Behind the Attraction

2021 - 2023

Jungle Cruise

Episode 1

Join a skipper for the story behind Jungle Cruise, and try to spot the backside of water! When Walt decided to create the original immersive attraction, he tasked Imagineers with building a river in the Southern California desert AND the mechanical animals to populate it.

Haunted Mansion

Episode 2

Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion — enter if you dare! When Walt Disney developed the attraction, he didn’t specify if it should be funny or scary. Ultimately, it became a perfect blend of both. Haunted Mansion proved so popular that it inspired several later iterations, including the chilling Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris and the weird and wonderful Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Star Tours

Episode 3

Lightspeed to Endor! A long time ago…Disney created Star Tours, a thrilling simulator attraction that takes guests to a galaxy far, far away. It inspired Imagineers to build a whole new land — Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. There, guests can use the Force to explore the remote outpost of Batuu and the cutting-edge attractions Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Episode 4

Discover the ups (and downs!) of creating this gravity-defying attraction set in the eerie world of Rod Serling’s renowned “Twilight Zone” television series. Then hold on tight as Imagineers reimagine the Disney California Adventure version as Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Learn what it took to build the attraction — and what it takes to ride it!

Space Mountain

Episode 5

You're about to hear the story of Space Mountain in T-minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...launch! Walt's vision of an attraction that simulates space travel was a design challenge Imagineer John Hench tackled head on, creating a signature structure now in Disney Parks around the world. Imagineers continued the tradition by creating another thrilling indoor attraction, the landmark TRON Lightcycle Power Run at Shanghai Disney Resort.

The Castles

25th August 2021

Episode 6

Castles are at the heart of Disney Parks around the world. The original at Disneyland® Resort in California quickly became a symbol of The Walt Disney Company on par with Mickey Mouse. Hear the unique story behind each one and learn how Imagineers designed and built them.

Disneyland Hotel

25th August 2021

Episode 7

Disneyland Resort with no hotel... what?! It almost happened. Check in to see how Walt got it built. Envisioned as an extension of the Park, funding for the hotel proved hard to come by, so Walt struck a deal with producer Jack Wrather. Jack would own the hotel, but Walt’s name would be on it. Together, they made it into an immersive experience, setting the stage for all Disney hotels to come. After Jack’s death, The Walt Disney Company bought the Disneyland Hotel. Today, Disney operates dozens of hotels worldwide.

It's a Small World

25th August 2021

Episode 8

It all began at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair! If a chance encounter between an Academy Award-winning actress and Walt Disney hadn’t taken place, this beloved attraction might never have been created. With its signature, unforgettable song, its flume boat ride design, and Audio-Animatronics figures, it was a huge success. Versions were designed and built in Disney Parks around the planet, proving that it really is a small world, after all!

Transportation

25th August 2021

Episode 9

All aboard! Everything moves at Disney Parks, especially the guests — by land, water, and air! Walt loved locomotion of all kinds — trains, trams, monorails, and boats. They’re all fun, but Walt also believed the monorail could help cities end traffic. The vast transportation network at Walt Disney World Resort is a testament to that. Every Disney Park built since has continued this tradition, creating transportation systems to whisk guests efficiently to their destinations.

Hall of Presidents

25th August 2021

Episode 10

This unprecedented presidential attraction in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom brings our commanders in chief to life. Walt created the world’s first human Audio-Animatronics figure based on his childhood hero, Abraham Lincoln. Honest Abe helped launch this revolutionary technology that populates Disney Parks today. Who knows what the future holds for this mesmerizing Disney technology?

Top Cast

Learn how popular Disney attractions and destinations came to be, how they have changed over time, and how fans continue to obsess over them.

Watch Providers 🇬🇧

Disney Plus

Production Companies

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Full Cast

Paget Brewster Image

Paget Brewster

Narrator (voice)

Full Crew

Cisco Henson

Executive Producer

Hiram Garcia Image

Hiram Garcia

Executive Producer

Brian Volk-Weiss Image

Brian Volk-Weiss

Executive Producer

Dany Garcia Image

Dany Garcia

Executive Producer

Brian Gewirtz Image

Brian Gewirtz

Executive Producer

Kevin Hill

Executive Producer

Robin Henry

Executive Producer

Dwayne Johnson Image

Dwayne Johnson

Executive Producer

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