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Disney Premieres Leslie Iwerks’ ‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ Ahead of Jan. 22 Streaming Debut

Drawing on newly restored 16mm archives, the film presents an unpolished, fly-on-the-wall view of Disneyland’s 1954–55 construction.

Overview

  • Disney hosted a blue-carpet screening at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank with attendees including Disney Legend Bob Gurr, Martha Blanding, Josh Gad, and fan favorite Robin Lopez.
  • Director Leslie Iwerks described the archival search as an “archaeological dig” and said a full sound-effects track was created because much of the footage was originally silent.
  • Disney confirmed the documentary will debut digitally on January 22 on Disney+ and the company’s official YouTube channel.
  • Coverage differs on the scope of recovered material, with reports citing roughly 50 to about 100 hours of archival footage used.
  • The documentary retraces the park’s build from groundbreaking to Opening Day with a cinema verité approach that foregrounds craftsmen and real-time pressures, a focus Iwerks said was sharpened after feedback from CEO Bob Iger.