Zack and Cody Martin are twin brothers who move into the Tipton Hotel in Boston with their mother, Carey, where she sings and performs in the lounge.
[1] The returning recurring characters who were introduced in previous seasons, include: Adrian R'Mante as Esteban, Brian Stepanek as Arwin, Sophie Oda as Barbara, Aaron Musicant as Lance, Sammi Hanratty as Holly, Bo Crutcher as Skippy, Tyler Steelman as Mark, Charlie Stewart as Bob, Robert Torti as Kurt, Brittany Curran as Chelsea, Patrick Bristow as Patrick, Camilla & Rebecca Rosso as Jessica and Janice, Anthony Acker as Norman, Sharon Jordan as Irene, Marianne Muellerleile as Sister Dominick, Jerry Kernion as Chef Paolo, Ernie Grunwald as Mr. Forgess, Kaycee Stroh as Leslie and Alexa Nikolas as Tiffany.
Alongside the old recurring cast there are also new characters introduced: Giovonnie Samuels as Nia Moseby, Kara Taitz as Millicent, Cierra Ramirez as Jasmine, Hannah Leigh Dworkin as Amy, Jaelin Palmer as Leah, Jareb Dauplaise as Wayne and Tara Lynne Barr as Haley.
Not returning for this season are the following cast members: Monique Coleman as Mary Margaret, Alyson Stoner as Max, Allie Grant as Agnes, Vanessa Hudgens as Corrie, Gus Hoffman as Warren and Caroline Rhea as Ilsa.
Special guest stars and notable appearances in this season include: Michael Clarke Duncan as Coach Little, Meaghan Jette Martin as Stacey, Mark Indelicato as Antonio, Kathy Najimy as Principal Milletidge, Kay Panabaker as Amber, Tony Hawk as himself, Jaden Smith as Travis, Drew Seeley as Geoffrey, Kelsey Chow as Dakota, Daniella Monet as Dana, Chris Brown as himself, The Cheetah Girls as themselves and Nicole Sullivan as Miss Klotz.
Cody searches for a summer job and ends up working at Paul Revere Mini Mart, which is managed by Wayne Wormser.
Maddie becomes a camp counselor and finds that she needs to spend the summer with a group of juvenile girls including Holly, the little con-artist and hustler from the season two episode "Have a Nice Trip".
In the episode "Let Us Entertain You" the SS Tipton is first introduced when Zack and Cody get an offer to stay at the King Neptune suite if Carey accepts to sing at the cruise.
Meanwhile, Maddie becomes a camp counselor and finds that she needs to spend the summer with a group of juvenile girls including Holly, the little con-artist and hustler from "Have a Nice Trip".
Title reference: The phrase "Now is the winter of our discontent," from Shakespeare's Richard III Guest stars: Tara Lynne Barr as Haley, Adam Cagley as Brick, Jareb Dauplaise as Wayne Wormser, Mary Scheer as Mrs. Laura Bird, Tyler Steelman as Mark, Kara Taitz as Millicent Since Zack is done with summer school now that he has finally passed English, Carey asks him if he wants to find a summer job.
However, Mr. Moseby has become a super villain called the Mean-ager, whose evil plot is to turn all kids into adults with the help of his minions, Bellboy (Esteban) and the Engineer (Arwin).
Guest stars: Charles G. Davis as Ed, Elise Howard as Jeanie, Meaghan Jette Martin as Stacey, John Lathan as Mel, Raini Rodriguez as Betsy, Jon Rubin as Mitch, Giovonnie Samuels as Nia, Harvey Shield as Murray Arwin couldn't fix things right because his mother remarried and moved out.
Guest stars: Antony Acker as Norman the Doorman, Samantha Droke as Wanda, Megan Hilty as Enid, Aaron Musicant as Lance, Giovonnie Samuels as Nia, Brian Stepanek as Arwin Hawkhauser London (even though she can't sing or dance) gets the role of Sharpay in their school production of High School Musical instead of Maddie because Mr. Tipton is financing the director's play ("Floss") on Broadway.
London attends public school for the first time (after being expelled again from Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow for not showing up regularly), in which she is out to tear down lockers for her own personal lounge.
Guest stars: Matt Angel as Vance, Blythe Auffarth as Ellen, Kathy Najimy as Ms. Millitich, Kay Panabaker as Amber, Giovonnie Samuels as Nia, Andrew Slamet as Lenny Woo, Tyler Steelman as Mark, Charlie Stewart as Bob Zack tries to negotiate a better contract for Carey as the Tipton's nightly singer to Mr. Moseby so they could stay at the Tipton.
Mr. Moseby makes arrangements for a seminar to be held at the Tipton for himself, Arwin, Esteban, Patrick, Carey, Millicent, Maddie, London, and Nia to help them to learn to respect their co-workers.
When Sergay starts to flirt with Barbara, Cody's girlfriend, he becomes jealous and determined to win her back at the orchestra's performance at the Tipton.
Guest star: Antony Acker as Norman the Doorman, Susan Blakely as Mrs. Madigan, Max Bugrov as Sergei, Naomi Chan as Grace, Sharon Jordan as Irene the Concierge, Sophie Oda as Barbara, Adrian R'Mante as Esteban, Kyle Sanders as Billy Zack and Cody each invite a girl over at their father's empty apartment at the same time without the other knowing it.
Esteban's friend, a hot dog vendor named Hector, takes the place as a rich person and goes Island Shopping with London.
Guest stars: Amanda Gallo as Abby, Rolando Molina as Hector, Sophie Oda as Barbara, Adrian R'Mante as Esteban, Tyler Steelman as Mark, Rachel Thorp as Cassandra, Robert Torti as Kurt Martin Cody helps London with her website Yay Me!
Guest star: Brittany Curran as Chelsea Tony Hawk checks into the Tipton; Maddie and London each have a crush on their fencing instructor.
Zack and Cody befriend Travis, a kid whom they rope into helping them impress their dates because his father works on a cruise ship.
Meanwhile, when they're rejected as cheerleaders, Cody and London form their own cheer-leading squad with the help of Mr. Moseby, who ends up doing a jumping cheer and landing right into the arms of a gruff Coach Little.
Note: This is the last appearance of Giovonnie Samuels with her role of Nia Moseby only in Season 3 Special guest star: Michael Clarke Duncan as Coach Little Guest stars: Tara Lynne Barr as Haley, Hunter Gomez as Rick, Daniella Monet as Dana, Sophie Oda as Barbara, Camilla and Rebecca Rosso as Janice and Jessica Ellis, Giovonnie Samuels as Nia, Kaycee Stroh as Leslie When Zack and Cody crash an offscreen wedding and have Mr. Moseby injured by angry people, they get grounded and are forbidden to leave their suite for the rest of the week; Maddie steps in for Cody as the producer of London's Internet show.
Guest stars: Nicole Sullivan as Miss Klotz The news of a visit from Mr. Tipton gets the employees excited and they start reminiscing about their good deeds, while thinking about who deserves a possible $50,000 bonus.