Opening Year Cast Join Screening Of 'Disneyland Handcrafted' Documentary

Disney shared images of two opening-year cast members present at the Disney Springs screening of the new documentary showcasing the building and opening day of the original Disneyland.

Disneyland Handcrafted Screening Disney Springs

a picture of the opening year cast members present at the disney springs screening

The documentary, which will debut on January 22 on Disney+ and YouTube, had a screening on January 13 in the AMC theatre at Disney Springs. Disney did not share any additional notes on the cast members, but did include “opening year”, suggesting they might not have been opening day cast members. One of the people in the picture bears a striking resemblance to Tom Nabbe, though it’s unconfirmed whether he was present.

For an interview with Leslie Iwerks, check out our post here. The documentary also puts focus on Admiral Joe Fowler, after whom a boat is named at Walt Disney World.

Tonight, more than 300 guests, including two opening year @Disneyland cast joined Leslie Iwerks for a screening of Disneyland Handcrafted at Disney Springs ✨ The film debuts January 22 on @DisneyPlus and Disney YouTube 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/XUEAzIfDrQ
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) January 14, 2026

The premiere was held last week at the Walt Disney Studios. Disneyland Handcrafted will play at AMC Burbank Town Center 8 from January 14 through January 20, 2026. Purchase tickets now.

Disneyland Handcrafted

Disneyland Handcrafted will begin streaming on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22, 2026. The film will give viewers a “first-hand look at the trials and tribulations behind the rapid construction of the park leading up to its opening day in July 1955.” As we noted in our recent history of Disney Parks castles, Sleeping Beauty Castle was constructed in just seven months before the opening of Disneyland Park.

Sleeping Beauty Castle was constructed in just seven months before the opening of Disneyland Park.

Iwerks searched through over 100 hours of raw material showcasing the early days of Disneyland, including unused 16mm film reels from Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. She and her team produced high-resolution scans of every reel without a timecode. The finished product includes first-hand accounts of real artists and Imagineers on-site in 1955.

Iwerks previously produced and directed The Pixar Story, The Imagineering Story, The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story, and Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible.

Check out Tom’s honest review below, or read it here: