How Disney Built America
A nostalgia-filled ride that paints a vivid picture of the world of Walt Disney and the history-making empire he and his brother Roy Disney built. Each hour-long episode focuses on a different example of game-changing brilliance in Disney’s history.
Cast spotlight
Jump into full cast pages for bio, socials, and recent work.
Ep 1The Birth of Mickey
A struggling cartoon studio creates one of the most recognizable characters in the world. Mickey Mouse begins as a pencil sketch, and through a journey of failure, betrayal, innovation, and guts becomes an American icon, and the foundation of an iconic media empire.
Ep 2Dawn of The Animated Blockbuster
Facing soaring costs, mounting criticism, and a tight deadline, Walt Disney pushes the limits of technology to create the first full-length animated feature film. It's Disney's magic combination of passion, brilliance, and tech innovation that gives rise to the billion-dollar business of animated films.
Ep 3Destination Disneyland
Walt Disney overcomes immense obstacles to create the first Theme Park, where instead of thrill rides, he gives the visitor an immersive journey into a story, like the experience of being inside a movie.
Ep 4Now Available in Stores
Amidst financial troubles, Disney hires an ingenious marketing whiz who helps them figure out how to bring their beloved characters off the screen and into the hands of millions. Mickey becomes the first celebrity face to grace a cereal box and from there, the licensing of Disney products becomes a lucrative industry and the gold standard for multimedia corporations all over the world.
Ep 5Creating a New World
Against all odds, Disney turns 27,000 acres of muddy Florida swampland into the world's largest and most visited Theme Park. It began in secret as "Project X," and after being dogged by personal tragedy and construction delays, when Walt Disney World finally opens it's a triumph of imagination, technology, and a dream.
Ep 6The Marvelous World of Disney
For nearly 70 years, Disney has pushed the boundaries of art and science through the work of a team of dreamers, designers, and builders known as the "Imagineers"; a look at the story of these builders who have turned the impossible into a reality.
History
US
