Disneyland Handcrafted is a documentary by producer, writer, and director Leslie Iwerks. It tells the story of Disneyland’s creation from the ground up for the year leading up to its 1955 opening, through archival footage and audio. WDW News Today’s Tom and Eric sat down with Iwerks to get to know more about the project.

Leslie Iwerks Interview

“How are we going to tell the story of construction?” Iwerks posited during the interview. “Who is going to want to watch construction footage? It was funny because [I was] thinking to myself, ‘what other place in the world would people have such a fan base to watch construction footage? Seeing something built from the dirt up?’ And then I was like, well, actually, Disney fans would. I mean, this is a DNA story. This is the origin story of something that’s so beloved.”

Iwerks opens up throughout the interview about the process of getting the archival footage and how much work it was to piece together with audio. “I just think there was this realness of seeing that footage,” she said. “Seeing that chaotic day that we hadn’t seen before.”

While the team came up against some financial and procedural setbacks, she explains that the documentary was shelved for several years before finally getting out into the world.

Learn about all that and more in our interview with Iwerks. Watch the full interview below:

Disneyland Handcrafted

Iwerk’s documentary utilizes rare footage of the creation of Disneyland to highlight the work and artistry it took to get the park ready to open. It features first-hand interviews from the Imagineers, artists, and craftsmen who made the park opening possible. It offers insight into the pressure and tension of getting Disneyland literally off the ground.

Disneyland Handcrafted will be available to stream on Disney+ starting January 22, 2026. Read Tom’s honest thoughts here.

Are you excited to see the new documentary? Let us know what you thought about this interview on social media!

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.