Ah, Disney Channel. Whether giving us teen idols to ire, stellar cartoons that rival the likes of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, or quality films that can't be found in theaters, the network has been a hit for decades and doesn't seem to be slowing down today. So, being one of the main forces behind our childhoods, surely Disney Channel has been a great place to work for all of its up-and-coming actors, right? Well,...that depends on who you ask.

Disney Channel is no doubt one of the most influential platforms for younger audiences. If a person didn't grow up watching Kim Possible, Lizzie McGuire, or The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, they've no doubt heard of them before. Plus, audiences today are frequently exposed to many actors and singers who gained worldwide fame thanks to the network, including Zac Efron (High School Musical), the Jonas Brothers (Jonas), and Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana).

Unfortunately, like several Hollywood actors, Disney Channel celebs haven't always kept up the wholesome image they were known for on the network. Because of this, following Disney Channel stars' "graduation," audiences are waiting to see what they will do once they're outside of Disney's radar. Today we look at the simple reasons why ex-Disney Channel stars loved or disliked their time with Disney.

So, get ready to see which of these shows and stars helped make up your childhood (or that of someone you know) as we look at 5 Actors Who Regretted Being Disney Channel Stars (And 15 Who Adored It).

Regretted: Cole Sprouse

For six years, we watched real-life twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse portray the troublesome-but-well-meaning brothers Zack and Cody Martin across two different shows before the twin actors headed off to college. However, while we weren't prepared to see them go, it seems like Cole was all-too-ready for a break.

While attending an EW and People Upfronts Party in 2016, Sprouse discussed his time with the Disney shows as "a feeling of machination," going as far as to say that he could "enjoy" acting from then on out.

"I needed a dose of reality and I needed to see myself in a more objective point of view," he said.

Let's hope Sprouse has finally found said "dose of reality" with Jughead Jones in Riverdale.

Adored: Zendaya

One of the finest examples of a Disney-Channel-star-turned-super-celebrity, Zendaya Coleman is making a big name for herself in Hollywood. However, from 2010 to 2018, she was already making waves in two Disney Channel shows.

Whether dancing alongside Bella Thorne (more on her later) in Shake It Up or utilizing spy skills in K.C. Undercover, Zendaya will never forget her original fame with younger audiences, as evidenced by her tweets following K.C.'s end. One read, "The end of an era. On to the next. Thank you for continuing to grow with me," while the other read, "Relax...there's still re-runs."

While her career is only just beginning, Zendaya has already accomplished so much, including a Billboard-charting album, a published book, and a steady movie career in films such as The Greatest Showman and the Spider-Man series.

Adored: Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff has stayed busier than most people are aware following her departure from Disney Channel, with several albums, a book series, and two People's Choice Award nominations for Favorite Cable TV Actress on TV Land's Younger. But to us, she will always be teen idol Lizzie McGuire, a klutzy-but-caring girl with an animated alter-ego.

Holding a special place in many teenage girls' (and guys') hearts, it's no wonder Lizzie McGuire (which ran for two seasons and spawned a theatrical movie) ranks in we're unsure if Duff will get to revisit the character, she certainly feels the same way as fans do about her.

"I'm really appreciative for that role, and I loved her, too," Duff told PopSugar. "She was me."

Adored: Aly Michalka

While known by modern audiences as Peyton Charles on iZombie, we the days when Aly Michalka was a Disney Channel star. And while her roles in Disney Channel Original Movies Cow Belles and Now You See It… are memorable, we'd rather take a time machine to her days on Phil of the Future any day.

Michalka shared the spotlight with futuristic teen Phil Diffy as Keely Teslow, Phil's energetic best friend from this era, a role she seems to like enough to consider revisiting in the future.

"There's this newfound love and appreciation for old things of the past – kind of now more than ever, and I think that's great," Michalka told myNewOrleans.com. "I think that embracing that is actually really cool, especially when it was a place that kind of brought you to where you are now."

