It was just like a great big panic all the time. It was a miracle that it ever went on. And just as it was a miracle that Disneyland ever got opened on date.” Art Linkletter, Disneyland Opening Day Host.

“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past. And here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world. Thank you.” – Walt Disney

Disneyland Handcrafted Documentary Rating

I give Disneyland Handcrafted a 5 out of 5 rating for its focus on restoring color footage from Disneyland’s early days and featuring commentary from the individuals who made Disneyland a reality. The documentary gives viewers a first-person view and understanding of the immense struggles, financial and physical, that Walt Disney and company encountered during the creation and launch of Disneyland. I recommend those who enjoy stories of achievement against all odds and delivering optimism to the world to watch Disneyland Handcrafted. - David Aughinbaugh II 2/12/2026

View my review introduction video on YouTube here:

Coming Soon!

Disneyland 70 Years and Beyond

For 70 years, Disneyland has continued to be a source for joy and inspiration to the world. It has also been an inspiration to the Walt Disney Organization. Through Disneyland, the idea of Walt Disney World was born. In miraculous fashion, it was built in one year and opened to the public on July 15th, 1955. Without Disneyland there wouldn’t have been a Walt Disney World and all the other parks and resorts that The Walt Disney Company has created since 1955.

Above is the Disneyland Handcrafted Movie Sign for the documentary. Image by Disney and used under the fair use provision.

Disney Historical Records – Unmatched

One of the many reasons The Walt Disney Company stands out from other Fortune 500 companies is its incredible historical archive. Disneyland’s opening day was televised live and can still be seen today. I have watched it many times; however, I had never seen it in color. Today, viewers can relive that moment—and the construction of Disneyland—in color thanks to a new documentary from Iwerks & Co., Disneyland Handcrafted.

Disneyland Handcrafted brings viewers back to 1954, offering a firsthand view of the construction of Disneyland and the tremendous challenges faced by Walt Disney and his team. Thanks to the support of Jason Recher, VP of Segment Content Creation & Digital Integration at Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, along with the historical and production expertise of Leslie Iwerks and Mark Catalena of Iwerks & Co., a behind-the-scenes look at Disneyland’s construction and opening day can now be experienced in color through a first-person lens. Disneyland Handcrafted is an outstanding documentary that provides commentary from key individuals involved in the park’s construction and showcases why Disneyland—and The Walt Disney Company—continues to inspire the world.

Disneyland Construction in Color

Disneyland Handcrafted provides viewers with a first-hand view of Disneyland’s progress through opening day in color. Iwerks & Co. previously brought us views of 1955 Disneyland in color via The Imagineering Story series on Disney+. According to Leslie Iwerks, there were numerous scenes that were left out of the final cuts for The Imagineering Story. Disneyland Handcrafted brings that color footage to a new level by progressing the viewer through footage that is only from the mid 1950s. This view, along with key insights from persons involved with the project, gives the viewer the sense that they are on the ground and part of the production.

Above: a photo of a Disneyland worker intalling a yellow flag near Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad station in 1955. Photo by Disney and used under the fair use provision.

Joe Fowler and Roger E. Broggie

I especially enjoyed the commentary from Joe Fowler and Roger E. Broggie, two key figures who led and propelled the development of Disneyland. Joe Fowler was a retired admiral with an extensive shipbuilding background. Walt Disney initially hired Joe to design the Mark Twain riverboat; however, he was quickly tasked with overseeing the construction of Disneyland. In the documentary, Joe is featured prominently in production footage and provides insightful commentary on the park’s progress. Joe later became General Manager of Disneyland and went on to play a significant role in the creation of Walt Disney World.

Above is a photo of Joe Fowler navigating the Mark Twain before Disneyland Opens (as featured in Disneyland Handcrafted. Photo by Disney and used under the fair use provision.

Roger E. Broggie was a Walt Disney Productions veteran who started working at the company in 1939 as a precision machinist. He would later go on to work with Ub Iwerks on numerous technical projects, including camera cranes, screen special effects, and high-speed optical printers. In 1949, Roger worked with Walt Disney to build miniature scale trains for his backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific Railroad. Walt Disney created Walt Disney Miniature Railway Company in 1950. That company would go on to become Walt Disney, Inc. and then WED Enterprises, Inc. As a result, Roger Broggie was directly involved in the early phases of what was to become Disneyland. I was glad to see Roger and his work on the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad featured, along with commentary from him, in the documentary. Both Joe and Roger played key roles in the creation of Disneyland. They and other key Disney personnel were both featured in a way that made you feel you were there during the construction of Disneyland.

Above: Roger E. Broggie working on designing the steam train for Disneyland in Disneyland Handcrafted. Photo by Disney and used under the fair use provision.

Moving Through 1955 Disneyland

Iwerks & Co. combined color footage from the construction and opening of Disneyland in a way that made it feel as if I were personally moving through each phase of the park’s production. The 100% focus on the footage — paired with background commentary from those directly involved in the park’s development — created a compelling first-person perspective. The commentary was thoughtfully positioned to guide viewers through Disneyland’s challenges, its unwavering focus, and its enduring optimism. This approach reached the very heart of what Disneyland stands for: Walt Disney’s vision of optimism, progress, innovation, and peace.

Above is a photo of Walt Disney giving the Tomorrowland dedication speech at Disneyland 1955 (Disneyland Handcrafted). Photo by Disney and used under the fair use provision. 

Disneyland - Inspiring the World

While watching Disneyland Handcrafted, I was pleased to see Iwerks & Co.’s focus on delivering Walt Disney’s vision and message to the audience. This comes into focus near the end of the documentary, when Disneyland opens to the public and Walt Disney delivers his dedication remarks for the park and Tomorrowland. Combining the Disneyland dedication with the Tomorrowland dedication was an excellent choice. John Hench followed Walt Disney’s Tomorrowland dedication speech with his insight on how Disneyland instills confidence and hope. The documentary ends with Walt Disney’s message of thanks message to everyone who brought Disneyland to life. This was, hands down, my favorite part of the documentary. It brought the journey of building Disneyland into perspective and reinforced the core vision for Disneyland.

“Before our preview of Tomorrowland, I'd like to read these few words of dedication. A vista into a world of wondrous ideas, signifying man's achievement. A step into the future, with predictions of constructive things to come. Tomorrow offers new frontiers in science, adventure, and ideals. The atomic age, the challenge of outer space, and the hope for a peaceful and unified world.” – Walt Disney, Disneyland’s Tomorrowland Dedication, July 15, 1955.

Disneyland continues to inspire the world, and through Disneyland Handcrafted, has brought the journey and vision behind building Disneyland to life, 70 years after its opening. I highly recommend Disneyland Handcrafted to all those interested in progress and the building of a global icon. Once again, I would like to thank Jason Recher, Leslie Iwerks, Mark Catalena, and their teams for creating and making this documentary available to all.

Above is a photo of a construction worker driving a bulldozer during the creation of Disneyland in Disneyland Handcrafted. Photo by Disney and used under the fair use provision.

Where to Watch

You can watch Disneyland Handcrafted on Disney+ and YouTube. I thank the Disney Team for making this available on YouTube, where it can be enjoyed by a wide audience. I do recommend subscribing to Disney+ because to watch another outstanding documentary series from Iwerks & Co., The Imagineering Story.

Disneyland Handcrafted on YouTube