Go Inside the Premiere of Disney’s New Documentary — ‘Disneyland Handcrafted’
Did you know that a new documentary about the making of Disneyland is coming soon? Disneyland Handcrafted debuts on January 22nd on Disney+ and Disney YouTube and will give you an inside look at what it took to create Disneyland Park ahead of its opening day in July 1955.
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We’ve got about two weeks before the documentary debuts digitally, and now, the Disney Parks Blog team is taking us inside a look at the premiere event for the film on The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California! Let’s go.
Disneyland Handcrafted Premiere
5:30PM: Arriving for the Disneyland Handcrafted Premiere
The premiere really honored the spirit of Disneyland, being a place where people from around the world can come together and have special moments with friends and family, creating new memories. It brought fans together from all parts of the globe to see how this journey began!
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Arriving at the premiere, the team was met by friendly cast members and a ton of excitement for the new film. The night promised to have a bunch of special guests, surprises, and unique opportunities for everyone.
6PM: Seeing Celebrities on the Blue Carpet
The blue carpet hosted many notable celebrities who have had an impact on Disney history! Some of the stars on the carpet included Disney Legends like Josh Gad, Bob Gurr, and Martha Blanding. There were also other Disney actors like Chandler Kinney and Laura Marano!
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Many of the guests looked back fondly on their childhood Disneyland memories, sharing them with the Disney Parks Blog team.
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Disney star Susan Egan grew up only 15 minutes away from Disneyland Resort and spoke about the one day a year when her mom would surprise her family with an unexpected trip to the park! Ashley Eckstein, voice of Ahsoka Tano, was a Walt Disney World local as a kid, but for her 21st birthday, her wish was to visit Disneyland and she called it “the most magical day.”
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Before heading in to see the film, some of the friendly faces on the carpet shared their favorite Disney eats with the team! NBA player Robin Lopez said that his favorite Disneyland snacks remain the classic Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream sandwiches. Susan Egan agreed!
7:15PM: The Premiere of Disneyland Handcrafted
It was time to go in and see the film! The team made their way down Dopey Drive, passing by several Disneyland Handcrafted posters on display.
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Reaching the front of the Main Theater, you could see a huge banner for the film in front of the venue to welcome everyone inside! Going into the lobby of the theater, there were many historical artifacts and early assets of Disneyland on display, like a souvenir book from 1955, a Disneyland ticket book concept art from 1955, and a Disneyland Tine Ferris Wheel Toy from 1952, among others.
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Leslie Iwerks, creator of the film, began the screening with a Q&A led by Juju Green (who voices Straw Hat Goofy). She shared that this film will show fans things they have never seen before, even if you’ve been to the park a million times.
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Audience members also got a sneak peek at the filmmaking process, with Leslie saying it felt like an “archaeological dig” to uncover and organize material. She shared that a whole soundtrack of sound effects needed to be made, since the original clips are silent.
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One of the most memorable moments from this conversation was when Juju asked Leslie was she hopes viewers take away from the film. Leslie said, “I personally felt a whole new renowned appreciation for what Walt’s vision was, what he wanted, to all the adversity that he went through… To think that this was just a dirt lot, and then now there’s 12 theme parks around the world, and this was the blueprint, this was the DNA, for all those places.”
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One of her closing thoughts was about happiness being made every single minute at the Disney destinations around the world and how that is a wonderful reminder of why this work means something. And, none of it would have been possible without Walt’s extraordinary vision, which still serves as her guiding light today.
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Popcorn was then served in custom Disneyland popcorn buckets to everyone inside the theater. Once everyone was in their seats, the lights were dimmed, and the curtain rose for the premiere of the film.
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8:30PM: Visiting Walt Disney’s Office
After the film was over, the team had the opportunity to go back in time and visit Walt Disney’s office on the Burbank Studio Lot. The space has been preserved so that it feels like a time capsule and contains furniture, trinkets, awards, and photos showcasing Walt’s contributions to the entertainment industry.
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This experience into how Walt worked is usually reserved for D23 Members, so it was very special to get a tour thanks to the people at The Walt Disney Archives!
8:45PM: The Grand Reception for Disneyland Handcrafted
After the film, everyone attended a reception held on the studio lot along Dopey Drive, which was full of drinks and snacks in honor of the premiere.
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Bret Iwan, artist and voice of Mickey Mouse, said the documentary was “unbelievable” and went on the praise Leslie for doing such an amazing job. He said, “I always say my Disney fandom originates with Walt and what he was capable of creating. And Disneyland was almost the pinnacle of his creation. So, to see all that unearthed footage that you haven’t seen before was incredible.”
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The journey the film takes viewers on is thrilling, and the audience was invested the whole time. Bret went on to say, “I almost felt like I was living vicariously through the footage and feeling the sense of pride as it was getting created, and then the pressure, but also the relief and joy that they must have experienced on opening day.”
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At the end of the evening, guests were given Disneyland Handcrafted tote bags, full-size film posters, and mystery pin sets featuring well-known Disney characters from over the years.
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There was also a complimentary drink station and an assortment of appetizers, like crispy vegetable potstickers and cheeseburger sliders. Mickey Mouse appeared for photos, and there was a DJ playing throughout the event!
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The Disney Parks Blog team said their top highlight of the reception was the select Disneyland churro, popcorn, and Mickey Mouse-shaped pretzel stations set up throughout the area!
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10PM: Ending the Night
Leaving the reception, the team reflected on the eventful night and moments from the film.
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While creating the film, Leslie went through almost 50 hours of raw material showcasing Disneyland in its earliest days, which showed her dedication to the project. This passion is displayed throughout the film, giving an unpolished, fly-on-the-wall perspective for viewers to hear and see what was actually happening during the construction of Disneyland.
How and When to Watch Disneyland Handcrafted at Home
The documentary film debuts on Disney+ and Disney YouTube on January 22nd! Just log into your existing Disney+ account or subscribe to @Disney on YouTube when it launches on the 22nd.
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Stay tuned for more Disney news and updates!
