Building Disney World Landscape in my backyard

[Stevegriswold]

One thing I love about Walt Disney World is the landscaping. I love the tropical fell of Animal Kingdom, walking over the steams at Typhoon Lagoon, the large rocks and waterfalls at Canada, The rocks, landscape, lighting, and que line at Splash Mountain is great.

So I decide to copy the landscape ideas as much as possible as well as adding some great lighting.

I live in Atlanta GA., so going tropical has its limits. Also I have to consider that one day I will move, so I can not put Dumbo in my backyard.

I live on a hill, so one big slope. My plan is to terrace the hill and add a flagstone path, 25 foot water fall, 4 foot high rock walls to terrace the hill with, stone stairs, landscape lighting, a stream, a pond, a wood bridge, a bench to feed the fish from, a lower deck, a fire pit, a bunch of plants, overhead string lighting, large fake rocks.

I like the fake rocks Disney creates in their attractions, slides, and landscapes. So the landscape will contain large fake rocks and a large waterfall.

Here is where I am so far. I have removed the lawn, created a small stream and pond area. I have terraced the hill and built two 4 ft stone walls and a several flagstone paths.

I have created rock stairs going down to a lower terrace area that I have gravel on right now. I have created the wireframe for the large waterfall. Also some of the plants are in.

This took a few years, working weekends here and there, etc.

Here are some photos of what is done so far.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45080007@N04/

 

[connie1042]

Very cool. Keep up the great work.

 

[LMO429]

awesome job! want to come to my house and do the same thing

 

[Stevegriswold]

I am working on the 25 ft fake waterfall this weekend. Actually I have been working on this waterfall for over a year now, but I am getting close to finishing it, which is nice.

I have created the wire frame. This takes a long time. I used 4in. mesh and then deer netting and then chicken wire with c clamps to hold it together. This is a massive structure. I then put one coat of cement on the entire mesh frame. Next I sealed the cement and then put on a coat of mortar. I then textured the entire thing, using stamps, rocks, and an old paint brush. I added cracks using a screwdriver blade. This is where I am at now.

Tomorrow I have to add more cracks, and touch up some mortar and texture, then wash the rock and start painting it. Paiting takes a long time as well. I also added a waterless pond at the bottom, which needs work.

I will post some photos tomorrow.

I still have to run electrical and install some waterfall pumps.

 

[alebisi]

this looks great!! Keep us update with pictures. This looks so interesting can't wait to see the final result!

 

[Stevegriswold]

I want to do a Tom Sawyer Island play area also, for the kids. I need to take some photos when we go to WDW. This is last on my list, but hopefully I can start on that summer 2010.

I have to do a lower deck, firepit, clean up and mulch everything, then wait until Spring to start working again.

 

[Stevegriswold]

I added some more photos.

I built a bridge over the pond. I also built a simple bench next to the pond.
The 25 ft waterfall is coming along. It is no longer just wire mesh. It is now cement, morter, and I added texture and cracks. Part is now painted. The white parts in the photos, is a powder I use to keep the texture mats from sticking to the morter. So that white part I need to wash off, and then start painting. Also I have a pond liner and tubing now.

Today I need to touch up some morter areas, wash off the white powder, paint the rock and seal. also I need to make a rock step so it is easy to cross the waterfall and make a fake rock in the center of the top pool area to step on when crossing the waterfall.

Lots to do, so I have to run, more updates later.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45080007@N04/4144014548/in/photostream/

 

[aspen37]

Wow your backyard is Awesome! You've done a great job! You'll have to keep us updated on how it comes out. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Madi100]

I added some more photos.

I built a bridge over the pond. I also built a simple bench next to the pond.
The 25 ft waterfall is coming along. It is no longer just wire mesh. It is now cement, morter, and I added texture and cracks. Part is now painted. The white parts in the photos, is a powder I use to keep the texture mats from sticking to the morter. So that white part I need to wash off, and then start painting. Also I have a pond liner and tubing now.

Today I need to touch up some morter areas, wash off the white powder, paint the rock and seal. also I need to make a rock step so it is easy to cross the waterfall and make a fake rock in the center of the top pool area to step on when crossing the waterfall.

Lots to do, so I have to run, more updates later.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45080007@N04/4144014548/in/photostream/

You've done an amazing job. We're lucky if we can pull the weeds in our backyard.

 

[kafitty]

very cool. i love your textures.

 

[hockeymomNS]

Wow what alot of work......great job.

 

[rn4val]

What a beutiful area. Love the photos keep them coming. Great job

 

[Grumpy's Old Lady]

Great pictures. It's a lot of work, but worth it when you are all done. The stones are a beautiful color and it will look great when all done! Should put up more pictures of the finished product when done.

 

[Stevegriswold]

I did some more on the large waterfall this past weekend. I still have about 50% to color, and then seal. So maybe this next weekend I can turn on the water .

