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Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) DVD Review
Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) DVD Credits:
Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) Directed by:
Jerry Rees, George Scribner
Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) Written by:
Not available at this time
Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) Cast:
Not available at this time
Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) DVD Release Date:
11th December 2007
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Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) Synopsis:

Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) DVD Review:

On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney finally succeeded in the opening of his crowning achievement, Disneyland. In one-year’s time, Walt converted 160 acres of orange groves and walnut trees into a theme park, an idea that people told him would never work.

Walt Disney Treasures Disneyland Secrets, Stories and Magic, is the latest in the collectible DVDs that the Disney company has produced. This limited edition DVD goes behind the magic curtain to reveal Walt Disney’s vision and dreams as he created “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Disc one includes a feature-length documentary complete with revealing insights from the creative men and women who worked alongside Walt Disney. They worked on creating an entire magical world, including the development of a new technological advancement, audio animatronics. The documentary cuts between interviews with the who’s who of former and contemporary big wigs within the Disney Corporation including former Presidents, Imagineers responsible for some of Disneyland’s most successful rides and even producer/director George Lucas. The interviewees reminisce upon the early days of the park, as well as tell of all the unseen horrors and mishaps, including the disappearance of an entire river and a plumbing strike that forced Walt to decide between bathrooms and water fountains. The first day of business, presented its own set of problems, including no garbage removal, ride breakdowns, and not enough food. The disc also includes a “Wonderful World of Disneyland” trivia game with two skill levels, beginner and advanced, but novices beware, even the beginner level is incredibly difficult. The object of the game is to correctly answer one question from each of the seven lands within Disneyland. When the player clicks on their chosen land to answer a question, they are first treated to a promo telling a little more about the land. Correctly answer all 7 questions to unlock an “Easter Egg” style “viewable prize” with hidden video snippets about Disneyland. Lastly, on disc one is “People and Places: Disneyland U.S.A.” a widescreen theatrical short from the 1950s.

Disc 2 includes three episodes of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” including episode “The Golden Horseshoe Review,” “Disneyland Goes to the World’s Fair,” and “Disneyland Around the Seasons.” The disc also includes a featurette titled “Operation Disneyland” which reveals insights into the great lengths that the ABC television network underwent in order to successfully film on opening day of the park. Lastly, disc 2 includes a 35 minute long time lapse of the building of Disneyland. Miraculously saved from storage by an archivist who decided to open the collection simply labeled “Disneyland,” before it was put away in “deep” storage, this footage shows the workers as they frantically construct some of the buildings still in use today. The film is narrated by three Disney imagineers who also seem to be incredible Disneyland historians, revealing insights into the construction process.

Die hard fans of Disneyland and the Disney name will find these DVDs to be invaluable, as will collectors, due to its limited release. However, for the most part, the DVDs feel more like a collection of loosely related featurettes rather than a cohesive collection. The documentary seems to lose focus and some of the interviewees seem to have been cued, referencing statements from other interviews. However, what it lacks in substance, it certainly makes up for it in quantity, with over 6 hours of footage, much of which has never been seen before.

Encased in a collectible tin, this two DVD set includes a certificate of authenticity, with its own release number, as only 50,000 copies will be produced. Also included in the tin is a vintage Disneyland postcard and a commemorative replica admission ticket.

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Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland Secrets, Stories And Magic (2007) DVD review written by: Andrew Mattson

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