As a Disneyland nerd who happily appreciates and devours anything even remotely behind-the-scenes, the documentary “Disneyland Handcrafted” is absolute catnip. If you’re obsessed with Disney in general, you’ll definitely enjoy this must-see film. If you’re a Disneyland fan specifically, this is a documentary that feels like it was made especially for our tribe. Even as a person who has an in-depth grasp on Disney history, I learned a ton and found out things that I’d never heard (or seen) before.
Director Leslie Iwerks, who was given special access to the Disney archives, digs deep into old video footage, photographs, and recordings to dive headfirst into the frantic and chaotic yearlong sprint to build Disneyland between 1954 and 1955.
It’s absolutely jaw-dropping to see the real people who worked tirelessly to bring the Happiest Place On Earth to life. I felt deeply invested in the documentary because it gives faces and voices to the real men and women who built one of my favorite vacation destinations in the world. People whose hard work and vision have brought an immeasurable amount of joy to my life. Seeing their stories unfold made the experience feel personal, emotional, and profoundly meaningful. Watching the park get built from dirt lots to icon status in real time really drives home the sheer genius, ambition, and stubborn optimism that made Disneyland possible.
The real star here is the archival footage. The documentary leans hard on restored 16mm film, some of it previously unseen. Iwerks also pulls in outtakes from “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color,” which prove a lot of fun to watch. There isn’t much substance to it other than an insider archival review, as the documentary itself basically a beautifully curated string of old footage and audio.
Regardless, I could’ve watched 100 hours of this stuff and never once gotten bored. Seeing the artisans, builders, painters, engineers, and dreamers literally crafting the park by hand makes the whole thing feel intimate and high-stakes in a way modern Disney projects rarely do. There’s footage of Main Street going up, the trees on the Jungle Cruise getting planted, the paint being applied to Sleeping Beauty’s castle, and even laying the tracks for the Disneyland Railroad. If that last sentence gave you goosebumps, then you are the target audience for this film.
It should go without saying that the documentary is very pro-Disney. The film glosses over the famously disastrous opening day, so don’t go in expecting a dirty little secrets type of exposé. This is a love letter through and through, and I’m fine with that.
By the time it’s over, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for Disneyland. This is a film that respects and honors the sweat, the panic, the unyielding dedication, the impossible deadlines, and the people who pulled it off anyway. If you watch “Disneyland Handcrafted,” make a point to visit the park in the near future. I guarantee when you go, all of that Disney magic will hit just your heart just a little bit harder.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 