If you are a Disney nerd like me then you love all the Disney history! There are so many great Disney history shows on Disney+ that feel like love letters to old Disney. Hearing the stories of how the things we love came to be from the people who were there is so special. With the release of Disneyland Handcrafted coming January 22nd there is no better time to catch up on all the other great shows on Disney+!
The Imagineering Story
Imagineering is why we have the theme parks and attractions we love so much. I love learning about the people who made those come to life. The creativity and imagination to create such magical things that have stood the test of time is incredible. This one really focuses on the building of Disney Parks all over the world. This is a must watch Disney history show on Disney+ for all my park people!
Behind The Attraction
This is one of my favorite Disney history shows on Disney+! I am an information nerd, to the max when it comes to Disney. I love knowing everything about my favorite attractions. Each episode of this show takes you behind the scenes of the creation and stories of each attraction. Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Small World and more! Not just the ins and outs of building the rides but the funny anecdotes and inside jokes that went into the making as well. Kind of makes you feel like you were there and part of it.
One Day At Disney
This one is so special! It puts the spotlight on all the amazing Cast Members that bring the parks to life. The real magic makers! I love seeing Cast Members celebrated and called out. They are the best part of Disney history and it’s pretty cool that you can watch a show about them on Disney+. These are shorts so easy to digest and just cute Cast member features!
Waking Sleeping Beauty
If you are an 80’s-90’s kid like me, you know there is nothing better than that era’s Disney animation! This documentary is all about that time and amazing animation Disney made in the 80’s and 90’s. Some of the most iconic characters came out of this era and it’s cool to pull back the curtain and see what was happening behind the scenes.
Mickey: The Story Of A Mouse
From Steamboat Willie to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and all the hot diggity dogs in between, Mickey has had a long career! This piece of Disney history on Disney+ follows Mickey’s journey through his almost 100 year career. You may learn a few things you didn’t know before!
Disney Insider
This is just 1 season of shorts telling the stories behind Disney movies, parks, toys and more. Everything from the making of the live action Mulan to Star Wars action figures and composing Encanto. This one is just fun and quick little facts.
Frank & Ollie
This is a very good documentary about Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. We get to hear from Frank and Ollie themselves on their journey working with and for Walt Disney. These two animators brought to life some of our most beloved characters. Snow White, Bambi, Lady and the Tramp and more. This is really a story about two best friends who happened to end up working together. Their friendship made their work even better and more special. This one feels like a glimpse into not only an incredible career but into an amazing lifelong friendship! Must watch if you ask me!
The Boys
You can’t talk about Disney history without talking about the Sherman Brothers! The boys on Disney+ is a look at the Sherman Brothers lives and careers. It’s amazing to see and hear the stories of working with Walt Disney and creating these iconic songs we all know and love. Plus there are a lot of old clips, pictures and videos from the early days at the Disney Studios. Another must watch! To go along with this, The Last Verse on Disney+ is a great piggy back afterwards!
Howard
Howard Ashman wrote the lyrics to songs like Part of Your World, Be Our Guest, Friend Like Me and more! This Documentary is the untold story of this amazing lyricist. It’s so powerful to see how these iconic songs came to life and learn more about the man behind the music.
Walt & El Grupo
This may be my favorite little piece of Disney history on Disney+! This documentary shows the journey of Walt and his crew on their goodwill tour of Latin America. This was a government sanctioned tour but Walt Disney knew how to make it fun and learn along the way. Mary Blair would hone her iconic style on this trip and some pretty great animation would come out of this tour as well. Pretty amazing that Walt Disney, his imagineers and animators were all sent on a mission to fight the nazi’s in their own unique way. There were a lot of things going on at home during this trip as well so there are some really great layers to this documentary. If you don’t watch any of the others, watch this one it is well worth it!
Conclusion
If you have been here for a while, you know I am a huge Disney history nerd. Having all of this Disney history on Disney+ makes me so happy! If I could go back and live in the golden age of the Disney Studios and be a part of that world, I think I would! Disney has so many amazing era’s and such rich history throughout its 100+ years. No matter what your favorite time is in Disney history, there is a series or documentary to dig a little deeper! As we go into a long weekend, I hope this gives you some binge worthy material! And make sure you tune in on January 22nd for the newest Disney history story on Disney+, Disneyland Handcrafted. Happy binging and have a magical day!