Looking at the magical kingdom he created today, it's hard to imagine Walt Disney really struggled to master the art and business of animation.

But a new film that debuted Friday at Downtown Disney, "Walt Before Mickey," depicts just that, from his poor beginnings in a small Missouri town to Kansas City, where he opened his first animation studio and bought a train ticket to Los Angeles.

The film tells the story of how Walt's inspiration for a mouse named Mortimer would be the key to his success, something for which Central Florida can certainly vouch.

"Walt Before Mickey" was filmed in DeLand and Sanford, and it debuts Friday at Downtown Disney.

The film stars Thomas Ian Nicholas of "American Pie" and "Rookie of the Year" fame as Walt Disney. He will be joining News 13 starting at 6 a.m. Saturday to talk about the movie and filming in Central Florida.

Walt Before Mickey — Watch the Trailer