Disney Experiences Earns Recognition at the Telly and Shorty Awards

At this year’s Telly and Shorty Awards, Disney Experiences was recognized for standout work across video and digital storytelling, many of which you may have seen in the past year across social media, Disney+, YouTube, and more.

From emotional documentaries like Disneyland Handcrafted to high-impact collaborations with Kylie Kelce and Dude Perfect, these award-winning projects reflect a wide range of creativity and a consistent push for innovation that continues to live at the heart of Disney Parks.

In total, Disney Experiences earned 10 awards at the Telly Awards (including three gold wins) and two honors at the Shorty Awards. Read on to see how these standout projects came to life and discover how these stories, series, and collaborations are continuing to connect with dedicated Disney fans around the world.

Based in New York City, the Telly Awards are the premier honors recognizing video and television across all screens, attracting more than 13,000 entries globally each year.

Celebrating excellence in digital storytelling, the awards highlight creative work spanning brands, creators, and entertainment leaders across platforms. Winners are selected by The Telly Awards Judging Council, a panel of industry experts representing top advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks. Honoring how creators, producers, and brands “capture the original” inspiration behind their work by taking advantage of today’s ever-changing media landscape, these winners have been celebrated across gold, bronze, and silver categories.

With ten total awards in hand this year, keep reading to see what Disney Experiences was able to secure during this year’s 47th annual Telly Awards!

Eager to step back in time and experience an intimate, first-hand look at the trials and tribulations behind the rapid construction of Disneyland leading up to its opening day in July 1955? Disneyland Handcrafted honors the thoughtfulness and care that was put into the development of Walt’s original park, reminding so many of us that our love for the parks often dates back to the original vision of Disneyland as guided by the revolutionary spirit of Walt Disney.

Showcasing the persistence, effort, and dedication required to build The Happiest Place on Earth, Disneyland Handcrafted explores the days leading up to the opening of Disneyland in 1955, revealing the external pressure of tight deadlines and the hands-on work required to bring Walt’s vision to life. Bringing the development and construction of the Jungle Cruise, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and so many original Disneyland icons to life, you can explore how much hard work was put into the creation of the park through rare archival footage and insightful soundbites.

During the creation of the film, director Leslie Iwerks searched through over 50 hours of raw construction footage of Disneyland in its earliest days, uncovering authentic outtakes that had once been resting at the Walt Disney Film Archives for years. After combing through binder after binder of 16mm film reels, Leslie and her team were able to produce high-res scans of every reel without a timecode, helping to restore once-forgotten shots of early Disneyland onto a hard drive and bringing to life on screen.

Because much of the archival footage had no recorded production audio, every footstep, hammer strike, and ambient background sound had to be painstakingly re-created from scratch. To help bring the film to life, the legendary team at Skywalker Sound reconstructed the soundscape through sound design, mixing and foley artistry, immersing audiences in the sights and sounds of Disneyland’s creation.

The documentary film attracted a ton of buzz from longtime Disney Parks fans leading up to its highly-anticipated debut – take a look at what director Leslie Iwerks, cast members, and Walt Disney Imagineers had to say about the film at a special-advanced screening in January.

This special episode of Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce (recorded with the sunny, iconic backdrop of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom looming in the distance) combined the show’s candid, conversational tone with Disney World experiences for a unique video podcast format. Featuring the family’s own Disney expert in Donna Kelce and some of her memorable Disney tips from over the years (and yes, great call on the caramel apples, Donna), the episode captured the details that consistently shape a memorable Disney day on every single vacation to Central Florida and beyond.

Fueled by a passion for the parks, this collaboration with Dude Perfect brought fans along for a fast-paced journey across Disney Parks around the world (and around the clock), all in just under 75 hours. Blending humor, competition, and immersive storytelling, the partnership highlighted the global footprint of Disney Parks through the lens of one of YouTube’s most recognizable creator groups, engaging audiences in a fresh and dynamic way.

