Today at Disneyland: Tony Baxter Window

My husband and I headed over to Disneyland early this afternoon to enjoy lunch and a couple of hours walking around and taking in the sights.

One of the things I was especially interested in seeing today was the new Main Street tribute window honoring legendary Imagineer Tony Baxter, who retired from full-time work with Disney earlier this year. The unveiling ceremony took place early Friday morning.

Tony's window, advertising "Main Street Marvels," says "Tony Baxter, Inventor," and then "Imagination is at the heart of our creations."

Tony's first job at Disneyland was at the Carnation Plaza Gardens in 1965. After five years working in the park, he "graduated" to Imagineering in 1970, where he spent over four decades creating magic at various Disney parks.

It was thus very appropriate that the location chosen for Tony's window was above the magic shop!

Tony Baxter's many achievements include playing a key role in creating Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland's New Fantasyland, Star Tours, and Splash Mountain, not to mention Disneyland Paris.

Here's a great shot from the ceremony, with Tony posing with longtime Disney greats Marty Sklar, Dave Smith, Kathryn Beaumont, Richard Sherman, Bob Gurr, and Tony Anselmo.

The other window above the magic shop belongs to Roger Broggie, who also had a fascinating Disney career:

Broggie was hired at Disney Studios in 1939, where early in his career he installed a multiplane camera. He helped Walt Disney create his backyard train set, the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, and at Disneyland he worked on the development of the Disneyland Railroad, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and the Monorail. A true Renaissance man, Broggie also worked on the Circle-Vision 360 process -- the "in the round" film AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL was one of my favorite Disneyland attractions -- and helped create audioanimatronics. Broggie's son and grandson have also worked for Disney.

The official holiday season in Anaheim runs from November 12th to January 6th this year, but the first signs of decorating are already in evidence.

This year the snow on Sleeping Beauty Castle ties in with FROZEN decorating elsewhere in Fantasyland:

Rapunzel has now been sent to Fantasy Faire, and her cottage in Fantasyland has become a FROZEN meet and greet:

Across the entrance plaza, the decorations have also just started to appear at California Adventure:

In other Disney news, I've applied for tickets to a members-only screening of SAVING MR. BANKS (2013) being held next Sunday by the American Cinematheque, with Emma Thompson present to discuss the film prior to the screening. I'm hoping to hear early this week whether I'll be receiving tickets. (Update: received my confirmation!)