Disneyland Handcrafted will be arriving on Disney+ and on the Disney YouTube channel on January 22, 2026. When it does, fans will get an in-depth look at the year leading up to the opening of Disneyland. This includes never-before-seen footage of the ups and downs of constructing this first-of-its-kind park. It is a film that Disney fans will treasure for years to come (read more about it here).
The night didn’t just include a Q&A with Leslie Iwerks and the world premiere of Disneyland Handcrafted. It also included an after-party that included the opportunity to visit Walt Disney’s office for a brief tour. While this tour didn’t include as much explanation or time as those offered by D23, it did give people the chance to see where Walt Disney worked, dreamed, and created so many magical things that are beloved today by so many.
Shortly after the film ended, there was no line to get into Walt’s office. This soon changed the line stretched out to a half-hour long. By the time the Daps Magic team got in line, it was down to about 15 minutes long. The tour included a look at the outer office/reception area of Walt’s office, his show office, his working office, and his apartment, which is now converted into a display room.
As we walked through Walt’s office, so many things that had been seen in books, television specials, and even movies tangibly came to life. One could almost feel Walt’s presence in the suite of offices. So many details of so many stories could be found throughout. It was very easy to imagine the Sherman brothers coming into the office and playing that piano. The working office was even more impressive, as there were plans for the Florida Project, photos of Walt’s plane, Ed Wynn, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and even paperwork on and behind his desk! It was also fun to see his briefcase sitting on the floor, just as if Walt Disney were around somewhere and going to grab it before heading home. Check out photos from the tour here:
Walt Disney moved into this office in 1940. He continued to use it until he died in 1966. Fast forward to 2015, and the Walt Disney Archives restored and reopened Walt’s office in a way that looked just like it did when he used it decades before. “Watching this project move from concept to reality has been really rewarding for me and the Archives staff,” said Walt Disney Archives Director Rebecca Cline at the time. “Having the chance to work with the original materials preserved from Walt’s offices in the actual space in which they were used as ‘tools of the trade’ is a unique experience for us as historians. Seeing, firsthand, the kinds of things that Walt surrounded himself with for inspiration really helps us to understand the kind of person and creative genius that he truly was. The fact that we could mount this display, much less with original and historic materials, is a testament to our department’s own history, as well as Walt’s. We’re lucky and honored to have cooperated with so many other groups around The Walt Disney Company to make this new exhibit a reality.”
Walt’s office is not open to the public generally. However, D23 members can go on a tour of the Walt Disney Studios that includes the opportunity to visit Walt’s office. Tickets for this experience can be purchased on the D23 website. What do you think of Walt’s office? Have you had the opportunity to visit it before? What detail in the office is your favorite? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