If you’ve ever been inspired to become a future Walt Disney Imagineer or learn more about the history and magic behind some of your favorite classic Disney Parks attractions, Imagineer That! is certainly for you. Guided by the monumental return of the lovable and nostalgic Tom Morrow 2.0, the creativity and curiosity behind Walt Disney Imagineering is truly on full display in this behind-the-scenes series.

If you’ve ever wondered why rollercoasters tend to feel faster in the dark (looking at you, Space Mountain and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind) or how Imagineers think up new rides years in advance, this series is for you.

Join Walt Disney Imagineering as we invite you into the Research & Development labs. Technology, innovation, and creativity blend together to set the stage for the future of Disney Parks inside this exciting episode, featuring a look at the imaginative BDX droids in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a first look at the brand-new, next-generation robotic Olaf featured in World of Frozen at Disney Adventure World in Paris, and more.

Ever wondered how Disney Holiday Services cast members can install dozens of Christmas trees across the parks and resorts with such remarkably efficient ease? In this exclusive behind-the-scenes look, discover how Walt Disney World transforms into a joyful winter wonderland seemingly overnight in this ultimate peek behind the holiday curtain.

In this episode, you’ll learn more about the massive overnight installation process, discover insider details of Disney’s holiday decor strategy, uncover fun facts about Disney’s holiday traditions, and witness jolly time-lapse footage of these iconic Christmas trees being placed at parks around the world.

Featured on @DisneyParks on Instagram leading into last year’s holiday season at Disney World, watch how Disney Holiday Services cast members were able to deck the halls of Main Street, U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom park from the prior night’s close to the next morning’s opening.

For the past 15 years, a certain cast member at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has brought an extra-warm smile, a welcoming wave, and the charming skill to make guests feel like they are the true stars of the show day in and day out at Walt Disney World. Finally honored to receive his iconic blue name tag as part of his recognition for The Walt Disney Legacy Award, listen as Willie tells us about how he felt when his core PhotoPass team surprised him with an award ceremony truly meant for a superstar.

Want to learn more about Willie’s time at Walt Disney World and the impact he continues to make on passionate guests and fellow cast members? Read more on the Disney Parks Blog!

Honoring the most creative and innovative work in digital and social media from brands, agencies, nonprofits, and content creators around the world, the Shorty Awards recognize excellence in content that simply breaks through the noise.

Judged by the Real Time Academy, the yearly competition celebrates standout ideas across the digital space, shining a bright spotlight on the work redefining what’s possible in the digital space. Categories include design, industry, podcast, video, campaign, and more, and nominees can be recognized as a winner, gold, silver, bronze, or audience honor for their work.

We’re not gonna lie — this one feels extra magical.

Disney Experiences is honored to be recognized as a winner at the 18th Annual Shorty Awards for the partnership with Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce and the “My Disney Spectacular” episode, filmed at Walt Disney World Resort. This collaboration also resulted in additional wins at the Webby Awards and Telly Awards, marking a strong accomplishment in this unique partnership.

From the beginning, the vision for this collaboration was simple: share Disney Parks as families genuinely experience them. Rather than a scripted or traditional approach, My Disney Spectacular unfolds naturally within Kylie Kelce’s world. It’s an episode that’s honest, relatable, and centered on modern family life.

Filmed on location at Walt Disney World, the episode captures both the big emotions and the little in-between moments that define a Disney day. From the joy of seeing a child’s face light up to the real-life adventure of navigating the parks with little ones, it’s a story many families will recognize.

Recent recognition from the Webby Awards, Telly Awards, and Shorty Awards continues to highlight the impactful focus across Disney Experiences on creating meaningful, engaging content for Disney fans across platforms. Key collaborations, short-form and long-form video series, in-depth storytelling series, and so much more continue to reflect the breadth of creative work, connecting with fan bases in new and evolving ways.