Disney has officially revealed the first trailer for Disneyland Handcrafted, a brand-new documentary exploring the creation of Disneyland and the craftsmanship behind the original Disney park. Announced during the “Creating The Happiest Place on Earth” panel at Destination D23, the film celebrates 70 years of Disneyland history while honoring the vision that shaped Disney Parks worldwide.
The documentary, directed by Oscar- and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, will premiere this winter on Disney+ and Disney’s official YouTube channel. Disneyland Handcrafted offers an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the artistry, innovation, and dedication that brought Walt Disney’s dream to life.
Leslie Iwerks Returns to Disney Parks Storytelling
Leslie Iwerks previously explored the creative process behind Disney Parks in the acclaimed 2019 Disney+ series The Imagineering Story. With deep family roots in Disney history — including her grandfather Ub Iwerks and father Don Iwerks, both Disney Legends — Iwerks continues a legacy of innovation, storytelling, and technical excellence.
Her latest project focuses entirely on the earliest days of Disneyland, using rare archival material to showcase how the park was designed, built, and brought to life more than 70 years ago.
Inside the Making of Disneyland: Rare Archival Footage Revealed
Disneyland Handcrafted takes viewers back to the construction of Disneyland, offering a rare look behind the orange groves of Anaheim during the park’s earliest days. The film is built entirely from seldom-seen footage hand-selected from the Walt Disney Archives, much of which has never been publicly shown.
The documentary highlights Walt Disney’s forward-thinking use of television, as he assigned cameramen to document the park’s construction leading up to opening day. This footage provides an intimate, firsthand view of the artists, craftsmen, and Walt Disney Imagineers who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions to bring Disneyland to life.
Unique ASMR-style moments and restored visuals help immerse viewers in the sights and sounds of early Disneyland, emphasizing the care and craftsmanship that defined the park from the very beginning.
Restoring Never-Before-Seen Disneyland Film Reels
During production, Iwerks and her team uncovered binders filled with unscanned film reels while exploring the Walt Disney Archives. Among the discoveries were raw 16mm reels, including footage that was never used for Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
Using a groundbreaking restoration process, the team digitally scanned every reel without timecodes, preserving high-resolution images of Disneyland’s earliest construction days. This innovative approach allowed once-forgotten moments in Disney Parks history to be restored and presented in stunning clarity.
How Disneyland Handcrafted Celebrates the Legacy of Disney Parks
The magic guests feel when entering Disney Parks around the world can be traced back to Disneyland’s original vision. Disneyland Handcrafted explores the passion, creativity, and dedication required to build the park that inspired a global theme park industry.
By honoring Walt Disney’s revolutionary spirit, the film highlights how Disneyland became the foundation for decades of innovation and growth. Today, Disney Parks are experiencing their largest expansion era since Disneyland’s opening, making this documentary especially timely for Disney fans and theme park enthusiasts.
When and Where to Watch Disneyland Handcrafted
The official trailer for Disneyland Handcrafted is now available on Disney’s YouTube channel. The full documentary premieres this winter on Disney+ and Disney YouTube.
For fans of Disney history, Imagineering, and behind-the-scenes storytelling, Disneyland Handcrafted promises a nostalgic and visually rich journey into the origins of The Happiest Place on Earth.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83