Disney is releasing a new documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted, offering an inside look at the creation of Disneyland in California.
The film is directed by Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, who has a generational connection to Disney. Iwerks is the granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney’s original animator and designer/co-creator of Mickey Mouse, and the daughter of Don Iwerks, a Disney camera technician and inventor.
Disneyland Handcrafted gives viewers a first-hand look at the development of the park leading up to its opening in July 1955. It draws on rare archival footage and audio to present an unpolished, behind-the-scenes look at what was happening during Disneyland’s construction, capturing the sights, sounds, and first-hand accounts of the artists, craftsmen, and Walt Disney Imagineers working on-site.
In creating the film, Leslie reviewed more than 100 hours of raw material, including binders of unused 16mm film reels, uncovering authentic outtakes that had remained stored in the Walt Disney Film Archives for decades. Working with her team, Leslie undertook a restoration effort, producing scans of every reel and bringing long-forgotten shots of early Disneyland.
The documentary also delves into the risks and pressure Walt Disney faced throughout the park’s development.
The film’s poster shows Walt Disney walking through the orange groves that would later become the site of Disneyland.
Disneyland Handcrafted premieres on January 22, 2026, and will be available on Disney+ and Disney’s official YouTube channel.
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