Disney High

The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire

De: Ashley Spencer

Narrado por: Lalaine

Long-listed, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2024

This program is read by actor Lalaine, known for her roles in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire, The Disney Channel original movie You Wish, and her role as Kate in the 1999 remake of Annie. It features a foreword and an epilogue read by the author.

The first unauthorized look at the inner workings—and ultimate breakdown—of the Disney Channel machine

For many kids growing up in the 2000s, there was no cultural touchstone more powerful than Disney Channel, the most-watched cable channel in primetime at its peak. Today, it might best be known for introducing the world to talents like Hilary Duff, Raven-Symoné, Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Zendaya.

It wasn't always destined for greatness: when The Disney Channel launched in 1983, it was a forgotten stepchild within the Walt Disney Company, forever in the shadow of Disney’s more profitable movies and theme parks. But after letting the stars of their Mickey Mouse Club revival—among them Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling—slip through their fingers, Disney Channel reinvented itself as a powerhouse tween network. In the new millennium, it churned out billions of dollars in original content and triple-threat stars whose careers were almost entirely controlled by the corporation. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the pie—and there were constant clashes between the studio, network, labels, and creatives as Disney Channel became a pressure cooker of perfection for its stars.

From private feuds and on-set disasters, to fanfare that swept the nation and the realities of child stardom, culture journalist Ashley Spencer offers the inside story of the heyday of TV’s House of Mouse, featuring hundreds of exclusive new interviews with former Disney executives, creatives, and celebrities to explore the highs, lows, and everything in between.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Ashley Spencer (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“If you can scrupulously recite the lyrics to ‘Best of Both Worlds’, then this book is for you. Equal parts sentiment and scoop, Disney High is chock full of details about the child stars of Disney's once-prized asset, and the journey to questioning whether wearing those mouse ears was ever really worth it.”–Lynette Rice, bestselling author of How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy

“An unprecedented level of dish and detail! Spencer pulls back the curtain on one of modern pop culture’s most important (and drama-filled) eras.”—Omid Scobie, bestselling author of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family

"An obsessive, loving deep dive into the 2000s-era Disney Channel that launched Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Hilary Duff, the Jonas Brothers, and many other icons. This is the book millennials have been waiting to read since childhood." —Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s

Interesting but not as juicy as I’d hoped

This was a good overview of the rise of the Disney channel. It doesn’t provide juicy stories or new information but rather a summary using quotes from other news sources. I don’t think it ended abruptly like other reviewers noted.

In-Depth and Educational, Yet Abrupt

I love books like this - retrospectives on cultural moments and biographies - and this one was no exception. It’s immensely nostalgic for me, as I grew up alongside the shows and stars mentioned, being around 11 years old by the book’s end. The book gripped me the whole way through and led me to a lot of independent googling throughout.

However, I found that it ended abruptly and each section, or star, also ended abruptly. I wish there had been smoother transitions between the sections and especially at the end. Going straight from the cancellation of Sonny With a Chance to an epilogue was jarring and I felt that there was a missed opportunity to properly conclude that section before the epilogue.

For all who wished for a Wand ID

The perfect listen for the fans that grew up during the golden age of Disney Channel. I can’t imagine who I would be, or what my interests would be, if it wasn’t for the massive amount of time I spent watching disney channel shows and DCOM’s, reading tiger beat and j14, coating my walls in posters. This book is both heart warming and heart breaking. A great read/listen.

Sold by Lalaine's narration, stayed for the tons of uncovered production info

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I found out about this book through Lalaine's Instagram. While some of this book is already public Information, I was so intrigued by all the production/branding info that this book contained.

Interview excerpts from producers, directors, costume designers, Radio Disney Djs!

I also enjoyed Lalaine's narration for the most part. You could tell she wasn't the most experienced, but her voice had that optimistic but cool, perhaps world-weary quality that only a former Disney Channel actor would possess.

The equivalent of meeting an old friend and coming away with a deeper understanding of who they are as a person.

I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this book at first, as I was much more interested in Disney Channel’s animated fare, and there are some brief mentions of certain shows as they pertain to the topics at hand, but this book focuses on the live action series and movies that would come to define multiple eras and childhoods for many. In this age of streaming and Disney’s various faults in their shows and movies, perhaps looking back as to where something of this magnitude for them began, can help us begin to understand their position and understand where they might be heading.

Missing a conclusion

The focus of the book is more on the business side, which I enjoyed. I was afraid it was going to be heavy on teen gossip. It feels like the book just abruptly ends. I wish them was a better conclusion and summary before the epilogue.

Good listen.

I enjoyed this one. Most of the stuff I had heard but it was a good listen all together and placed in each chapter.

Educational Nostalgia

Absolutely loved this book! So nostalgic to revisit so many of the series and DCOMs I loved as a kid and hear the business side as an adult who can now appreciate that angle.

A delight for this elder millennial

This was such a fun read especially for those of us who followed some of this drama in real time. The subjects are treated with care and respect and the glimpses into the behind-the-scenes happenings were titillating. Having Lalaine read the audiobook was the cherry on top. Highly recommend!

Captivating and fun

Wow, I loved this book! I enjoyed learning about how the Disney channel came to be and the experiences and stories of some of our favorite stars, producers, writers, and teams that made it happen. The look behind the scenes was both captivating and fun. Ashley Spencer is a phenomenal writer and Lalaine is a fabulous narrator as well. I highly recommend!