Disney Parks on Film: Iconic Films, Documentaries, Specials, and TV Episodes Fans Should Watch

Disney Parks create their own kind of magic for millions of guests every year. Every fan has their favorite aspect of each park, from the music and ambiance to the tasty snacks and unforgettable attractions.

Some fans deepen their appreciation by learning Disney Park history or watching shows or films featuring Disney trips. This lets them experience the parks in different eras, plan or relive vacations, or simply enjoy them vicariously.

When it comes to Disney Parks on film, we’ve got the ultimate list of the very best films, TV episodes, documentaries, and specials for your viewing pleasure. Indeed, an abundance of films such as That Thing You Do (1996) and Marvin’s Room (1996)

have been made over the years. Some unsanctioned movies, like The Florida Project (2017) and Escape from Tomorrow (2013), range from sad to bizarre. However, our focus remains on the positive escapism that Disney Parks are meant to have.

Most of the films are set in Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but there’s no shortage of pixie dust to take viewers on a magical adventure.

Something the casual Disney fan may not know is how much television and Disney parks have been linked since their inception. To fund Disneyland, Walt Disney made a deal with ABC to produce the weekly “Disneyland” TV series. Each episode prior to opening updated the audience on the park’s construction and featured a showcase of a Disney movie.

When the park opened in July 1955, the opening was then broadcast live across the country. A landmark telecast, Dateline: Disneyland, is the ultimate program for the Disney aficionado.

Hosted by Art Linklater, Bob Cummings, Ronald Reagan, and Walt Disney himself, the show took viewers through each land, highlighting the attractions and shops. With a parade, special musical performances, and more than a few celebrities enjoying the park, including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Irene Dunne, Dateline: Disneyland is so much fun.

Things don’t go off without a hitch, leading to quite a few humorous mishaps. Still, the historical significance and heartfelt moments make it a must-watch. Dateline: Disneyland is available to watch on YouTube and is available on the Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland DVD.

A year after Disneyland opened, a documentary short was filmed showcasing the park and all its beauties. Narrated by Winston Hibler, People and Places: Disneyland, U.S.A. takes viewers on a virtual trip around Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom. With Hibler as your personal tour guide and stunning photography of each land, this documentary offers some of the finest footage of Disneyland ever filmed.

Unlike the opening day broadcast, People and Places: Disneyland, U.S.A. gives viewers a chance to see the park in its earliest days, but in stunning CinemaScope and Technicolor. Folks who visited during this time can relive the memories, while everyone else is transported back in time.

Another notable reason Disney fans should check this out is the opportunity to see long-gone attractions such as the Rainbow Cavern Mine Train (now Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) and the Skyway buckets, as well as attractions like Jungle Cruise and Autopia in their infancy. You can watch People and Places: Disneyland, U.S.A. on YouTube and the Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland- Secrets, Stories, and Magic DVD. The latter features the documentary plus an audio commentary with film historian Leonard Maltin and Disney Legend and Imagineer Tony Baxter.

Many will no doubt be surprised to learn that the first feature film to be officially filmed inside Disneyland was actually by Universal Pictures. From 1962, the heartwarming and hilarious romp 40 Pounds of Trouble features a 20-minute sequence in Disneyland, showcasing a significant number of attractions and areas of the park, including the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Autopia, Skyway, the Monorail, Tomorrowland Rocket Ships, Rainbow Caverns Mine Train, and Tom Sawyer Island.

The movie follows Steve McClusky (Tony Curtis), the manager of a hotel and casino in Lake Tahoe, the new nightclub singer (Suzanne Pleshette), who trades barbs with him, and five-year-old Penny (Claire Wilcox), the precocious child left in Steve’s care after her father leaves to settle a gambling debt and never returns. To make Penny happy, the pair takes her to Disneyland, but must devise a plan to stay under the radar as Steve is avoiding alimony demands from his ex-wife.

The film is zany and filled with stylish, nostalgic 1960s flair, a lot of heart, and a terrific cast to boot. Disneyland fans will relish the time capsule nature that the film captures. Despite some unrealistic aspects and hilarious location mistakes in a few scenes, both classic movie and Disneyland fans must check out 40 Pounds of Trouble. You can rent or buy this film on Prime or check it out on DVD and Blu-ray.

A noteworthy and enjoyable element to the early days of Disneyland on film was seeing what the park looked like and the guests themselves having a ball. While undoubtedly a promotional tool, these episodes of Walt Disney Presents and The Wonderful World of Color gave audiences a fun-filled glimpse into all of Disneyland’s wonders.

