If you spent any time on the Disney Channel’s YouTube during the peak pandemic era, you probably remember seeing Ruth Righi and Ruby Rose Turner doing some absolutely unhinged stuff with toilet paper and smoothies. It was weird. It was messy. Honestly, it was exactly what everyone needed when the world felt like it was on pause.
But even now, the Ruth and Ruby virtual sleepover challenges remain this weirdly perfect blueprint for how to hang out with your friends when you can't actually be in the same room. It wasn’t just high-budget Disney polish; it felt like two real best friends trying to stay sane.
What Actually Were the Ruth and Ruby Virtual Sleepover Challenges?
Basically, Disney Channel took their two biggest stars at the time—Ruth Righi from Sydney to the Max and Ruby Rose Turner from Coop & Cami Ask the World—and let them loose on a series of "virtual" hangouts. Since they couldn't film together in a studio during the 2020 lockdowns, they filmed from their own homes.
The format was chaotic in the best way. They’d hop on a video call and compete in these DIY challenges using stuff you’d find in a typical kitchen or junk drawer. It wasn't just a one-off thing either. It grew into a whole saga of holiday specials, Halloween face-offs, and "ultimate" sleepover vibes that fans still binge-watch today.
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The Challenges That Defined the Series
Some of these were standard YouTuber fare, but others were just pure Disney Channel energy.
The Quarantine Games
This was the one that started the "virtual" shift. They did "toilet paper gymnastics," which is exactly what it sounds like. They also did the lemon wedge challenge—trying to keep a straight face while eating a lemon—which is a classic for a reason. Watching two professional actors try not to pucker their faces is genuinely funny.
The "Not My Arms" Cake Decorating
This one required a bit of camera trickery and some help from people off-screen. Ruby would try to direct Ruth’s hands (which were actually someone else's hands behind her) to decorate a cake. If you’ve ever tried to frost a cupcake while someone else is literally "driving" your arms, you know it ends in a sugary disaster.
Blindfolded Makeup
This is a sleepover staple. Usually, you do it in person, but they found ways to make it work over the screen by essentially "guiding" each other through the process. The results usually looked like a crime scene, or as Ruby once put it, "power eyes."
Holiday and Halloween Specials
Later on, they brought in guests like Kylie Cantrall and Issac Ryan Brown. They did things like:
- Jingle Wrap: Trying to wrap gifts while wearing oven mitts.
- Monster Candy: Building scary creatures out of gummy worms and chocolate.
- Gingerbread Triple Threat: A high-stakes gingerbread house build-off that usually ended in structural failure.
Why People Are Still Searching for This
You might think a series of videos from a few years ago would be dead by now. Not really. The Ruth and Ruby virtual sleepover challenges have staying power because they actually provide a decent "how-to" for long-distance friendships.
Let's be real: Zoom fatigue is a thing. But if you’re actually doing something—like competing to see who can make the ugliest gingerbread house or playing a "True Confessions" game—the awkwardness of the screen disappears. Ruth and Ruby had this natural chemistry where they weren't afraid to look "un-glam."
How to Do Your Own Virtual Sleepover Challenges
If you're looking to recreate this vibe with your own friends, you don't need a Disney production crew. You just need a stable Wi-Fi connection and a lack of shame.
1. Pick a Theme Don't just "hang out." Pick a theme like "Edible School Supplies" (which was one of their most popular episodes). Everyone buys the same supplies beforehand—like Starbursts to turn into "pencils"—and you build them together on camera.
2. The "Penalty Pop" Rule In their "How Well Do You Know Me" challenge, if you got a question wrong, you had to pop a balloon filled with shaving cream or confetti. It adds stakes. If you’re playing at home, maybe the loser has to post a cringey throwback photo on their story.
3. Use Guest Judges Part of the fun of the Ruth and Ruby virtual sleepover challenges was having a third person (like Christian J. Simon) jump on the call to act as the "official" judge. It keeps things from getting too competitive between the two main friends.
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The Impact of Ruth and Ruby’s Duo
There’s a reason Disney paired these two. Ruth Righi brings a sort of grounded, musical energy, while Ruby Rose Turner is high-energy and comedic. Together, they represented a specific era of Disney Channel where the stars felt more like "content creators" than just actors.
They weren't just reading scripts; they were reacting in real-time to things going wrong. Like when a DIY craft didn't stick or when a smoothie tasted like literal grass. That authenticity is what makes the "virtual sleepover" format work.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Digital Hangout
If you want to move past the "So... how was your day?" stage of video calls, try these specific setups inspired by the show:
- The "Truth or Lie" Game: Write down three facts about yourself that your friend might not know. They have to guess which ones are real.
- Mitten Gift Wrapping: Buy the cheapest, most annoying-to-wrap item you can find. Put on thick winter mittens or oven mitts. Set a timer for 60 seconds.
- The "No Hands" Snack Challenge: Try to eat a hanging donut or a piece of fruit without using your hands, while your friend cheers (or mocks) you from the screen.
The Ruth and Ruby virtual sleepover challenges proved that you don't need to be in the same room to create a mess—you just need a good friend and a decent camera angle.
Whether you’re a fan of the original Disney series or just someone looking for a way to liven up a long-distance friendship, these challenges are surprisingly effective at breaking the ice. Grab some snacks, fire up the laptop, and maybe keep some paper towels nearby. You're gonna need them.
To get started, pick one friend and one "messy" activity—like the cupcake decorating challenge—and set a date for this weekend. Don't overthink the setup; the best moments in the series were the ones where things went completely off the rails.