Disneyland Handcrafted

All images: Disney

Have you ever wondered about all that went into the building of Disneyland? Most fans have likely watched the special Walt had made back in 1955 about the park, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. It turns out, they had filmed a lot of the work that went into creating the Happiest Place on Earth. And now, Leslie Iwerks (who has quite the family history with Disney) has brought it all together for a new special: Disneyland Handcrafted. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disneyland Handcrafted.

Here's the official synopsis from Disney: 

The magic of Walt Disney’s dream unfolds when Disneyland Handcrafted, a feature documentary from Leslie Iwerks, takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the exhilarating year that gave rise to The Happiest Place on Earth. 

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.

The documentary captures both the legacy and nostalgia of the year leading up to the creation of the Disneyland Resort. Through newly unearthed materials from the Walt Disney Archives, Iwerks and her team uncovered long-forgotten 16mm film reels and audio recordings. The result is an unpolished, fly-on-the-wall perspective that captures what was truly happening behind the scenes, told through the firsthand accounts of the artists, craftsmen, and Imagineers who were there.

Since opening over 70 years ago, Disneyland laid the groundwork for a massive global industry that is currently in the biggest era of growth, making this film a truly special treat for Disney fans. 

Disneyland Handcrafted arrives on‬ DisneyPlus and YouTube on January 22nd.