Saturday Disney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saturday Disney
Saturday Disney title card used from 31 March 2012 onward
Genre	Children's show
Presented by	List of Presenters
Country of origin	Australia
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	27
No. of episodes	1,366
Production
Production location(s)	Brisbane, Queensland (1990–1999) Sydney, New South Wales (1999–2016)
Running time	120 minutes (1990-2012) 180 minutes (2012–2016) (incl. commercials)
Production company(s)	Buena Vista Television (1990-2000s)
Release
Original network	Seven Network (1990–2016) 7TWO (2012–2016) 7flix (2016)
Picture format	576i (SDTV)
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	27 January 1990 (1990-01-27) – 24 September 2016 (2016-09-24)
Chronology
Preceded by	Seven's Super Saturday

Saturday Disney was a very popular Australian children's TV show. It aired on the Seven Network for over 26 years. The first episode was on January 27, 1990.

The show was a special block of programs on Saturday mornings. It mostly showed Disney TV series. These were mixed with fun segments hosted by presenters. The first hosts were Jeniene Mapp, James Sherry, and Sofie Formica. The last hosts were Nathan Morgan, Candice Dixon, and Teigan Nash. Many hosts later became successful in Australian television.

Saturday Disney was first filmed in Brisbane from 1990 to 1999. Then, it moved to Sydney until 2016. On September 5, 2009, the show celebrated its 1,000th episode. The final episode aired on September 24, 2016.

Meet the Hosts of Saturday Disney

 Original   Replacement   Final 

• Saturday Disney always had three hosts at a time. There were usually two females and one male.
• The hosts also helped produce the segments. They wrote and researched their own stories.
• Sometimes, more than three hosts were on air. This happened when a new host was introduced.
• Shae Brewster was the longest-serving host. She was on the show for almost eleven years!

Guest Appearances by Former Hosts

Many past hosts returned to the show as guests.

• Shelley Craft came back in October 2002. She talked about her new role on Perfect Match. She also appeared via satellite in 2005.
• Melanie Symons returned in August 2003. She discussed her new show, Australia's Best Backyards.
• Old footage of previous presenters was shown on the 999th episode. This looked back at the show's history.
• Sally Stanton was interviewed by Teigan Nash in 2015. This was at the Cinderella movie event.
• Several former hosts appeared in the final episode. These included Melanie Symons, Daniel Widdowson, Shae Brewster, Sally Stanton, and Jack Yabsley. James Sherry sent a video message.

How Saturday Disney Worked

Saturday Disney usually showed three Disney programs. These were spread out over a two-hour episode. From 2012 to 2016, it showed five programs over three hours. The programs changed regularly. They included both cartoons and live-action comedies. Comedies became more common after Hannah Montana started in 2007.

The three hosts lived in the 'Disney House' on set. They introduced the programs. They also did other fun things. These included cooking, craft, and science experiments. They interviewed guests, often celebrities, and sometimes even live animals! Sometimes, the show was filmed away from the studio. The hosts would explore places like Coffs Harbour or Disneyland.

Fun Segments and Stories

The hosts also created special stories. These were about places, activities, and events. They also included celebrity interviews or red carpet events. This style was like a magazine show that taught you things. Sometimes, the hosts played characters in these stories.

There were also mini-series with the hosts acting.

• Hazard Man (1990s)
• The Transfreezers (2000–2001)
• Tell Tale Trio (2002–2004)
• Secret Agents (2010–2011)
• A Page in Time (2006) was a drama where kids went back to the 1850s.
• Later series like Danger Island (2009) and Race Around the Island (2010) were like reality shows. They made fun of shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race.

Double Dog Dare

A "Double Dog Dare" was a popular part of every episode. Each host took turns doing silly or challenging tasks. If they failed, they might have to eat weird food mixes! Viewers often sent in ideas for dares and punishments. This segment was a big hit for many years.

Letter of the Week

Each week, there was a "Letter of the Week." Viewers sent in letters, drawings, or art. Winners often got prizes. Their artwork was shown on the set. Emails from viewers were also read out during the show.

Saturday Disney's Schedule Changes

When it started in 1990, Saturday Disney was on from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. It aired on the Seven Network every Saturday. This time slot sometimes changed due to sports or news. Other Disney shows would air after Saturday Disney.

From the mid-1990s to 2001, the show was sometimes longer. It aired until 9:30 am. This extra time included cartoons like The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or other children's programs.

On July 4, 2009, the show moved to 6:30 am to 8:30 am. However, it returned to 7:00 am to 9:00 am on October 31, 2009. On February 13, 2010, the show moved to 9:00 am to 11:00 am. This change was to make room for Weekend Sunrise.

A big change happened on March 31, 2012. The show moved to 7TWO and went back to its original 7:00 am to 9:00 am time. It also got a new look. On May 12, 2012, Saturday Disney became three hours long. It aired from 7:00 am to 10:00 am.

On September 1, 2012, the show split across two channels. It aired from 6:00 am to 7:00 am on Seven. Then, it continued from 7:00 am to 9:00 am on 7TWO.

On March 19, 2016, the second channel changed again. It aired from 6:00 am to 7:00 am on Seven. Then, it was on 7flix from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. It stayed in this slot until its final episode.

Popular Shows on Saturday Disney

1990s Cartoons and Comedies

2000s Animated and Live-Action Hits

2010s Disney Channel Favorites