“Disneyland Handcrafted”: The Creation of the World’s First Disney Park

(eap) More than 70 years ago, Walt Disney (†) created a destination with Disneyland in Anaheim that continues to attract millions of people to this day and is regarded as the foundation of the modern theme park industry. The documentary “Disneyland Handcrafted”, which is released today on Disney+ as well as on Disney YouTube, highlights the creation of the first Disneyland Resort and provides detailed insights into its realization.

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The film by US director Leslie Iwerks shows the extraordinary craftsmanship and determination with which hundreds of artisans brought Walt Disney’s vision to life – from the first groundbreaking to the opening of the park on July 17, 1955. In doing so, the documentary captures both the legacy and the nostalgia of the year that led to the creation of the Disneyland Resort. Among the sources used are newly discovered materials from the Walt Disney Archives: previously overlooked 16 mm film reels and audio recordings that were rediscovered by Iwerks and her team. The result is an unpolished perspective that captures the events behind the scenes and is told through eyewitness accounts from artists, craftsmen, and Imagineers. ■