DISNEYLAND HANDCRAFTED Is For Fans of Disney and Craftsmanship, Too

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Leslie Iwerks has a knack for creating engaging documentaries about Disney, whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the world of Disney. She previously directed the excellent docuseries The Imagineering Story on Disney+, and I had high hopes going into her new film, Disneyland Handcrafted. While it shares some similar themes, this isn’t simply an extension of the previous series. It has a distinct feel and approach, even though it revisits some familiar ground.

The documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted, recounts the incredible story of how Walt Disney and a dedicated team transformed a large, empty lot into the world-famous Disneyland in just one year. The film emphasizes the sheer difficulty of this task, showing monthly progress updates that reveal how much work remained unfinished even at the last minute. This creates a sense of suspense – you know the outcome, but you’re left wondering how they actually pulled it off. Ultimately, the documentary delivers on its promise to showcase the remarkable skill and determination of the hundreds of artists and craftspeople who made Disney’s ambitious vision a reality.

One of the biggest draws of the film is seeing the park come together, and the director wisely avoids simply telling us why this old footage is special – it’s clear on its own. She trusts viewers to connect with the material. The more we focus on the small artistic details, the more magical Disneyland feels. Witnessing something like Adventureland being built from the ground up is truly remarkable. Though the documentary is a bit short at 79 minutes, it still showcases a lot of the larger scope of the park’s creation. But it’s the attention to those minute details – like watching an artist paint a single line on a decoration – that really makes this documentary special, highlighting the enchanting craftsmanship behind Disneyland’s millions of details.

It’s surprisingly enjoyable to watch someone spray concrete to create a large artificial rock. But what really captivated me was seeing a worker, despite the surrounding hustle and bustle, carefully and precisely carve a perfect line into the rock. I could have watched that for hours, even without any narration. There’s a simple beauty to it, and it’s completely absorbing.

Seeing all the amazing work from the artists, painters, designers, and sculptors is a big reason I wish Disneyland Handcrafted was longer. Even just 20 more minutes would have made it feel more complete. Its short length is its biggest weakness. I would have gladly watched a full documentary about each of the twelve months spent creating it.

I’d really like to see a whole documentary dedicated to the people who built and maintain the ships in the Peter Pan ride. It’s a very specific detail, and not everyone – even dedicated Disney fans – would be interested, considering how much there is to see at the parks. However, like the Disneyland Handcrafted series does so well, I think this documentary could appeal to people who don’t even usually care about Disney. Anyone who appreciates the art of making things will enjoy watching skilled craftsmanship in action, and they’ll probably wish there was even more of it to see.

The archival footage – originally filmed by Disney to document the park’s construction – is special because it shows the workers as individuals, not just nameless employees. We see them relaxing, struggling, and enjoying themselves, reminding us that real people built Disneyland. The world captured in the footage feels distant, from a time before safety regulations were common. However, the documentary’s focus on these individuals makes them feel surprisingly relatable. They, along with the footage itself, create a truly immersive experience, like stepping into a time machine rather than simply watching old home movies. My only wish is that there had been even more footage of the people who brought Disneyland to life.

As a huge Disney fan, I always want to know everything about the parks, and this documentary is a bit of a tease in the best way. It’s not that Disneyland Handcrafted is bad – far from it! It’s just that it leaves you craving more detail. If you’re new to the story of how Disneyland was built, it’s a fantastic introduction and will definitely get you hooked. For those of us who already know a lot, it’s a fresh way to revisit the history. But honestly, it feels like being led on a whirlwind tour of a fascinating house. You catch glimpses of incredible rooms filled with amazing things, and you desperately want to stop and explore, but you’re quickly moved along to the next interesting space. It’s not a flaw, exactly, but it doesn’t quite satisfy that deep-dive desire a true enthusiast has.

Similar to how Walt Disney explained ongoing work at Disneyland as never truly being finished, the filmmakers behind this documentary can say the same about the story they’re telling. It’s actually a good sign when a documentary is enjoyable and leaves you wanting to know even more about the topic.

Disneyland Handcrafted ⭐ (4 of 5)

Mikey Walsh writes for TopMob and is a huge fan of the Peter Pan Ride documentary – he’s planning to be among the very first to see it! You can find him on Bluesky at @burgermike, and he’s always participating in discussions about ranking the Targaryen kings.

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2026-02-03 23:03