Disney is building a planned community of condos, houses, and estates in California — see what it'll be like to live there

Brittany Chang

February 17, 2022 at 10:26 AM·3 min read

A rendering of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community. Homes surround an oasis-like lagoon. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

Disney is building planned communities with estates, single-family homes, and condominiums.
The first community will be located in Rancho Mirage, California, about a two-hour drive from Disneyland.
The neighborhood will have an "oasis" with a beach park, nearby dining and entertainment, and a hotel.

Disney megafans, now is your chance to live and breathe Disney under the warm California sun.

On Tuesday, Disney announced its latest venture: Storyliving by Disney, a series of planned communities with estates, single-family homes, and condominiums, all with the Disney flair.

An adult and child picking tomatoes in a garden. — Life at Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

Source: Disney

The first community, named Cotino, will be built in Rancho Mirage, California in the Coachella Valley, about a two-hour drive from Disneyland.

Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community. The image shows what could be the lobby of the development as people stand or sit around. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

The entertainment powerhouse is now working with DMB Development, which specializes in large planned communities, to create Cotino.

Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community. The rendering shows a waterfront clubhouse with mountains in the back and palm trees nearby. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

If you're wondering what life in a Disney neighborhood will be like, just "picture an energetic community with the warmth and charm of a small town and the beauty of a resort," Helen Pak, a senior vice president with Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, said in a promotional video

Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community. People are lounging on the beach as others walk around the nearby outdoor complex. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

Source: Disney

The community will have a section built just for residents who are 55-years-old and older.

People standing outside facing away from the camera as they raise their arms to do a yoga pose. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

And the neighborhood will have the recognizable Disney charm its fans have come to love, like Disney cast members.

Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community. People are walking around an open-aired complex while others are seated at dining tables. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

Residents also have the option for a club membership that'll include programs like live shows, cooking classes, and wellness activities.

In true California desert fashion, Cotino will have an "oasis" body of water that will sit in the center of the development.

The membership will then include access to Cotino's clubhouse, beach, and water activities, although some of these can be accessed via a day pass instead.

There'll also be nearby leisure and entertainment options like dining, shopping, and a beachfront hotel, making the neighborhood feel like a full community.

This isn't Disney's first foray into residential real estate, nor will it be it's last.

Source: Disney

Disney has yet to announce pricing or a timeline for its Cotino community, but the company is now considering more locations for additional Storyliving by Disney developments.

Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community. Peopel are walking around near a Contino sign as cars drive into the neighborhood. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

And Cotino isn't Disney's only residential development in its portfolio. The company already operates the Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort, a planned cluster of luxury neighborhoods in Florida.

A child is sifting a powder over a cake as an adult smiles and looks on. — Renderings of Cotino, Storyliving by Disney's first community.Disney

Source: Golden Oak Realty

These communities have all been a long time coming for the company: Creating a planned community was always Walt Disney's dream.

disney world florida — Walt Disney World in Florida in 2020.Olga Thompson/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty Images

Disney visitors now recognize Epcot as a theme park within Walt Disney World.

Epcot at Disney World in August 2021. — Amanda Krause/Insider

But before this park concept, Disney had plans to turn the area into a utopian city known as "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow," or Epcot for short.

A satellite image of Epcot at Disney World — A satellite image shows all of Epcot.Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images

Source: Insider

While Epcot as a community never came to fruition, the company now has a shot at creating its own "community of tomorrow" with Storyliving by Disney.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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