Disney Is Developing ‘Storyliving’ Communities Where Fans Can Live In A World Curated For Them By The Company

The Walt Disney Company is stepping up its real estate game with the recent announcement that it plans to develop “storyliving by Disney” communities across the country where fans of the brand will be able to live in a world curated for them by the company.

According to Disney’s promotional material: “These communities are envisioned as enriching enclaves conceived with the simple notion of bringing people together. Managed by Disney cast members who deliver world-class service and, of course, fun. No one else could bring to life such a vibrant mix of experiences and activities that will inspire new passions.”

The first of the developments, Cotino, will be set up in Riverside County’s Rancho Mirage in California. According to a Disney release, Walt himself used to own a home in the area.

Cotino is being developed with input from Disney’s imagineers, who the company says are working with developers and builders to weave “the essence of the Greater Palm Springs Area into the Cotino community.”

The Cotino community will be set up on a 24-acre plot of land with estates, single-family homes, and condominiums. There will also be a neighborhood specifically designed for adults 55 and older.

The development has already received approval for a mixed-use district which will include shopping, dining, and entertainment centers, a beachfront hotel, and a managed beachfront park open to the public with the purchase of a day pass.

Residents will have the option of purchasing a membership to the Artisan Club, which includes access to the Parr House – a multifunctional venue inspired by the Parr family from Pixar’s The Incredibles 2, a beachfront clubhouse, and programmed recreational activities.

Other features include a grand oasis featuring white sandy beaches and a promenade with views of the surrounding mountains. The oasis will be accessible to guests of the community for a fee. There will also be a town center with shops, restaurants, and access to a public beach, again accessible by guests for a fee.

Disney is no newcomer to real estate development. In the 1990s the company opened a planned town named Celebration near Walt Disney World in Orlando. However, that location suffered from poor construction work and took a major PR hit after a murder-suicide in 2010.