underrated Disney – From A.N.T. Farm and Kickin’ It to Andi Mack and Diary of a Future President, these Disney Channel series may have slipped under the radar—but they’re packed with laughs, big feelings, and unforgettable characters.
For years. Disney Channel viewers have cycled through the same handful of “classics” — the kind that get constant rewatch value. the kind that come back in reboots and instant recognition. But ask the internet and you’ll find a different truth: there are plenty of Disney Channel shows that never broke through the way they deserved.
They live on in smaller fandoms. They get remembered through a single meme, or a late-night rewatch binge, or the stubborn belief that “wait, how did nobody talk about this?” Here are 10 great Disney Channel shows that deserve more than they’ve gotten.
A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014)
Chyna Parks (China Anne McClain) is a talented singer and musician with a chance to attend high school at 11 years old. thanks to an Advanced Natural Talents program for prodigies in areas like art and computer science. Life is understandably hard when you’re the fish out of water. and the series leans hard into those awkward. funny moments—while also finding surprisingly emotional beats.
A.N.T. Farm is the kind of show that held attention when it was airing, but faded over the years. Even now, it’s mostly known beyond its fans for a popular meme featuring Fletcher Quimby (Jake Short). Still, the three-season run keeps its premise front and center, turning it into a steady stream of fun and silliness.
Kickin’ It (2011–2015)
Kickin’ It follows a group of high school students training at a dojo that’s in danger of being shut down due to a lack of success. To change their fortunes, they bring in Jack (Leo Howard), a new student with natural talent but no training. That decision sets the pattern: Bobby Wasabi Martial Arts Academy students train and compete together. guided by their teacher. Rudy (Jason Earles).
The show’s strength sits in its dojo-centered world—where the characters practice, chat, and even eat falafel during downtime. It also carries a strong friend group packed with unique, funny characters, plus a central romantic storyline between Jack and Kim (Olivia Holt).
As the Bell Rings (2007–2009)
Disney Channel experimented with short-form storytelling in the late 2000s. During commercial breaks for its regularly scheduled programming, it aired short episodes—just several minutes long—for a show called As the Bell Rings.
The series takes place between classes as a group of friends regularly convenes in hallways to catch up on the day. Its structure is the real standout: it always ends with a ringing bell signaling class has started. and it never actually shows the characters in classes. Viewers only get glimpses of what their lives look like outside the hallway, told through what’s mentioned.
It also features a pre-Camp Rock Demi Lovato.
My Babysitter’s a Vampire (2011–2012)
My Babysitter’s a Vampire is one of Disney’s rarer fantasy series, starting with a movie of the same name and then continuing in the pilot directly after the film’s end.
The paranormal comedy centers on Ethan (Matthew Knight), a seer, and his best friend Benny (Atticus Mitchell), a spellcaster. Their third point of the triangle is Sarah (Vanessa Morgan). a classmate of Ethan and Benny whom Ethan’s parents hire to babysit his little sister—only for it to turn out she’s secretly a vampire.
The show may not have gotten big mainstream attention, but it has a devoted fanbase. Its humor lands through clever writing and well-built characters, with storylines driven by Benny and Ethan’s misuse of their powers and Sarah’s undercover identity.
The Lodge (2016–2017)
Skye (Sophie Simnett) is grieving after her mother’s death when her father moves her to the North Star Lodge. a hotel owned by her family and also the place where her mother grew up. Skye quickly befriends the other teens who work at the North Star. and together they try to keep the hotel from being sold.
Alongside the main storyline, the show also pushes Skye into her mother’s past, including a treasure hunt at one point. The Lodge brings an idyllic setting, musical numbers, and messy, entertaining drama. It also stars Thomas Doherty (pre-Gossip Girl) and Luke Newton (pre-Bridgerton).
K.C. Undercover (2015–2018)
K.C. Undercover is best known for starring and being produced by Zendaya, but it’s still an underrated series that hasn’t earned the audience it deserves.
The show follows K.C. Cooper (Zendaya), a teenage girl who is secretly an undercover spy like her entire family. It moves between typical high school life and the secret missions K.C. and her family regularly embark on. The action-heavy setup keeps it entertaining, with shocking plot twists and episodes that end on cliffhangers.
There’s also a standout romance between K.C. and her rival—Brett Willis (Ross Butler), a double agent. The series balances humor with a surprisingly fast pace and intensity for a Disney show.
Phil of the Future (2004–2006)
Phil of the Future follows Phil Diffy (Ricky Ullman), a teenage boy from the 2100s who gets stuck back in 2004 with his family after an elaborate vacation and a malfunctioning time machine.
The series centers on the Diffys adjusting to life in a different time period, while also hiding the truth of who they are. Phil tries to keep a normal high school experience as much as possible.
It aired while many more popular shows were also dominating the schedule, which helped it get overshadowed even now—but it remains one of Disney’s most original premises and creative blends of time travel and everyday life.
Diary of a Future President (2020–2021)
Diary of a Future President tells the story of Elena Cañero-Reed (Gina Rodriguez), the newly elected President of the United States. Just before her first address, Elena receives her old diary from middle school and starts reading it.
Back in the past, 13-year-old Elena (Tess Romero) records all the highs and lows of middle school in her diary. The show explores friendship breakups. joining school clubs. and adjusting to her mom’s (Selenis Leyva) first serious relationship since her dad passed away. It’s heartwarming and sharply funny, using its diary-based device in a creative, entertaining way.
The series is sadly no longer available on Disney+, but it remains underrated.
Andi Mack (2017–2019)
Andi Mack has a dedicated fanbase more than five years after it ended, yet it’s still described as one of Disney’s most underrated shows.
The series follows Andi Mack (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), an optimistic and artistic middle school student who receives shocking news on her thirteenth birthday. The twist hits fast: Andi’s sister, Bex (Lilan Bowden), is actually her mother, and her parents are her grandparents.
The pilot twist sets the entire series in motion. While Andi Mack includes its share of messy drama, it’s also sweet and touching. It tracks Andi trying to live a normal middle school life—joining clubs. dating for the first time. and getting to know Bex in a new way. Andi regularly goes to the local diner for baby taters with her best friends. Buffy (Sofia Wylie) and Cyrus (Joshua Rush).
Soy Luna (2016–2018)
Soy Luna belongs to Disney Channel Latin America, where telenovelas have their own huge audience. Even so, the show’s recognition doesn’t always match how much it pulls people in.
Soy Luna follows Luna Valente (Karol Sevilla). a teenage girl who moves from Cancún to Buenos Aires with her parents after they get a job working in the mansion of Sharon Benson (Lucila Gandolfo) and her goddaughter. Ámbar (Valentina Zenere). The twist is tied to the mansion’s history: Sharon’s sister and brother-in-law died in a fire in the mansion many years before. and their daughter. Sol. is actually Luna—adopted by Luna’s parents and named for her necklace.
The show’s messy energy comes through with storylines like Ámbar trying to sabotage Luna, while secrets from the past gradually resurface. Soy Luna primarily takes place at the Jam & Roller, a roller rink where Luna and her friends practice and compete.
Every one of these shows offered something different—whether it was A.N.T. Farm’s advanced-prodigy high school concept. Kickin’ It’s dojo life and romance. or Diary of a Future President’s diary-driven time split between Elena’s present and her middle school past. They may not all have earned their moment at the mainstream level. But for viewers who found them, they became the kind of shows you don’t forget.
Disney Channel underrated shows Disney rewatch A.N.T. Farm Kickin' It As the Bell Rings My Babysitter's a Vampire The Lodge K.C. Undercover Phil of the Future Diary of a Future President Andi Mack Soy Luna