Claim: Christopher Lloyd worked on a series that was from a different network than PBS Kids.

Road to Avonlea is a Canadian television series first broadcast in Canada between January 7 , 1990 , and March 31 , 1996 , and in the United States starting on March 5 , 1990 . It was created by Kevin Sullivan and produced by Sullivan Films -LRB- later Sullivan Entertainment -RRB- in association with CBC and the Disney Channel , with additional funding from Telefilm Canada . The Disney Channel began airing the series in the United States on March 5 , 1990 , and continued airing it into January 1997 .   The series was loosely adapted from a number of books by Lucy Maud Montgomery , primarily -LRB- at least initially -RRB- the books The Story Girl and The Golden Road , both of which feature the character of Sara Stanley , as well as the characters of Felicity , Felix , and Cecily . However , these books , while set in Prince Edward Island , were not set in the village of Avonlea , and a number of the series ' episodes and situations were adapted from stories recounted in Montgomery 's Chronicles of Avonlea and Further Chronicles of Avonlea .   Other characters are sourced from other Montgomery works . The frequently seen characters of Rachel Lynde and Marilla Cuthbert were only briefly mentioned in passing in Chronicles of Avonlea -- instead , they initially appeared as full-fledged characters in Montgomery 's debut novel Anne of Green Gables . -LRB- These characters had also previously been featured in Sullivan 's 1985 television adaptation of the novel . They were here played by the same actors , Patricia Hamilton and Colleen Dewhurst , who played the characters in the telefilm . -RRB- Finally , the characters of Davy and Dora were originally from Anne Of Avonlea , a sequel to Anne Of Green Gables .   Later episodes in particular included many leading characters that had no direct basis in Montgomery 's written work . As well , Montgomery 's most famous character , Anne Shirley -LRB- i.e. , Anne of Green Gables herself -RRB- never appeared on Road To Avonlea , although she was referred to on very few occasions .   Some episodes of the show were turned into the independent books by different authors . Around 30 titles have been released .   In the United States , its title was shortened to simply Avonlea , and a number of episodes were retitled and reordered . When the series was released on VHS and DVD in the United States , the title changed from Road to Avonlea to Tales from Avonlea .   The series is set in the fictional small town of Avonlea , Prince Edward Island , in the early 20th century -LRB- 1903 -- 1912 -RRB- . There , 10-year-old Montreal heiress Sara Stanley -LRB- Sarah Polley -RRB- is sent by her wealthy father to live with her two maiden aunts , Hetty and Olivia King , to be near her late mother 's side of the family after an embezzlement scandal results in him being placed under house arrest . The show 's focus shifted over the years from Sara 's interactions with locals to stories about the King family . Later seasons of the show focused more on residents of Avonlea who were connected to the King family . Sarah Polley left the show in 1994 , returning for one guest star appearance in the sixth season and another one in the seventh season .   Following the series proper , a reunion movie called Happy Christmas , Miss King -LRB- aka An Avonlea Christmas -RRB- was produced in 1998 .