Regretted: Shia LaBeouf

It's not very often that an actor wins an Emmy Award for a Disney Channel show, but Shia LaBeouf did just that with Even Stevens. Honestly, it isn't hard to see why, with LaBeouf being the perfect choice to play the youngest and most mischievous sibling of the Stevens family.

However, LaBeouf wanted to set himself free from his Disney persona and try darker things, according to his interview with MTV.

"I never really felt like I fit in there," he said. "From the moment I got there, all my friends were [making fun of me], like, 'Dude, you're at the Disney Channel!' It was kind of embarrassing."

Looks like LaBeouf got his wish, as he has since headlined several blockbusters and showed the world new forms of mischief with his unpredictable personality.

 Adored: Alyson Stoner

It's hard to deny that Alyson Stoner was one of the most involved actors on Disney Channel. Whether co-hosting Mike's Super Short Show, competing on The Disney Channel Games, or acting on Phineas and Ferb and in the Camp Rock films, Stoner established herself as a Disney Channel icon (yes, we are aware she retains her Disney voice work in Milo Murphy's Law, but that's on Disney XD).

While Stoner continues voice acting, she has also become a strong advocate, expressing her wishes to Seventeen.com that Disney Channel further progresses in its representation. However, she made it clear that she has no ill will toward the channel.

"I doing the Disney promos where everyone was invited, and that felt like I got to be at the Oscars," Stoner said. "I think those were some of my favorite times..."

Adored: Maria Canals-Barrera

Another Camp Rock alumnae, Maria Canals-Barrera played Connie Torres, the mother of Demi Lovato's character, Mitchie. However, she was more widely known for playing another famous Disney Channel mother: Theresa Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place. This Emmy-winning show (which spawned an Emmy-winning movie) also starred Selena Gomez and David Henrie. However, since Canals-Barrera portrayed the only non-magical person in a family of wizards, she was bound to be a scene-stealer (and she was).

When it came time for the series' finale (which still ranks among the highest-watched Disney Channel finales of all time), Canals-Barrera was quick to discuss her time on the show, and she had nothing but good things to say about it.

"It was a tremendous blessing," she told HuffPost. "I just can’t believe that it happened."

Adored: Will Friedle

When we saw our first episode of Kim Possible and realized the sheer genius of having Kim's sidekick named "Ron Stoppable," we knew we had something special. Casting the actor behind Boy Meets World's Eric Matthews and Batman Beyond's Terry McGinnis only sweetened the deal.

Through four seasons and two TV movies, we watched Ron evolve from Kim's awkward childhood friend to Kim's awkward boyfriend, all while dealing with the dangers of worldwide missions and high school. While Will Friedle didn't appear in this year's live-action reboot film, he revealed to Page Six that he was offered a cameo but turned it down.

"...It’s one of those things where Kim Possible was very important to me," he said. "It really is a very important show in my past, and I hope they do it justice."

Booyah, Ron!

Regretted: Bella Thorne

Zendaya may be grateful for her time on Disney Channel, but Bella Thorne (her co-star in Shake It Up and the Disney Channel Original Movie Frenemies) seems to have happily moved on.

In an interview with Nylon (via Seventeen.com), the actress and singer said that after finishing her time with Disney Channel, she "stopped listening to people telling me that I needed to be this and that."

"I literally would talk with a higher voice in interviews because that was the whole innocent Disney appeal," she added.

Currently working on her debut rap album and starring in theatrical films, Thorne definitely looks like she's making more of her own decisions and enjoying it, too.

Adored: David Henrie

Disney has a long line of goody-two-shoes characters, and Justin Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place certainly ranks among the top. However, while he may get into his fair share of siblings quarrels with his sister Alex, he deeply cares for her and is driven to do better with his wizarding abilities. This makes Justin one of the show's prime reasons for success, which actor David Henrie is no doubt aware of.

"...Our chemistry was good together, and the creators were very enabling in allowing us to find freedom within the characters and to identify with them," he told Smashing Interviews Magazine. "It was just a great environment."

Thankfully, Henrie hasn't left Disney completely, as he portrayed Warner Bros. and MGM animation studios co-founder Rudy Ising in the 2015 Walt Disney biographical drama Walt Before Mickey.