US Edition'Disneyland Handcrafted,' New Disney+ Documentary, Shows Rare Footage of the Making of Disneyland
The documentary reveals newly restored 100 hours of archival footage capturing the intense yearlong construction of Disneyland, showcasing the craftsmanship and risks behind its creation.
- On Jan. 22, 2026, Leslie Iwerks' 'Disneyland Handcrafted' debuts on Disney+ and Disney YouTube, documenting the yearlong blitz to build Disneyland, Anaheim.
- Archival research uncovered previously forgotten 16 mm film reels and original audio in the Walt Disney Archives, with Iwerks' team scanning over 100 hours of raw material for restoration.
- Restored footage includes a helicopter aerial shot over 160 acres of Anaheim orange groves, craftsmen hand-carving details, and a dozen workers pulling the Mark Twain Riverboat.
- The documentary uses rare footage and original audio to highlight the craftsmanship that created the park, framing building Disneyland as Walt Disney's greatest gamble for fans and historians.
- Leslie Iwerks, daughter of Don Iwerks and granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, directs the film tracing Disneyland's opening on July 17, 1955 to 90 million viewers and more than 70 years of operation.
16 Articles
16 Articles
New Documentary ‘Disneyland Handcrafter’ To Premiere on Disney+ (TV News Roundup)
Disney fans behold: “Disneyland Handcrafted,” a new feature documentary from producer and director Leslie Iwerks, will premiere — and be available to stream — on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on Jan. 22. Built from rare archival footage and original audio recordings, the film will give viewers an inside look into the magic of Walt Disney’s […]
LA Daily News
OC Register‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ documentary offers behind-the-scenes look at park’s construction
A new documentary film focused on the yearlong creation of Disneyland offers a behind-the-scenes look at the transformation of an Anaheim orange grove into a revolutionary theme park using rarely seen footage discovered in the vaults of the Walt Disney Archives. The new “Disneyland Handcrafted” documentary by filmmaker Leslie Iwerks on the one-year blitz to build Walt Disney’s first theme park will debut Jan. 22 on YouTube and the Disney+ stream…
Disneyland Handcrafted Will Tell the Story of How The Happiest Place on Earth Was Built on January 22
Disneyland Handcrafted, an upcoming documentary from The Imagineering Story's Leslie Iwerks on the making of Disneyland and the "trials and tribulations behind the rapid construction of the park leading up to its opening day in July 1955," will officially debut on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22, 2026.As detailed by Disney Parks Blog, this story will be told through "rare archival footage and insightful soundbites." Viewers will be able…
A different side of Walt in new documentary 'Disneyland Handcrafted'
New documentary "Disneyland Handcrafted" features recently discovered footage of Walt Disney; we spoke with director Leslie Iwerks about it. The post A different side of Walt in new documentary ‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ appeared first on Attractions Magazine.
‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ Documentary Premieres at Walt Disney Studios
The Disneyland Handcrafted documentary consisting of archive footage from the construction of Disneyland premiered during a special event on The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. Disneyland Handcrafted Premiere Special guests who walked the blue carpet included Josh Gad, Bob Gurr, Martha Blanding, Tania McKnight Norris, Pete Docter, Chandler Kinney, Laura Marano, Kenny Ortega, and Robin Lopez. Guests like Susan Egan (the voice of M…
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