I Met Tony Baxter and John Lasseter in the Park Today!!!

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ValentineMouse

New Member
Original Poster
OMG! First post lol, but I had to tell some Disney fans! I'm STILL buzzing!

I was at the park today with a Meet-up group I had just met, and as we were coming off Peter Pan's Flight, I saw a group of smart looking Disney people walk past. I saw they had their Disney badges on, but turned backwards, so they couldn't be read. I didn't know who they were, but I said to the group "Omg! They're Disney executives!" One had a Cars coat on.

Later, the six of us walked over the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-through. Two went inside, two walked over to the exit to wait for them, and one went to the bathroom. So I kinda milled around the entrance, when a crowd of the executives gathered in a circle at the entrance. I was kind of "Wow. Wow!" thinking cool, Disney managers, but then I turned and saw one of them. He looked familiar. Grey hair. Mustache. OMG IT'S TONY BAXTER.

So I look at the group -- these are TOP executives, and right across from me is JOHN LASSETER.

They were in a group circle, and, gosh, I don't mean to be rude, but OMG! I kinda pushed myself in a bit towards the two Disney GENIUSES and said;

"Excuse me but um bah bahh bah.."

I ACTUALLY COULDN'T SPEAK I WAS SO IN SHOCK.

John, noticing my vision flicking between the two, holds his hand towards Tony and says; "This is Tony Baxter."

I said; "I KNOW!! And you're JOHN LASSETER!"

I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I asked them to sign my Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland (THANK GOD I HAD IT IN MY BAG!) which they did. I shook both their hands. Told John that Cars Land looked way cool, and told Tony that I want to be an Imagineer some day, and he gave me some AMAZING advice, especially saying that I'm from the UK.
I parted with "Someday, I hope I'll work for you guys!"

They went inside the walkthrough, and I rushed to my now gathered group, practically screaming and jumping up and down. I explained and they were like WOW!

So we waited at the exit of course lol! They wanted to meet them too. Eventually, Tony came running out and down towards the wishing well. I was kind of too bashful to bother him again, so I just said; "Thanks Tony!" and he said no problem with a smile. My group were like; "Why didn't you get a picture!!" but I didn't want to bother him again! They convinced me though, and as he came back, next to the wishing well, I asked if I could have a picture, and he said they were coming back that way, I could get a picture with both of them then.

So we waited, I kind of slunked back into the alley because I didn't want to be a bother (my group were right at the door lol!) but when they came out (my group told me this..) the Disney security wanted to move them over the drawbridge, but Tony said "No, wait. I told the UK kid to wait over there, and said we'd have a picture with him." HOW NICE IS THAT. My group heard him and SHOUTED for me to run over.

Overjoyed that they'd take a picture with me, I ran as fast as I could, and got the picture beneath the castle. Right were Walt once stood.

I'm totally buzzing right now. They were the nicest guys, and I'm so appreciative they put up with the star struck Disney fanboy kid from the UK. I'm SOOOOO HAPPY =D

PICTURES!--

www.theneverlandfiles.com/tonyjohn1.JPG

and

www.theneverlandfiles.com/tonyjohn2.JPG
 
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agent86

New Member
That is a very cool story! Tony Baxter is just a really down to earth great guy. I met him (and some other Disney execs) about 20 years ago at the opening of Splash Mountain at Disneyland, and he that way then too. A few years later, I wrote him a letter asking for advice on how to get into Imagineering. I have, unfortunately, since lost the letter (which kills me), but I will never forget how cool it was. He started it out by apologizing for taking so long to reply, and then went on to write a 2-page letter giving me some really great advice. Although my career took a different path and I never did pursue an Imagineering job, I never forgot how neat it was to get such a thoughtful letter from him. He is definitely a guy who seems to connect well with the guests (including us Disney fans), and he doesn't seem bigheaded at all.

