, that is why it works so well.
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Austin & Ally: “Costumes and Courage”
(Season 2, Episode 1)
Austin & Ally is another severely underrated Disney Channel original series that regularly airs Halloween-themed episodes. In fact, season 2 of the show kicked off with the Halloween episode, “Costumes & Courage.”
The episode centers on the Star Records Halloween Party that Austin’s new company owner has invited him to play alongside Taylor Swift. However, when Swift is unable to perform, Ally steps in to fill in for her, conquering her stage fright and finally getting credit for her amazing songwriting and singing talents. This is the episode that allows Ally to start sharing some of the spotlight, Despite her fear of it.
It’s not in the way of the creepier Disney Channel Halloween episodes, but it earns its place here because of Ally’s character development and Austin’s support of her singing. This episode helps the show take a big narrative step forward.
The Villains of Valley View: “Havoc-Ween”
(Season 1, Episode 11)
One of Disney Channel’s newer shows, The Villains of Valley View knocked it out of the park with its first Halloween special, which airs in early 2022. It’s fitting, considering the show centers on a family of villains who are forced to leave the League of Villains and move into a human suburb; Of course the characters have at least a passing interest in Halloween.
The Halloween episode has a lot of fun and hijinks that are perfect for the Halloween season. Amy gets into some trouble when she brings her grandma, who steals bodies, to a party. Meanwhile, Vic and Eva’s attempt to steal candy from trick-or-treaters turns dangerous when they encounter an even bigger villain.
One of the great aspects of this episode outside of the story is the creativity of the costumes compared to some other Disney Channel shows. A lot of shows will have characters dressed as classic monsters, but here it’s a hollow pumpkin and a storm cloud among others. That’s definitely fun for the audience too.
Best Friends When: “Syd and Shelby’s Haunted Escape”
(Season 1, Episode 9)
Best friends when is a Disney Channel original series that ran for two seasons and followed two best friends who live together and accidentally gain the ability to travel through time. With a supernatural element like time travel, it only makes sense that Best friends when Aired one of the best Halloween episodes on Disney Channel.
This episode manages to cross over with so many Disney Channel Halloween episodes, tying them all together.
The episode centers on Sid and Shelby who decide to teleport themselves to Central Park in New York City for the annual spooktacular celebration. However, they wind up trapped in a haunted house. This episode is also a mini crossover featuring Girl meets world Riley and Lucas. It’s also the same mini crossover that features Austin and Ally in the Girl meets world episode. This episode manages to cross with so many Disney Channel Halloween episodes, tying them all together.
This particular haunted house helped to make A lot of Disney Channel shows’ Halloween episodes are great because all the characters have their own different adventures.