'Disneyland Handcrafted' Arrives on Disney+ and YouTube

‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ Arrives on Disney+ and YouTube

January 22, 2026

Disney, Disney Experiences, Disneyland Resort, Entertainment, Parks

The new Leslie Iwerks documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted, is now available for the world to watch. The film, which chronicles the building of Disneyland over the course of a year, includes footage that has never been seen before. These incredible visuals are accompanied by the voices of Walt Disney and those around him as they share about the process of building this park. As the park transforms from an empty field of dirt into The Happiest Place on Earth, viewers see how Disneyland truly was handcrafted at all levels.

This film shows not just the rosy story of this happy place being built. It shows the risks and dangers that were faced by Walt Disney and those who followed him. There were physical risks, financial risks, reputational risks, and personal risks that were undertaken during this year. As the park is built, the risk is seen as growing. Ultimately, the park did open on July 17, 1955, and now seven decades later it continues to serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” It set the new bar for what the modern theme park would be. This film shows how that happened.

Disneyland Handcrafted can be watched on Disney+ and also on the Disney YouTube channel (as seen below). This is a must-watch for Disney fans or anyone who is remotely interested in the history of Walt Disney’s original Magic Kingdom. Check it out here:

Disneyland Handcrafted

Disneyland Handcrafted Official Description

The magic of Walt Disney’s dream unfolds in Disneyland Handcrafted, a full-length feature documentary directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks.

Go on an unforgettable journey through the exhilarating year that gave rise to The Happiest Place on Earth. Built from rare archival footage and original audio recordings, Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry and grit it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s impossible dream project of Disneyland to fruition – from groundbreaking to Opening Day on July 17, 1955.

What did you think of Disneyland Handcrafted? What is your favorite part? What were your big takeaways? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

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Mr. Daps

Mr. Daps is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Daps Magic! Find Mr. Daps regularly at Disneyland with his trilby and bow tie taking pictures and simply enjoying the Happiest Place on Earth. He is the weekly host of Geeks Corner and your reporter for all that Disney And Positive Stuff. Find videos of all of that one the Daps Magic YouTube channel. Mr. Daps is also a Brand Ambassador with Her Universe! Find Mr. Daps on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads! If you see Mr. Daps in the parks, be sure and say hi!