It is nice to hear that things have not changed in that regard. Congratulations on getting to meet both of them. I know what you mean about not wanting to feel like you were bothering them, and not wanting to come across as some sort of deranged fan. It sounds like you handled it exactly the way I would have, and I think it's really cool that he was so gracious. :sohappy:
 
Steve-B

Steve-B

Active Member
That's a cool story !
Sadly, I wouldn't know either one of those guys if he came up and punched me in the mouth . . . . . . . . . .
 
maelstrom

maelstrom

Well-Known Member
I likely would have had the same reaction you did.

YOU ARE TONY BAXTER!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!! *jumping up and down*

I wonder if they're used to people coming up to them like that or if they're still a little surprised each time. I mean, it's usually only die-hard Disney fans who will recognize people like that.
 
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ValentineMouse

New Member
Original Poster
I think they must be able to move around the park pretty freely. They weren't going through the secret entrances and exits or anything, just walking through the main streets. I guess they don't get recognised that often.

I felt so rude jumping into their circle and interupting but I couldn't contain myself!
 
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Sassagoula-Rvr

Well-Known Member
agent86 said:
That is a very cool story! Tony Baxter is just a really down to earth great guy. I met him (and some other Disney execs) about 20 years ago at the opening of Splash Mountain at Disneyland, and he that way then too. A few years later, I wrote him a letter asking for advice on how to get into Imagineering. I have, unfortunately, since lost the letter (which kills me), but I will never forget how cool it was. He started it out by apologizing for taking so long to reply, and then went on to write a 2-page letter giving me some really great advice. Although my career took a different path and I never did pursue an Imagineering job, I never forgot how neat it was to get such a thoughtful letter from him. He is definitely a guy who seems to connect well with the guests (including us Disney fans), and he doesn't seem bigheaded at all.

It is nice to hear that things have not changed in that regard. Congratulations on getting to meet both of them. I know what you mean about not wanting to feel like you were bothering them, and not wanting to come across as some sort of deranged fan. It sounds like you handled it exactly the way I would have, and I think it's really cool that he was so gracious. :sohappy:
Click to expand...

How did you get Tony Baxter's address?? I've been trying to find a mailing or email address for imagineering for a long time.
 
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agent86

New Member
Sassagoula-Rvr said:
How did you get Tony Baxter's address?? I've been trying to find a mailing or email address for imagineering for a long time.
Click to expand...

Well keep in mind this was about 20 years ago (remember I said I wrote the letter just a couple years after I met him at DL's Splash Mt opening, which was 20 years ago). I don't think they're even in the same location anymore, but back then, Imagineering was located in a building on Flower Street in Glendale (I remember the building looked like a bowling alley on the outside, and I think that was actually the Imagineers' nickname for it). I seem to recall they've long-since moved to a different location though.

Having said that, back in those days I tended to write a number of letters to Disneyland, the Walt Disney Company, etc. On at least one of those occasions, one of my letters to Disneyland had been re-directed to someone at Imagineering and they wrote me back. That letter had the mailing address for WDI and I just held onto that letter.

Nowadays, if you wanted to send a letter to Tony Baxter and you couldn't get the address for WDI, I'd probably just send the letter to the studio in Burbank, but address it to Tony Baxter at WDI. My guess is that it would get to him.
 
S

Sassagoula-Rvr

Well-Known Member
agent86 said:
Well keep in mind this was about 20 years ago (remember I said I wrote the letter just a couple years after I met him at DL's Splash Mt opening, which was 20 years ago). I don't think they're even in the same location anymore, but back then, Imagineering was located in a building on Flower Street in Glendale (I remember the building looked like a bowling alley on the outside, and I think that was actually the Imagineers' nickname for it). I seem to recall they've long-since moved to a different location though.

Having said that, back in those days I tended to write a number of letters to Disneyland, the Walt Disney Company, etc. On at least one of those occasions, one of my letters to Disneyland had been re-directed to someone at Imagineering and they wrote me back. That letter had the mailing address for WDI and I just held onto that letter.

Nowadays, if you wanted to send a letter to Tony Baxter and you couldn't get the address for WDI, I'd probably just send the letter to the studio in Burbank, but address it to Tony Baxter at WDI. My guess is that it would get to him.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 

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