Hey friends! If you love Disney history as much as I do, you are going to be so excited about the new documentary-style film Disneyland Handcrafted, coming to Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22nd. This beautifully made film takes us behind the scenes of Disneyland during the year leading up to its opening in July 1955, offering an intimate look at the creativity, craftsmanship, and determination that shaped the very first Disney park. It feels like such a special opportunity to step back in time and witness the dream taking shape from the ground up.
The documentary is directed by Leslie Iwerks, an Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose connection to Disney history runs deep. As the granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney’s longtime collaborator and the co-creator of Mickey Mouse, Leslie brings a deeply personal perspective to the storytelling. Her passion for preserving and sharing Disney’s legacy shines through as she guides viewers through rare archival footage and original sound recordings pulled from the Walt Disney Film Archives.
What will make Disneyland Handcrafted especially moving is how it highlights Walt Disney’s journey during a time of uncertainty and challenge. Building Disneyland was not an easy road, and this film looks as though it will do a wonderful job of showing the obstacles Walt and his team faced along the way. That perseverance is one of the things I admire most about Walt Disney, and it is something I carry with me as I navigate my own life’s challenges. Seeing his vision continue to push forward, even when the odds were stacked against him, is both inspiring and grounding. That mentality has obviously spilled over since the beginning, clearly shared within Walt’s team and captured beautifully in this quote from Leslie Iwerks, shared with Scott Gustin:
“My favorite scene is the guys pulling the Mark Twain. Who knows exactly what the issue was, but they were all trying to pull it, and it’s a little symbolic scene of just how hard it was and how hard they worked and their teamwork. Also the fact that they were up against all odds. Everyone doubted this could happen, but they were all saying it was an exciting time because Walt willed it to happen. He told everybody it could happen and that they had never done this before, but they could do it. And so it all gave them confidence that they could pull it off, and they all mobilized under Walt’s singular vision to get it done. And I think that scene to me is emotional to me because I just feel like it symbolizes the teamwork.”
Disneyland Handcrafted chronicles the exhilarating year that gave rise to The Happiest Place on Earth. Built entirely from rare archival footage and original audio recordings, the film reveals the extraordinary artistry, grit, and pressure it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s dream project of Disneyland to fruition, from groundbreaking to Opening Day. Audiences can stream the film on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22nd.
More than anything, this documentary touches on my deep appreciation for what Disney has become over the past 70 years. The parks are now the backdrop for countless family memories, including so many of our own, and it all started with a bold idea and an incredible amount of heart. Getting this behind-the-scenes look only reinforces how much care, passion, and belief went into creating the joy we still experience today.
