853 · Disneyland Handcrafted Review and Interview with Leslie Iwerks

Disneyland has been analyzed and celebrated for decades. But Disneyland Handcrafted shows us something far more rare. How the park was actually built.

This week, I sit down with Academy Award nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks for a deep conversation about her new documentary, Disneyland Handcrafted, followed by my review and thoughtful discussion with Adam Bankhurst from IGN after attending the world premiere on the Walt Disney Studios lot.

We talk about unseen archival footage, Walt, the pressure of building Disneyland in less than a year, and the craftsmen and builders whose hands shaped the park we know today.

This is not nostalgia. It’s history, risk, and belief in motion.

🎧 What you’ll hear:

How Disneyland was literally built by hand
Why this story changes how you experience the park today
The human side of Walt Disney’s greatest risk
Lessons in leadership, creativity, and perseverance

📣 Comment in the WDW Radio Clubhouse or 📞 Call the Voicemail: 407-900-9391

✈️ Looking to visit a Disney Park, Disney Cruise Line, or any vacation destination around the world? Let our friends at Mouse Fan Travel help you with expert planning at no cost to you! - visit MouseFanTravel.com

📬 Stay Connected:

- Subscribe for email updates + get my FREE Disney book!

- Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

🎧 Explore More:

WDWRadio.com - Blog, archives, podcasts, and more
WDW Radio Nation - Support the show and unlock rewards
WDWRadioLIVE.com - Watch and chat LIVE Wednesday nights
Events & Cruises - Join us for group trips and in-person meetups!
LouMongello.com - Creator or solopreneur? Turn your passion into your profession with coaching, courses, and events, including our Momentum events in Walt Disney World. I am also a keynote speaker who shares how to leverage lessons from Disney on customer service, experience, and leadership.

🙏 Thank you for listening, being part of the WDW Radio family, and helping the show be recognized as the Best Travel Podcast for nine consecutive years - and for the incredible honor of being inducted into the ⭐️ Podcast Hall of Fame.

Please subscribe, tell a friend, and join me again next week... and as always, sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode of the WDW Radio Show!