Tony Baxter (imagineer)
Encyclopedia
Tony Wayne Baxter is currently Senior Vice President, Creative Development, Walt Disney Imagineering
, and is responsible for overall creative direction for the Disneyland Resort
.
Growing up in Southern California, Baxter started his career at Disneyland at age 17, scooping ice cream on Main Street, U.S.A.
. After several years of odd jobs at the park, he garnered attention through a portfolio of attraction concepts and was hired at WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering), where he has remained since. His roles on his first projects were relatively minor, but he was eventually given extensive creative control of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
, which debuted at Disneyland in 1979, at Walt Disney World in 1980, and later at Disneyland Paris in 1992. After this, he continued to be assigned high-level roles in Imagineering projects.
Other projects that Baxter was responsible for include:
Never-built projects that Tony personally supervised include a re-design for Disneyland's Tomorrowland called Tomorrowland 2055 and a new land for Disneyland called Discovery Bay. (However, this was a source of inspiration for Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris—that park's version of Tomorrowland.)
Walt Disney Imagineering
Walt Disney Imagineering is the design and development arm of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and construction of Disney theme parks worldwide...
, and is responsible for overall creative direction for the Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...
.
Growing up in Southern California, Baxter started his career at Disneyland at age 17, scooping ice cream on Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many 'Magic Kingdom'-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
. After several years of odd jobs at the park, he garnered attention through a portfolio of attraction concepts and was hired at WED Enterprises (now known as Walt Disney Imagineering), where he has remained since. His roles on his first projects were relatively minor, but he was eventually given extensive creative control of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an indoor/outdoor mine train roller coaster located in Frontierland at several Disneyland-style Disney Parks worldwide...
, which debuted at Disneyland in 1979, at Walt Disney World in 1980, and later at Disneyland Paris in 1992. After this, he continued to be assigned high-level roles in Imagineering projects.
Other projects that Baxter was responsible for include:
- Big Thunder Mountain RailroadBig Thunder Mountain RailroadBig Thunder Mountain Railroad is an indoor/outdoor mine train roller coaster located in Frontierland at several Disneyland-style Disney Parks worldwide...
(Opened in 1979) - Re-design of Disneyland's FantasylandFantasylandFantasyland is one of the "themed lands" at the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Each Fantasyland has a castle as well as several gentle rides themed after Disney movies...
(Opened in 1983) - The Original Journey Into ImaginationJourney Into ImaginationJourney Into Imagination With Figment is an attraction which is contained within The Imagination! Pavilion at the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World and opened on March 5, 1983. It has been through three incarnations over the years, two of them featuring Figment, a small purple dragon, as a...
Pavilion (Opened in 1983) - The Disney GalleryThe Disney GalleryThe Disney Gallery is an attraction and merchandise location at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It opened at its current location on Main Street U.S.A. on October 2, 2009. From 1987-2007 it was located in New Orleans Square above the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction...
(Opened in 1987) - Splash MountainSplash MountainSplash Mountain is a themed log flume attraction at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, based on the characters, stories and songs from the 1946 Disney film Song of the South...
(Opened in 1989) - Disneyland Paris (Opened in 1992)
- Indiana Jones AdventureIndiana Jones AdventureIndiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a dark ride motion simulator attraction based on the Indiana Jones films. Guests accompany intrepid archeologist Dr. Indiana Jones on a quest for the Jewel of Power through a dangerous lost temple, then board military troop transport vehicles...
(Opened in 1995) - Re-design of Disneyland's TomorrowlandTomorrowland- Tomorrowland 1955–1967 :The first Tomorrowland opened at Disneyland on July 18, 1955, with only several of its planned attractions open, due to budget cuts. The construction of the park was rushed, so Tomorrowland was the last land to be finished. It became something of a corporate showcase,...
(Opened in 1998) - Finding Nemo Submarine VoyageFinding Nemo Submarine VoyageFinding Nemo Submarine Voyage is an attraction located in the Tomorrowland area of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, which opened on June 11, 2007...
at Disneyland (Opened in 2007) - Re-design of Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty's Castle WalkthroughSleeping Beauty CastleSleeping Beauty Castle is the fairy tale structure castle at the center of Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. It is based on the late-19th century Neuschwanstein Castle,with some French inspirations .-Disneyland version:Opened July 17, 1955, the castle is the oldest of all Disney castles...
(Opened in 2008)
Never-built projects that Tony personally supervised include a re-design for Disneyland's Tomorrowland called Tomorrowland 2055 and a new land for Disneyland called Discovery Bay. (However, this was a source of inspiration for Discoveryland in Disneyland Paris—that park's version of Tomorrowland.)