Do you remember the years of Monstober? Disney Channel would change its logo to greens and purples. All the best movies would air every week. Every TV show had its Halloween episode playing on repeat. It was a better time, a time when network television embraced the spirit of Halloween.
While we can’t recreate those days exactly, through the wonders of streaming platforms, we can watch our favorite Monstober shows whenever and wherever we want! While we might not have the fun monster-themed TV bumpers or the commercial breaks to refill our popcorn, we can keep Halloween going year-round. If you’re having trouble summoning the spooky spirit this season, never fear! Start by enjoying the Bookstr team’s favorite Monstober picks.
Twitches
The Halloween DCOM I remember tuning into the most was Tia and Tamera’s Twitches. The long-lost twins trope never gets old; add some magic into the mix and it’s even better. As a Sister, Sister fan, this was a must-watch for me. I still remember deciding which necklace I’d rather have, the sun or the moon; I remember their outfits, and of course, their little chant, “Go twitches! Go twitches!” Also, can we talk about the movie’s iconic anthem, “Rush” by Aly & AJ? Never forget. That music video played on the network incessantly, and I sang along to it. Every. Single. Time.
Gabriela Collazo, Editorial
That’s So Raven – “Don’t Have a Cow”
In the early 2000s, Disney Channel was the best. Nothing beats a good Halloween episode, either! I absolutely adored That’s So Raven because Raven was so funny and straightforward. I am a huge Halloween fanatic, and when I first watched the Halloween episode of the series, I was so intrigued. The idea that Raven and her best friend Chelsea turned into their costumes was so clever! Watching Raven deal with this problem was definitely entertaining, but nothing I would never want to experience, especially since she turned into a cow!
Lexi Dos Santos, Social
Halloweentown
My absolute favorite Disney Channel Halloween movie has to be Halloweentown! 🎃✨ This film is my ultimate vibe because it’s bursting with magic, family, and a sprinkle of spooky fun! Growing up, I was totally convinced that any day I’d get the big news: “Surprise! You’re a witch!” In first grade, I even told my teacher with a straight face that I wanted to be a vampire when I grew up—because why not? 😂🧛♀️From Grandma Aggie’s quirky spells to the adorable magical creatures like Bennie, it’s a total blast! And who wouldn’t want to live in a place where Halloween vibes are year-round?
Freya, Social Media Intern
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody – “The Ghost of Suite 613”
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Despite having nightmares about this episode when I was younger, this haunting episode grew to become one of my favorite Halloween episodes. The way each character dived into their own scary experience in the paranormal hotel suite and used that to prank the rebel-twin Zack keeps me entertained every time. It’s a go-to episode every Halloween season when I’m in my DCOM Halloween binge and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it.
Aliyah Rios, Editorial Intern
Phineas and Ferb – “The Monster of Phineas-n-Ferbenstein”
My favorite Halloween Disney Channel episode is this episode from Phineas and Ferb. I like it when my favorite shows have special edition episodes for holidays such as Halloween. In this episode, they told a story about Phineas and Ferb’s ancestor: Ferbenstein. This was a twist of the famous story of Frankenstein and in this version, it was their pet Perry the Platypus as Ferbenstein’s monster. This episode was fun to watch and I enjoyed how they changed this well-known story and made it their own.
Louis, Graphics Intern
Halloweentown
I didn’t grow up with Halloweentown, with it releasing before I was born, but I found it and fell in love five years ago. I was at college in California and craving a piece of comfort and nostalgia. Since then, it has become an annual Autumn rewatch in my household. This 90s Disney Channel movie has all the markers of a perfect Disney Halloween feature: evil magicians, witches, bad CGI, and a cozy soundtrack. I love all of the movies (even the one with a random recast), and I can’t wait to binge the series again this year!
Fiona, Editorial & Outreach
Wizards of Waverly Place – “Halloween”
Wizards of Waverly Place was already a beloved show for me as a kid because of the set design and costumes alone (what does it say about me that Harper was my favorite character?). Plot-wise, I’m sure there are a lot of other Halloween episodes and movies that would rank higher on my list, but if you’re like me and tend to favor media with a fun wardrobe and crazy ambiance (Gravity Falls, Shake It Up, That’s So Raven, Austin & Ally) this Halloween episode might be a perfect rewatch for you this season!
Emma Mercer, Graphics Intern
Phineas and Ferb – “The Curse of Candace”
I like the Halloween episodes Phineas and Ferb did, and this episode was the first I thought of. Besides the fact that the episode makes fun of the Twilight series with the in-universe movie “Early Evening,” poor Candance believes she’s turned into a vampire, and it’s funny. After being attacked by a bat and unknowingly testing Phineas and Ferb’s inventions, Candance confirms she’s a vampire. Super strength, danger to sunlight, flying, and unable to see herself in the mirror, Candace goes goth with a cloak to protect herself from the sun. It’s also hilarious that Ferb wanted nothing to do with the situation, stepping back to run into the house with his one-liner of the day, “It sounds like a vampire to me.” I guess Candace was a vampire, turning to dust when her cloak gets taken off, ending the episode.
Claudia Maldonado, Editorial
Gravity Falls – “Summerween”
I used to put the start of Monstober on my calendar because I love Halloween so much and always knew there would be some cute Halloween content. But this episode of Gravity Falls terrified me as a child, and it still does to this day. Basically, Dipper insults a candy monster who threatens to eat him if he doesn’t meet his candy quota by the end of the day. And this candy monster is horrifying: he does a lot of crawling around on his long skinny limbs and peaking out of shadows. This episode has to be the scariest Disney Channel episode to date, which is why it is absolutely one of my favorites.
Brea Lawton, Editorial Intern
Twitches
While I know it’s mentioned above, it bears repeating! I used to watch this wonderfully magical movie almost every year since it came out—and even during the times in between whenever Disney played it. The whimsy of this movie, the twins’ story, and the overall amazing experience I’ve had watching this movie will always stay with me. I love the idea of these two sisters being brought together to learn about their magic and the love of their mother that helped them overcome a sinister evil wanting to take over the world. It’s such a campy movie that gives me all the feels every time I watch it. We get long-lost siblings, magical worlds, a fun saying (“Go Twitches!”), and a feel-good ending to boot! This movie will forever be one of my favorite Halloween go-tos!
Quiarah B/ Vphan, Editorial
Don’t Look Under The Bed
Years ago for Halloween, I went down a Disney Channel rabbit hole and started looking up and watching some of the older Halloween/spooky content that didn’t play during Monstober. One of them I found was a DCOM from 1999 called Don’t Look Under The Bed. I’d never heard of it before and for good reason: Disney Channel stopped reruns of the movie in 2006 because parents complained the movie was too scary! Having watched it, I can definitely say it’s one of the darker movies ever made for Disney Channel, but it is a fun watch. In it, a teenage girl tries to figure out who is framing her for a series of Bogeyman pranks with the help of an older boy who claims he’s an imaginary friend. It’s classic 90s with bad CGI, cheesy dialogue, and wishy-washy movie logic, but still a great movie.
Abby Caswell, Editorial
What about you? Do you remember the days of Monstober? Be sure to let us know on our socials! Facebook, Instagram, and X!
Looking for more spooky recommendations? Try here!
Get into the spirit of Halloween with Bookstr’s Horror recs on Bookshop!