However, “Disneyland After Dark” was twofold. It highlighted what the park was like during the nighttime hours, but also served as a showcase for several performers. At the time, audiences surely enjoyed seeing some of their favorites on screen. Today, viewers can watch with a wistful sense of nostalgia for a bygone era.

“Disneyland After Dark’s” best moments include Louis Armstrong performing on the Mark Twain Riverboat, Annette Funicello and Bobby Rydell singing at the Tomorrowland Stage, and the Tahitian Terrace show, which featured Polynesian dancers and fire walkers. Each and every moment, including introductions by Walt Disney, captures a kind of wholesome atmosphere rarely seen today. Watch “Disneyland After Dark” on YouTube and Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland DVD.

On Disneyland’s 10th Anniversary, Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color produced a special show that previewed upcoming rides and restaurants, featured a special musical performance, a whimsical parade, and celebrated the Park’s first successful and momentous decade. Out of all these episodes, this one is the most well-rounded and entertaining.

In particular, the show is bookended by so many attractions that have become Disneyland icons. The beginning showcases a glimpse at the conceptions of It’s A Small World, the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Plaza Inn Restaurant. The best part is seeing the incredible artistic renderings and models with appearances from legends Mary Blair, John Hench, Marc Davis, and Rolly Crump.

The program concludes with a glimpse into some of the park’s recent additions, such as the Matterhorn, the Submarine Voyage, the Monorail, the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. It’s fun to see world dignitaries and celebrities alike enjoying the park, in addition to so many timeless attractions at their beginnings. “Disneyland 10th Anniversary,” which you can watch on YouTube and the Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland DVD, is a nostalgic and fascinating treasure trove of Disney history.

Another sweet and special episode of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, “Disneyland Around the Seasons,” showcases the park throughout the entire year, coinciding with the opening of several attractions.

The opening of It’s A Small World is particularly lovely, with children from all over the world part of the ceremony. Several add water from different rivers and oceans from across the globe, signifying a sense of unity that the ride exemplifies. Other things showcased include the opening of New Orleans Square, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and the Primeval World of the dinosaurs.

Perhaps most interesting is seeing how Christmas at Disneyland has always been a part of the park’s history and charm. The show features one of the park’s first Holiday parades as well as the Candlelight Processional, a tradition that began in 1958. While the show features Walt Disney prominently, it sadly aired just three days after his death. Stream “Disneyland Around the Seasons” on Disney+, watch on YouTube, and the Walt Disney Treasures: Secret, Stories, and Magic DVD.

After Walt Disney’s death in 1966, the company had to march on and strive to continue the legacy he started with the same quality and enthusiasm. Despite the absence of Walt, From “Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow” has the same spirit and heart that previous specials possessed.

Diehard fans will delight in this program, especially if they’re fans of 1960s nostalgia. Showcasing the development of Pirates of the Caribbean and its opening day ceremony, it is roguish fun and ridiculous, if a little outdated. Long before the world of L.A.R.P.I.N.G, the Pirates opening is a sight to behold and the kind of thing that could’ve only existed in that moment in time.

The segment on the updated Tomorrowland is understandably dated as well, but with a much more hopeful, wholesome optimism that these years embodied. Watch “From Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow” on YouTube.

The episode is filled with plenty of hilarity, hijinks, and heart as Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen) gets a big head after being named Princess for the day, Danny (Bob Saget) hopes to propose to his girlfriend, Vicki, and DJ (Candace Cameron-Bure) keeps imagining her boyfriend Steve (Scott Weinger) as Disney characters. A clever inside joke sees Weigner as Aladdin, whom he had voiced in the1992 animated film.

As far as the parks, the episodes are a terrific showcase of multiple attractions, resorts, and restaurants in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, especially Splash Mountain, Dumbo, The Living Seas, the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, and the Grand Floridian Resort.

The way the characters jump from park to park is laughably unrealistic, but it’s all a part of that TV magic. The highlight is surely the episode’s showcase of the Surprise Celebration Parade, with the entire cast featured on numerous floats. Most of all, the episode reflects what Disney Parks embody: a fun-filled, wholesome sense of togetherness for all ages. Stream Full House on Disney+ and Hulu.

More recent family sitcoms have carried on the tradition of visiting a Disney park. Modern Family is one of the few shows that has the characters visit Disneyland rather than Walt Disney World. The Season Three episode also happens to be one of the best because of the wonderful variety of attractions and lands shown, and storylines for the ensemble group of characters that are funny and feel natural for each of them. Nothing feels forced or unnecessarily saccharine.

