Legendary Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter transformed his backyard into an enchanted ‘Mary Poppins’ wonderland - OCR/SCNG

Darkbeer1

Well-Known Member
Original Poster

>>What happens when a legendary Disney designer sits down to watch “Mary Poppins Returns” on his TV? Well, if you’re Tony Baxter, it shakes up your whole backyard.

Baxter, who built his Anaheim Hills home 28 years ago, had been thinking for a while about how to attract house guests down into his spacious backyard. People always complimented him on the yard’s beauty, but rarely ventured into it, preferring to stay on the porch.

“When I built this house, I thought it would get used a lot more, but I don’t have a pool,” Baxter said. “It wasn’t conducive to partying. There were no big places to gather.”

Baxter’s Tudor-style house looks like it could be set down inside Disneyland’s Fantasyland, and in fact, he hired Disney artisans to create effects in it, such as sculpting fake brick wall decor and old English-style wooden trim. The second story revolves around a wooden gallery and includes details such as a turret and the Epcot dragon Figment on its cupola. Even the front door has gothic brass accents that he picked up while designing Disneyland Paris.

He was never completely satisfied with the backyard, though. He didn’t want to build a pool that would have to be maintained, yet he wanted a space more conducive to entertaining.

He went to the premiere of “Mary Poppins Returns,” though nothing clicked at the time. Then, last November, he sat in his TV room watching “Mary Poppins Returns” on Blu-Ray, and he saw the musical number that would change his yard forever.

“I was watching “Trip A Little Light Fantastic,” this musical number in an abandoned park that comes to life, and I thought, “This is the neatest thing I’ve ever seen.” It created this very appealing and magical space.”

In Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” the magical nanny again helps the Banks family, along with her friend Jack whose job is to light gas street lamps in London. There’s a memorable scene in the movie where they slide down a pole, walk through (an empty) sewer tunnel and into a darkened park, which becomes lit with Victorian gas lamps and torches from singing, dancing street lamplighters.<<

More of the article and some nice photos at the link, available at most Southern California News Group websites.
 
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Sharon&Susan

Well-Known Member
I want to see Eisner's house.
EISNERHOME.jpg
 

DanielBB8

Well-Known Member
I didn’t realize Imagineers were paid enough to afford this.
Did you actually see it? It's a few lamp posts, pathways, plants. Hardly any structures. I would think he didn't pay more than 60K for it. Perhaps in the range of $30K as how much a basic pool and decking would cost as comparison. If you're going for more luxury pool, you would spend $50 to $60K.
 

Figments Friend

Well-Known Member
Tony's home is absolutely amazing.
A truly beautiful place set in another time.
Mere words cannot describe the awesome experience it is to spend some time there.

It is like Mara's Temple - filled with treasures beyond your wildest Disney Theme Park dreams.
Everywhere there are reminders of not only his own brilliant works over the years working for WED/WDI, but many historical delights related to the Disney organizations varied history.
Fabulous artwork, keepsakes, Park memorabilia, amazing models, beautiful theming and landscape work, and of course wonderful company.
It also features a impressive collection related to his own non-Disney interests, all displayed in charming ways.

His collections are stunning, and his hospitality is extremely generous.
:)



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TROR

Well-Known Member
Did you actually see it? It's a few lamp posts, pathways, plants. Hardly any structures. I would think he didn't pay more than 60K for it. Perhaps in the range of $30K as how much a basic pool and decking would cost as comparison. If you're going for more luxury pool, you would spend $50 to $60K.
To be fair, if it was WDI making this for the parks it would likely cost $10 million.
 

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