‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ Set to Debut on Disney+ This January. Disney fans are preparing to step back in time to 1955. This January, Disney+ will premiere Disneyland Handcrafted, an all-new documentary from Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks. While no definitive date has been set, look for it around mid-month after the screenings take place at Walt Disney Studios on January 8th, and Walt Disney World on January 13th, 2026.
Known for her definitive work on The Imagineering Story, Iwerks returns to the archives to chronicle the exhilarating year that gave rise to “The Happiest Place on Earth.” The film captures the construction of the DNA of Disneyland from more than 70 years ago, offering audiences a chance to peek through the orange groves and experience the making of the park like never before.
Built entirely from rare archival footage and original audio recordings, Disneyland Handcrafted reveals the extraordinary artistry, grit, and pressure it took hundreds of craftspeople to bring Walt Disney’s dream to fruition.
“Most people in Hollywood thought Disneyland would be a spectacular failure,” notes a voice in the trailer. Disneyland Handcrafted serves as a poignant reminder of the dedication and passion required to realize a dream that would go on to inspire millions around the world.
Iwerks and her team unearthed never-before-seen 16mm reels—some found in binders originally intended for Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color—and produced high-resolution scans to bring the 1950s to life in stunning detail. Viewers can expect Stories from the real artists and Imagineers who were on-site during the “top secret” project. Immersive sounds and visuals of the handcrafted construction process. A deep dive into the impossible deadline and the “great big panic” required to open the gates by July 17, 1955.
Some D23 Gold Members were lucky enough to score tickets to see an early premiere of Disneyland Handcrafted and get a chanc eot sit down with Leslie Iwerks on January 8th, 2026. We will be at the Premiere on January 13th, 2026, at Walt Disney World’s AMC 24 in Disney Springs.
‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ Set to Debut on Disney+ This January
Capturing the excitement of the creation of Disneyland as it was being built more than 70 years ago, you’ll get a chance to peek behind the orange groves and experience the making of the park like never before in Disneyland Handcrafted. This unique film, complete with ASMR moments and constructed using only rarely seen footage that Leslie handpicked through the Walt Disney Archives, depicts the thoughtfulness and care that was put into the development of Disneyland.
As featured in the trailer, Walt’s trailblazing embrace of television has been well-documented in the past, which is why he tasked several cameramen to capture the construction of Disneyland leading up to the park’s opening. Providing an up-close, first-hand look at many of the artists, craftsmen, and Walt Disney Imagineers who were actually there during the construction of Disneyland amid tough conditions, so much of this footage has not seen the light of day…until now.
