Disney+’s Disneyland Handcrafted Review: A One-Of-A-Kind Documentary For A One-Of-A-Kind Place

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When Walt Disney first dreamed up Disneyland, most people thought it was a wild idea. No one had ever attempted an amusement park that aimed to be larger, more polished, and more family-friendly than the traditional carnival or carousel. While many stories have been told about the park’s creation, a new documentary called Disneyland Handcrafted, now streaming on Disney+, reveals the story in a completely new light.

Disneyland Handcrafted

Scheduled for release on January 22, 2026, this 79-minute film is directed by Leslie Iwerks and stars Walt Disney. A rating has not yet been assigned.

“Disneyland Handcrafted” doesn’t tell the story of Walt Disney’s inspiration or the financial challenges he faced. Instead, it focuses on the 10 months of actual construction – from the groundbreaking in Anaheim, California, to the park’s opening in July 1955. The documentary relies almost entirely on video footage filmed during construction that has been hidden in the Walt Disney Archives for 70 years – much of it never seen before.

Walt Disney believed Disneyland itself was the main attraction, and everything else played a supporting part. The new film, Disneyland Handcrafted, follows that idea closely. It only uses footage from the park’s seven decades of history – there are no voiceovers or interviews, past or present.

The video features occasional voiceovers from the people who helped create Disneyland, including Walt Disney, though you’ll hear from others like Art Director Dick Irvine and Admiral Joe Fowler more often. These voices enhance what you see, but the video itself tells the story.

Disneyland Handcrafted lets Disneyland be the star.

At its heart, Disneyland Handcrafted is about the incredible work that goes into creating the park. The documentary showcases the talented artisans, builders, landscape designers, and gardeners who bring the ideas to life. It reveals all the steps involved in turning a concept into reality. While Walt Disney envisioned Disneyland, he relied on a team of dedicated craftspeople to build it. This documentary highlights their often unglamorous, but essential, contributions.

Leslie Iwerks has made several films about Disney, and Disneyland Handcrafted is her fourth. She previously directed The Hand Behind the Mouse, a film about her grandfather, who helped create Mickey Mouse. She also made The Pixar Story and The Imagineering Story, a detailed look at the people who design and build Disney’s theme parks.

Essentially, Handcrafted complements her other Disney+ series by offering a behind-the-scenes look at the practical work that made the beloved attractions possible. The focus isn’t so much on the rides themselves, but on the actual building process – things like laying the tracks and painting the ride vehicles.

Director Leslie Iwerks again shows that there is nobody better at Disney history.

Leslie Iwerks has a deep connection to Disney, which likely explains her talent for sharing its history. Each of her documentaries is different, but they all highlight a new and fascinating aspect of the company’s incredible century-long story, and Disneyland Handcrafted is her most recent contribution.

Disneyland has the power to immerse us in fantastical worlds and make us feel like we’re living within a story. The book Disneyland Handcrafted does just that – it takes readers back in time, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the park’s construction and making it feel like they’re witnessing history unfold. Dedicated Disney enthusiasts will especially enjoy this fresh perspective, but anyone will appreciate seeing how this iconic destination came to life.

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2026-01-22 23:40