Graduation season is here, and the stage is calling. It’s time for caps, gowns, and cheers.
Whether you’ve graduated from the land of higher education, high school, or even middle school or know someone in the class of 2025, graduation is both a closing and an opening to new opportunities.
Disney has featured many shows and movies, all which focus on school as the primary backdrop for the story in various series (with the exception of Phineas and Ferb because the series revolves around their 104 days of summer vacation).
With Disney's many diverse films and shows with different characters and plots that primarily revolve around a tween and teen audience, and people yearning onto nostalgia, there is no surprise that there are numerous graduation episodes from Disney Channel shows that are being rewatched.
Here is a ranking of the most over-the-top Disney graduation moments from its films and shows.
1. High School Musical 3: Senior Year
The final movie in the High School Musical series, this film follows the gang of East High in their last year of high school together. What college did Gabriella get into? Is Troy pursuing a career in basketball or singing?
Filled with spectacular musical numbers and choreography, this film takes the wildcats on a journey with its over-the-top musical, reminding the audinece that they are all in this together.
2. Hannah Montana: "Wherever I Go"
In the season finale, Hannah is offered the opportunity from Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg to star in a movie, her plans to go to college with her best friend Lilly are now hijacked. This episode explores the concept of friendship and how important it is as people face difficult decisions when graduating. It is entimental as Hannah’s song ‘I'll Always Remember You’ plays at the end in a montage.
3. The Suite Life on Deck: "Graduation on Deck"
When Mr. Tipton sells the S.S. Tipton forcing the students at Seven Seas High to have an earlier graduation than anticipated, it prompts the students to face the dilemmas of graduating. Zack, Cody, Bailey, Maya, London and Woody all have their own issues they need to overcome before they graduate. One sentimental moment is the phone call London has with Mr. Moseby.
4. Lizzie McGuire : "Bye, Bye Hillridge Junior High"
In this episode, Lizzie prepares to move on from junior high. Doubts begin to surface about her past and the future, until Gordo writes a sincere message in her yearbook. After reading it, Lizzie gives Gordo a kiss in their class photo ending the year on a high note. Lizzie even has her own song, 'What Dreams Are Made Of,' from The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which is often seen as a graduation anthem.
5. Suite Life of Zack & Cody: "Graduation"
When Zack finds out that he failed English and is not graduating with his 8th grade class and must attend summer school, he schemes up a plan to fake his graduation. How far will this lie he created go? Cody is also the valedictorian of his class and keeps rubbing it in Barbara, who also wanted to be the valedictorian.
6. College Road Trip
This 2008 Disney comedy stars Raven-Symoné as Melanie Porter and Martin Lawrence as her father, James Porter. After Melanie gets accepted into Georgetown University, her father tries to convince her to stay home and attend Northwestern University. To persuade Melanie, her father gets the idea to embark on a college road trip across America with Melanie who invites her friends to come along.
7. Wizards of Waverly Place: "Wizards vs Asteroids"
In this episode, Principal Hershel Laritate confronts Alex and tells her she will not be graduating since she does not have enough credits. In response to keeping her records safe, and since Alex is a wizard— Laritate creates a safe called the Alex-proof. This all happens while an asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and the wizards must battle this. This is a cause for mayhem. Will Alex graduate?
All in all, whether you plan on decorating your cap and gown, attending a graduation as a guest or know someone who is graduating, this moment marks a special moment. Education is a primary focus when it comes to Disney films and shows, making graduation episodes that are over-the-top a core part of Disney.
You can find all these Disney episodes and more on Disney+.