Jay (Ed O’Neil) has the main talking head moment reflecting on his family’s last visit many years before, and he clashes with his wife Gloria (Sofia Vergara), who doesn’t want to admit wearing high heels was a mistake. Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) attempt to keep their daughter Lily from running off with a child leash, and Phil (Ty Burrell) hilariously discovers he may not be able to handle thrill rides anymore.

The characters go through all the park, and it’s fun to see so much of Fantasyland, Toontown, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Main Street. Highlights include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Dapper Dans, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Stream Modern Family on Disney+ and Hulu.

The Middle was a sweet and hilarious underrated sitcom known for its relatable depictions of a financially struggling family in Middle America, who would bicker and yell, but ultimately come together. The Season Five episode where they visit Walt Disney World, “The Wonderful World of Heckls,” is undoubtedly relatable for many families watching.

First of all, the Hecks, who wouldn’t be able to afford such a trip, are visiting thanks to a contest win and discover they’ve driven to the wrong park. Of course, this is Disney, and they’re accommodating, but in true Heck fashion, things keep messing with their day, including trips to First Aid, Brick obsessing over the font on his hat, and Sue’s “helpful” travel binder never having the right tips.

For anyone who’s ever traveled with clashing friends or family, the mishaps and bickering will feel ever relatable, as do the moments where things finally go right, and plenty of fun is had. As far as the parks, it’s terrific to see Gaston’s pub and Journey of the Little Mermaid in Magic Kingdom, and the France pavilion in EPCOT. Stream The Middle on Prime and Peacock.

In 2013, Walt Disney Pictures produced a biographical film about the journey of bringing Mary Poppins to the big screen. Author P.L. Travers famously resisted her Poppins books being made into films, especially by Walt Disney. It took many years, and a great deal of persuasion, and Saving Mr. Banks depicts that story as well as Travers’ childhood.

In one segment, we see Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) take Travers (Emma Thompson) to Disneyland. As they enter the park, walk down Main Street, and ride the Carousel, the filmmakers do a wonderful job of capturing how the park looked in the 1960s, despite the abundance of changes Disneyland has gone through since.

The film itself is both entertaining and moving, while the Disneyland scenes capture a sense of nostalgia and warmth in seeing Walt in the park. It may not live up to the genuine article, but they’re still lovely moments nonetheless. Stream Saving Mr. Banks on Disney+.

This six-part documentary series, narrated by Angela Basset and directed by Leslie Iwerks (granddaughter of Disney legend Ub Iwerks), takes viewers on a deep dive into the world of “Imagineering” at the Walt Disney Company. These artists and engineers who became known as Imagineers combined imagination with state-of-the-art technology to create incredible things the world had never known.

Each episode focuses on a different time period, from the construction of Disneyland to the struggles post Walt Disney’s death, to the trials and triumphs of later CEOs Michael Eisner and Bob Iger as they developed more parks throughout the world.

Unlike the others on this list, this series doesn’t shy away from the dark times the company has faced. Still, it doesn’t feel too bleak. On the contrary, it’s fascinating and often moving and inspiring as it highlights the talented individuals who make the magic possible- true unsung heroes in the industry. Stream The Imagineering Story on Disney+.

While The Imagineering Story offers fans a straightforward, serious behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney Imagineering and such, Behind the Attraction (narrated by Paget Brewster) goes a different route. Over two seasons and 16 episodes, this series offers as much insight, but with a more fun and humorous approach.

Each episode showcases a different attraction or element found in Disney Parks. While the quick cutting and jokey nature can lessen the impact and be a little much, the show remains essential for Disney Parks fans. Its tone undoubtedly makes it ideal for young viewers.

The episodes on Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Star Tours, It’s a Small World, and Big Thunder Mountain offer an abundance of engaging stories about the creation of each ride. However, the episodes that focus on other things, such as The Disneyland Hotel, Food, and Nighttime Spectaculars, prove just as engaging, with insights and footage rarely seen. You can stream Behind the Attraction on Disney+.

The newest documentary about the creation of Disneyland is for the diehard fans, but the average guest should check it out as well. One reason is the footage uncovered involves never-before-seen looks at the construction of Disneyland, including parts of Main Street, Tomorrowland, Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the Mark Twain Riverboat.

The level of craftsmanship and hard work on display will astound even the most difficult-to-impress viewer. Moreover, many will be surprised by the rate at which workers completed the project, along with the often precarious nature of each task.

Ultimately, Disneyland Handcrafted is worthy of a watch to showcase the artists and workers who rarely get recognition but helped make the Happiest Place on Earth the magical place it is. Fans can watch this documentary on Disney’s YouTube and Disney+.