Disneyland Handcrafted

Built from rare archival footage and audio recordings, Disneyland Handcrafted captures the exhilarating year that transformed a bold dream into what became known as The Happiest Place on Earth and one of our most beloved cultural icons. At its heart, the film tells the story of confidence versus doubt. Walt Disney believed in the impossible, while others saw only risk and inevitable failure. Against the odds and the naysayers, Walt risked his fortune and reputation to build a dream.

Walt assembled an extraordinary collective of artists, craftsmen, and visionaries, charged with urgency and united by purpose. With grit, guts, and unshakable determination, they rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Their labor and ambition transformed every inch of the 160 acres, broke ground on land and in the imagination and shaped the DNA of Disney theme park design for decades to come.

Walt sent cameramen into the heart of the undertaking to document the process as it unfolded. Through their inventive perspectives, time-lapse experimentation, and keen observation, they captured the creation in a way that is authentic, emotional, and often unexpectedly joyful. From the clearing of orange groves to the chaotic pageantry of Opening Day, their footage serves as a time capsule of can-do spirit — every frame a testament to hard work and physical labor. Only a fraction of this material made it into the 1950's Disneyland television show. Dozens of hours remained unseen — until now.

Assembled exclusively from this treasure trove of rare 16mm footage and paired with voices of those who were there, Disneyland Handcrafted traces the extraordinary human endeavor behind Disney’s first theme park. From groundbreaking to the first moment guests walk through the gates, the film offers a singular, immersive window into the park's original era — showcasing where the magic truly began.

Some flashing lights sequences or patterns may affect photosensitive viewers.