Leslie Iwerks Honors Her Father's Legacy at Disney Cruise Screening

Leslie Iwerks, director of 'Disney Worldbuilders', shared her childhood memories and fascination with Disney's history at a special screening on the Disney Vacation Club Member Cruise. The event took place at the Walt Disney Theatre, where Iwerks had a pre-film conversation with Disney Files Magazine editor Ryan March.

Iwerks' father, Don Iwerks, was a Disney Legend who spent 35 years at the company, working on various technologies including 360-degree filmmaking and visual-effects systems used in projects like TRON and Star Tours. He was known for being humble and quiet, but enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge with others.

Leslie remembered how her father would explain complex technical problems to her when she came home from school, making them seem exciting and accessible. Even in a long-term care facility, Don remained fascinated by technology and followed Leslie's travels using flight-tracking apps and Apple's Find My feature.

Iwerks' interest in filmmaking was sparked by watching Disney animation with her father at home. She eventually went on to become a documentary filmmaker, drawn to people who take risks to create something new and original.