TV series
Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different titles since 1954. The original version of the series premiered on ABC, Wednesday night, October 27, 1954. The show, which was hosted by Walt Disney until his death and then from 1996 to 2002 by then-CEO Michael Eisner (with one-off hosts or no hosts during other periods) has since aired continually as either a weekly program or an irregular series of specials on several networks and streaming services, most recently on ABC and Disney+. The show is the second longest showing prime-time program on American television, behind its rival, Hallmark Hall of Fame. However, Hallmark Hall of Fame was a weekly program only during its first five seasons, while Disney remained a weekly program for more than forty years.
Availability
The Wonderful World of Disney premiered October 27, 1954. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Walt Disney Productions has produced an anthology television series under several different titles since 1954. The original version of the series premiered on ABC, Wednesday night, October 27, 1954. The show, which was hosted by Walt Disney until his death and then from 1996 to 2002 by then-CEO Michael Eisner (with one-off hosts or no hosts during other periods) has since aired continually as either a weekly program or an irregular series of specials on several networks and streaming services, most recently on ABC and Disney+. The show is the second longest showing prime-time program on American television, behind its rival, Hallmark Hall of Fame. However, Hallmark Hall of Fame was a weekly program only during its first five seasons, while Disney remained a weekly program for more than forty years.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Walt Disney introduces the show that will be a Sunday-night tradition for over 40 years, Disneyland. In this episode, he introduces upcoming season previews, plus movies that are to be coming out soon. The second half of the show is all about Mickey Mouse, Disney's first creation.
Directed by Robert Florey
Episode 2
The 1951 Walt Disney animated film is the basis of this episode.
Guest stars Richard Haydn, Kathryn Beaumont, Verna Felton, Sterling Holloway, Ed Wynn
Episode 3
James Algar explores the lives of animal habitats as captured on film. The next portion is the 1948 True-Life Disney movie, Seal Island with Winston Hibler narrating about the habitat of the fur seal.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of DisneyEpisode 4
It's all about Donald Duck here as his career is highlighted.
Guest stars Clarence Nash
Episode 5
The 1949 Disney movie is highlighted in this episode. Jeremiah is a young boy who owns a black lamb named Danny the Ram. Jeremiah wants to enter Danny into the spring fair, not out of pride for his pet but for the material gain of winning a ribbon. But alas, the fleece-bearer flees from home, leaving Jeremiah devastated. Jeremiah prays to God asking to be reunited with his runaway ram. In return, he promises to love Danny forever, and forsake any thoughts of using him to win ribbons.
Guest stars Bobby Driscoll, Beulah Bondi, Luana Patten, Burl Ives
Episode 6
Walt Disney takes us behind the scenes on the making of his new animated feature Lady & the Tramp.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of Disney
Episode 7
This is a look into the making of the theatrical feature 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of DisneyEpisode 8
This is the first of five stories of the legendary Davy Crockett. In it, Davy and his friend Georgie Russel go off to fight the hostile Creek Indians.
Directed by Norman Foster
Episode 9
In this Christmas episode, Donald Duck gets a movie projector and a film reel of a penguin who wants to be free of the frozen climate.
Directed by Harold YoungGuest stars Clarence Nash
Episode 10
In teh first part, Walt Disney presents a famous animal photographer named Alfred G. Milotte, who presents clips of his African trip that has stunning stories about the African elephant and the lion. The second part deals with the beaver habitat as displayed in the 1948 True-Life Adventure film, Beaver Valley.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of DisneyEpisode 11
Young Jim Hawkins is caught up with the pirate Long John Silver in search of the buried treasure of the buccaneer Captain Flint, in this adaptation of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Directed by Byron HaskinGuest stars Robert Newton, Bobby Driscoll
Episode 12
Young Jim Hawkins is caught up with the pirate Long John Silver in search of the buried treasure of the buccaneer Captain Flint, in this adaptation of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Directed by Byron HaskinGuest stars Robert Newton, Bobby Driscoll
Episode 13
Walt Disney takes us into the world of the sea with its many creatures.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of DisneyEpisode 14
In the Second episode of the Davy Crockett trilogy, Davy, George and their families settle in Tennessee. Davy goes to town to file his claim, and he gets into it with a bully named Big Foot Mason. When Mason is beaten, the judge asks Davy to be the new lawman.
Directed by Norman FosterGuest stars Buddy Ebsen
Episode 15
Kenneth Grahame is the subject of this episode as we take a look at the short film of ""The Wind and the Willows"", as seen in the movie The Reluctant Dragon from 1941.
Guest stars J. Pat O'Malley
Episode 16
The first half of this epsiode is dedicated to the construction of the new Disneyland theme park in Anaheim.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of DisneyEpisode 17
Walt Disney shows us the importance of music in motion pictures. We also get a behind the scenes peek at the music made for the forthcoming movie Lady and the Tramp
Where to watch The Wonderful World of DisneyEpisode 18
The final chapter of the Davy Crockett trilogy begins when Davy and George make friends with a cheating gambler named Thimblerig. It is Thimblerig that gets Davy and George to go to Texas to fight the Mexicans at the Alamo, an ill-fated mistake for Davy.
Directed by Norman FosterGuest stars Fess Parker, Buddy Ebsen, Kenneth Tobey
Episode 19
Classic storytelling comes to life with Disney animation.
Where to watch The Wonderful World of Disney
Episode 20
"Man in Space" is an episode of Disneyland which originally aired on March 9, 1955. It was directed by Disney animator Ward Kimball. Later, it was edited into a featurette to play in theaters, accompanying Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. This Disneyland episode, was narrated partly by Kimball and also by such famed scientists as Dr. Willy Ley, Dr. Heinz Haber, Dr. Wernher von Braun and Dick Tufeld of Lost in Space fame. The show talks briefly about the lighthearted history of rockets and is followed by discussions of satellites, a practical look at what spacemen will have to face in a rocket and a rocket takeoff into space. An adaptation of the episode was published by Dell as Four Color #716 in 1956, scripted by Don R. Christensen with art by Tony Sgroi. It was actually a "novelization" in comic book form of two Walt Disney television programs, "Man in Space" and "Tomorrow the Moon". Also found as a 1956 UK reprint as "A World Distributors Movie Classic" and a 1959 combined reprint with the other 2 Dell Comics adaptations of "Man in Space" films as "Walt Disney's Man in Space".
Directed by Ward Kimball
Episode 21
The big day of the grand opening of Disneyland is almost here, and Walt Disney is making plans to ensure that the park will be safe and ready for its first guests on July 17, 1955.
Guest stars Robert Cummings, Annette Funicello, Art Linkletter, Peter Lorre, Fred MacMurray, Fess Parker, Gale Storm, Danny Thomas
Episode information updated Sep 21, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match The Wonderful World of Disney.
Michael EisnerSelf - Host
Walt DisneySelf - Host
Clarence Nash
Robert LoggiaElfego Baca
Tony BrittonSimon Bates
Alan Hale Jr.Fred Preston
Leslie NielsenColonel Francis Marion
Annette FunicelloDinah Wilcox
ABCUnited States
NBCUnited States
CBSUnited States
Walt Disney TelevisionUnited States