I think next I'll start on the deck framing next to the waterfall and start on the firepit.

That might do it until Spring time.

To Do in the Spring:
New mulch / pine straw
Build deck
Add plants
Fire Pit benches
Clean Ponds and get ready for Spring
Plan Tom S Island play area


Cool Disney Items to add:

String Lights like at Downtown Disney and AK Africa area.
I want to add string lights over the deck area.

Firefly lights. These are at Pirates of the Carribean at Tokyo and DisneyLand I am told. They are LED lights that you put in the bushes to make fireflies.

Signs - WDW has great colorful signs. I need to have one made to direct people down to the firepit.

Mist - Like the entry area to AK. Not sure if they still have the mist from when AK opened. I had something like this before so not 100% sure if I want to try this again.

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Wow, this is beautiful and you are doing an amazing job!

 

[dolphconn]

Let me be the guy to tell you that your imagination will grow into something spectacular for all to enjoy, even if Dumbo is on display.

I also love the landscaping around Disney World and I decided to use cold hardy plants like banana trees (Musa Basjoo) and Windmill Palms in our little backyard paradise. I really taught that I went a little overboard on my PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN theme but after friends and family members had a look at my creation, they all love it and our backyard came in 1st place from a garden tour that was held this past summer. We live in Connecticut and if you are interested in seeing our videos please go to youtube and type in "dolphconn".

Keep up the great work and enjoy your paradise as much as we enjoy ours.

 

[Stevegriswold]

Let me be the guy to tell you that your imagination will grow into something spectacular for all to enjoy, even if Dumbo is on display.

I also love the landscaping around Disney World and I decided to use cold hardy plants like banana trees (Musa Basjoo) and Windmill Palms in our little backyard paradise. I really taught that I went a little overboard on my PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN theme but after friends and family members had a look at my creation, they all love it and our backyard came in 1st place from a garden tour that was held this past summer. We live in Connecticut and if you are interested in seeing our videos please go to youtube and type in "dolphconn".

Keep up the great work and enjoy your paradise as much as we enjoy ours.

Wow, Very Cool. I just looked at a few of your videos.

I have lots of ideas now.
I think a pirates play area is in the cards now. So many great ideas in your videos.
I have the bucky skeletons that I use for Halloween and stage lighting we use for Halloween already, so I need to expand on that theme and use some of that year round. I love your lanterns, and also the scenes you made. I’ll have to come up with some pirate play items for the kids: cannons, maybe ropes and pullies with buckets, maybe your boat idea as a sand play box, I love the treasure chest you did with the lights etc.

It rained here a bunch last night and my pond for the new waterfall filled up so I went out and turned on the pump for a test run. It is so cool. I need to do some work. It shoots up water about four feet in the air at the top when it comes out, so I need to fix that. It also uses all the water and empties the pond and does not get back down in time to fill it back up, so I need to make the pond area larger. The pump does 6500 GPH put goes up about 20-25 feet and it is amazing the amount of water that it moves. I did pumping for two pumps but the one is going to be more than enough. It's going to be cold and ugly this weekend so it currently looks like I am going to have to wait.


I also like the banana trees. I tried three or four of those a few years ago. They grew and then died back in the winter and none of them returned. I might need to mulch them more I guess. I am in GA zone 7. During the summer my backyard is 100% sun, winter it is almost 100% shade.

 

[susiemouse]

That looks amazing! Can't wait to see your final pics!

 

[dolphconn]

Thanks for looking and I'm happy that I have inspired you to higher sites. This transformation of our backyard has brought my family and friends closer. I know it will do the same for yours.

Your home is your kingdom, make it a happy place for you to relax and enjoy.

 

[dolphconn]

Steve, sorry but I'm still trying to figure out how this forum works. Anyway here is the answers to your questions.

I used a 10' cedar fence post (lumber yard), a rope pully (ebay), and the large ring is just a cheap bathroom towel holder ring that I spray painted. The ship is made of a full sheet of plywood (pressure treated), a couple of pressure treated 2x2 lumber and a few pieces of cedar shingles used for siding.
Look at youtube "boat" video for a better understanding.

All my skeletons were purchased thru "grandinroad.com" but they are not available any longer. the only place I can get them now are at "skeleton-factory.com", a little cheaper quality but it's better than nothing. The drinking skeleton is from skeleton-factory.

Yes, I used a 50 LED Christmas light set that is connected with my ship wheel. They are both powered by a timer switch that I control up in my outdoor kitchen area.

The lantern is connected to my low voltage landscape lights and you can purchase the flickering controller at "somethindifferent.com"

Yes, my banana trees get cut down to the ground and I use a whole bag of mulch to cover the root ball. The Windmill Palm was purchased I believe near you, it's called "paradisepalmco.com". This will be it's first winter test and I plan on leaving it alone unless a cold spell of 10 degrees or lower will be hanging around for a few days.