On January 22, 2026, Disneyland Handcrafted will be arriving on Disney+ and YouTube. The film is made by Leslie Iwerks and gives a never-before-seen perspective on the year leading up to the opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955. This shows footage that hasn’t been shown before, shares insight from Walt Disney and the people around him, and also reveals just how close Disneyland was to not becoming The Happiest Place on Earth. When it arrives on Disney+ and YouTube, it will be a must-watch for both Disney fans and historians as well.
Story
The story of Disneyland being built has been told many times. However, it has never been told from the vantage point of Disneyland Handcrafted. It is easy to think that Leslie Iwerks had a team embedded with the building of Disneyland for this film. In some ways, she did. However, the team wasn’t hers. It was Walt Disney’s. It provides different viewpoints of different parts of the making of Disneyland from the ground and from above.
The story is told chronologically, after a glimpse is given of what this park would become a year after it opened. After opening with this glimpse of a beautiful Disneyland park, the viewer is transported back in time nearly two years. At this point, to the average eye, Disneyland is basically just empty fields with some random trees around them. To Walt Disney, this was a field where his vision and dream could be cultivated. Just like a farm, a lot of backbreaking work, sweat, dedication, and love were spent turning the dirt into something beautiful.
As the film moves through this process throughout the year, it showcases just how the different areas of the park were built and came to life. The dedication to details and to literally handcrafting this park is seen. This is true for Walt Disney, his leaders, and all of the workers who can be seen building this park by hand. Yes, there is some heavy machinery, but nothing like what is had today. The heavy machinery is bulky and imprecise, necessitating the details to be created by hand.
There is an incredible amount of risk that is shown in this film. It can be seen in many different ways. There is a timeline risk that if the deadline to open Disneyland isn’t met, the park may never open at all. There are budget risks as Walt Disney rationalizes the spending of money versus saving it as he faces financial failure again. There are also some physical risks as workers build this park in ways that shock today’s standards. At one point, a bulldozer rolls over, and the driver jumps off! Another point, a worker can be seen lifted and dangled from a crane! It is possible that if any of these risks ended up going the wrong direction, Disneyland wouldn’t have opened. Watching the film, it is amazing to see that it did.
The film concludes with Disneyland’s opening and showing what it is like in the early days. This is a beautiful ending that doesn’t just tell a story, but also allows for a release of tension that had subconsciously built in the viewers’ minds and hearts during the film. It completes the story of the building Disneyland and also feels like it could be an opening chapter for a bigger book (here’s hoping).
Quality
The quality of Disneyland Handcrafted is something that should be given great commendation. First off, it is important to note that the entire film was created with video and interview clips that are over 70 years old. The film has been painstakingly restored and looks incredible. Some of it is black and white, a lot of it is in color. The restoration shows this era and story in a way that looks better than ever. The audio clips that are utilized have Walt Disney and other people around him helping tell the story. These sound wonderful as well. They also aren’t just the same quotes that have been heard a million times by Disney fans, which is a very nice thing.
Another incredible thing about the quality of this film is the sound effects that accompany the videos. All of the sound effects that are heard in the film, whether it is construction noise or bells ringing, were recreated for the documentary. The team at Skywalker Sound recreated the sounds of the era astoundingly. This was necessary as the footage that was used for the film was recorded without sound.
Music
The music for the film is a wonderful addition that helps tell the story. It has a feel that fits in with the era. It also had some percussive elements to it that fit with the construction that was happening on screen. The music was written by Cyrus Reynolds. Reynolds is known for unique orchestrations and emotive storytelling. These skills are shown in the score that accompanies this story. It helps add to the movement and tension that is felt throughout the film. Later, after the film, I had the thought of how different this film would feel and how the impact would change if music from an old film, like a True Life Adventure, was used. The Mickey Mouseing that was used back then would completely change the feel of the film and even the risks that were shown. Instead of being terrifying at times, these moments could have been comical. Thankfully, the score of Cyrus Reynolds reinforces the story that is being told by Leslie Iwerks.
Final Thoughts
Disneyland Handcrafted lives up to its name. It is a documentary that was clearly a labor of love. It was handcrafted seven decades after Disneyland itself was handcrafted. In both cases, great care was taken to bring something special to the public. In the case of Disneyland, it was a seemingly impossible dream. In the case of Disneyland Handcrafted, it was finding the right person who realized the story of this impossible dream was an important one to tell. In this case, it was Disney Experiences executive Jason Recher who saw what Leslie Iwerks was working on and felt that it needed to be seen. Thankfully, now Disney fans and others will be able to see this incredible story.
Leslie Iwerks has a long history with The Walt Disney Company. Her grandfather is Mickey Mouse co-creator Ub Iwerks. Her father is technical innovator Don Iwerks. Both are Disney Legends who helped tell Disney stories through their careers. Leslie Iwerks is now continuing the legacy of telling Disney stories. In this case, the stories she tells are about Disney and its storytellers. She does this in a way that is easily digestible, enjoyable, and absolutely fascinating. This film continues a trend seen in her previous projects, including The Imagineering Story.
Disneyland Handcrafted is destined to become a must-watch film for Disney fans for decades to come. I enthusiastically take my hat off for this film. I can’t wait to watch it again, and I can’t wait for the rest of the Disney community to get to see it as well!
Mr. DAPs Hat Rating Scale
- No Hat – Didn’t meet expectations
- Hat Nod – It was ok
- Hat Tip – It was good
- Hat’s Off – Loved it!
