Daylight Savings has passed, and the days have inevitably gotten darker. Some might say that their moods have suddenly shifted to gloomy and sad, which might be the cause of the all-too-familiar phenomenon of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). When it’s dark and cold, it can be so easy to see the negative side of life, especially when final exams are looming. While the cheer of the holidays and family time draw near, that excitement somehow cannot fill the void in the time leading up to it. However, in my experience, it seems that surrounding yourself with the most positive things can really take you away from the negativity of the sad and gloomy sky — I recommend curling up to one of those feel good Disney Channel Original Movies we watched as kids that really brought on all the feels. Here’s a quick list of some banger movies that will get you out of that cold and sad winter funk!
- Lizzie McGuire
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Not only does this classic DCOM bring cheer on the coldest of days, it’s an excuse to dance in your living room by yourself without looking. The movie’s classic quotes are sure to bring you out of the feeling of a sad winter.
- High School Musical(s)
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Some of my personal favorite movies as a child; a High School Musical marathon just puts you into the sing-song mood that really speaks to your youthful side. Not sure if this is just a me thing, but High School Musical set up this glorifying expectation that high school was awesome, and even if that wasn’t true, I still really appreciate the happiness high school brought everyone at East High. Specifically, High School Musical 2 brings on the sunshine vibe and fills the sad void before the holidays arrive.
- Camp Rock
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Much like HSM, Camp Rock channels this little rocker elementary schooler energy that was contagious on the playground. Pretending you were one of the guys from Connect 3 or Mitchie Torres in the kitchen with her mom was my favorite pastime as a kid, and it can still be at 20.
- The Princess Diaries
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The Princess Diaries is just one of those movies that brings you back to the root of all your daydreams that one day your long lost grandma would tell you you’re a princess, and life would fall into place — even if you were awkward like Mia Thermopolis! I think this movie really gets me because it’s the most relatable — and not at the same time. While I just admitted that I embarrassingly dreamt that my Grandma would tell me I’m a princess, it was nice to feel like one alongside Mia. Now, The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement may be even more of a must watch in these gloomy dark days, so go ahead and make it a marathon.
- The Cheetah Girls
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So, it seems that Disney really emphasized musical culture on our generation — and honestly, I’m really not mad about it. The Cheetah Girls was a classic show that brought together true friends and a great bond of singing and music. Piling in with some blankets with this movie on a gloomy day will truly lift your spirits this winter.
- Zenon: Girl from the 21st Century
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Starting all the way back in the early DCOM stages, we get Zenon: Girl from the 21st Century. Venture on a trip to space with Zenon, and then we can all be Zenons: Girls from the 21st century.
- Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
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This movie just reminds us of the kick-ass girls we grew up watching and was only a sliver of the potential for female empowerment! Sit in on this movie on a cold day and cheer the heck out of Wendy Wu.
- Twitches
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Although Halloween just passed, it’s never too late to enjoy a Twitches marathon. These two long lost twins realizing their power potential and their mystic powers is an incredible thing to curl up with on your couch.
- Starstruck
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This might be an obscure DCOM, but this one truly slapped the heck out of a lot of the movies Disney Channel releases today. With pop-infused songs and a cute love story, this one really brought out all my happy feels.
- Jump In
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Last — but most definitely not least — Jump In was maybe one of the best hyped movies I had ever seen as a kid growing up. Jumping rope never seemed as appealing to me until I saw this movie. I hope you feel the Double Dutch passion this winter as you watch Keke Palmer and Corbin Bleu kill it with their rope skills.
Well, that’s it. There’s my list for the movies that can flip your sad winter mood into a cheery and pumped one. These movies really brighten up my mood when I need it the most and I hope it does for you too!