Disney Worldbuilders Review Streaming on Disney Plus

Disney Worldbuilders is an incredibly interesting look behind the scenes at how Disney takes beloved stories and turns them into immersive lands and experiences at its theme parks around the world. Instead of focusing solely on the history of the parks, the documentary puts the spotlight on the storytellers and Imagineers behind some of Disney’s biggest franchises and explores how a movie, character, or idea can eventually become a place guests can actually step into.

One of my favorite parts was Jennifer Lee, the director of Frozen, visiting the Frozen land at Disneyland Paris with her sister. Lee talks about how she and her sister were very different growing up in ways that reminded her of Anna and Elsa, which makes watching her experience the land with her sister even more meaningful. You can see the emotion on her face as she takes in what these characters have become and hears how much Frozen means to people. Her tears and genuine appreciation are some of the documentary’s sweetest moments.

I also always enjoy watching Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni talk about their work with Star Wars, and Worldbuilders gives us some great info into how they approach expanding that universe. Their interviews take place surrounded by Star Wars props, which feels appropriate considering how much they talk about making the world feel lived-in. Favreau explains that the ships, droids, and other elements of the Star Wars universe shouldn’t look brand new. Anything in the show and movie need scratches, dirt, and patina because that’s what makes a fictional world feel real. It’s the same philosophy you can see throughout Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland.

Favreau’s section also gives us a peek at what’s coming next, including a look at Disney’s plans surrounding Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. I loved getting this glimpse because Oswald is such an important part of Disney history, and seeing the character being brought back into the conversation feels like a fun connection between Walt Disney’s earliest work and the company’s future. It’s another example of what makes Worldbuilders so compelling: we’re not just hearing people talk about Disney’s history; we’re getting a look at how the company continues to take pieces of that history and build something new from them.

That’s what I found most fascinating about Worldbuilders: seeing the thought that goes into making these fictional worlds feel like places that actually exist. Disney isn’t simply recreating a movie set. The goal is to make guests feel like they’ve walked directly into the story, and the documentary does a great job showing just how much creative thinking goes into making that happen.

The documentary also features conversations with some of the biggest names behind Disney’s current creative universe, including Bob Iger, James Cameron, Kevin Feige, Pete Docter, Dave Filoni, Jared Bush, and Josh D’Amaro. Seeing these creators discuss their work alongside footage of the parks makes it clear how closely Disney’s movies, television, and theme parks have become intertwined.

As someone who loves Disney parks, I especially enjoyed getting a glimpse at what’s coming next. I didn’t feel like don’t have to be a hardcore Disney fan to appreciate what the documentary is trying to show. At its heart, Disney Worldbuilders is about creativity and the process of turning something that exists only in someone’s imagination into something millions of people can experience for themselves.

Disney Worldbuilders is a must-watch for Disney fans who have ever wondered how their favorite lands and attractions actually come to life. It’s fascinating, and full of those behind-the-scenes details that make you look at the parks a little differently the next time you visit.