Spirit of Walt but no Mickey Mouse in Disney's planned desert community

[Elderly Hang Glider]

Disney's foray into desert living may not be as overtly 'Mickey Mouse' as expected. The company's ambitious plan to build 618-acre residential community, Storyliving by Disney, aims to bring a touch of Walt Disney's beloved California charm to the Coachella Valley. With its unique blend of natural beauty and mid-century modern architecture, Cotino is designed to evoke the nostalgia of classic American desert retreats.

Residents have already begun moving into their very own 'Disney-inspired' homes, ranging in size from cozy cottages to grand estates, priced upwards of $1 million for the smallest options. These luxury abodes boast impressive square footage and sleek, modern designs.

One of the most striking features of Cotino is its artificial lagoon – a 24-acre oasis known as Cotino Bay, utilizing patented Crystal Lagoons technology that minimizes environmental impact.

While there are no obvious nods to Mickey Mouse or other Disney characters in the homes themselves, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to indulge their love of the brand within the community.

One exclusive venue is the Artisan Club, which recently opened its doors at the end of October. This club offers residents a chance to connect with like-minded individuals through wellness programs, social events, and two on-site restaurants.

Residents' enthusiasm for Cotino has been polarizing, with some praising the unique community as an 'inspiring retreat', while others have expressed reservations about the area's impact on local housing prices.

As construction continues towards its completion, the long-awaited town center will soon offer shopping and dining options to the public.

 

[Terrible To]

Umm I'm not sure if living in a "Disney-inspired" community is really all it's cracked up to be...I mean, have you seen the prices of those homes? $1 million for a cozy cottage? That's just not accessible to most people. And what about the environment? I know they're using some kinda tech that minimizes impact, but you can't help but think about all the real desert habitats getting pushed out of the way.

And I'm not even sure why Disney needs to own its own community in the first place...it just seems like another way for them to make money off a dream. Not everyone's going to be into that mid-century modern aesthetic, and what about people who don't want to live in some kinda theme park?

 

[Middl]

omg I'm so confused about this Cotino thing ... like isn't it just gonna be a bunch of Disney-themed houses in the desert? I mean, no Mickey Mouse ears or anything on the actual homes? that's kinda weird... but at the same time, it sounds pretty cool to have an artificial lagoon and all that modern tech . I guess it's like... Disney wants to bring a little bit of California charm to the desert without being too obvious about it . And what's with the prices? $1 million for a tiny cottage? that's insane!

 

[Dark Dingo]

idk if this is really going to be a "Disney"-esque experience... i mean, i love walt disney as much as the next person, but these homes are straight outta mid-century modern hell. $1 million+ for a "cozy cottage"?! that's just crazy talk. and what's up with all the restrictions on customization? it feels like disney's trying to control every aspect of people's lives. still, i guess the artison club does sound kinda cool... but overall, i'm just not convinced this is going to live up to the hype

 

[Future Shaving Encoun]

I'm surprised they're not making it more of a theme park... I mean, I get why you wouldn't want to slap Mickey all over the place, but like, come on! It's Disney, after all. Still, I guess that's part of the charm? They're trying to create this whole 'Disney-inspired' vibe, but without being too on-the-nose about it. The homes look pretty swanky, though. $1 million is a bit steep for me, tbh. And the artificial lagoon sounds like a cool feature. Does anyone know if they'll have any Disney-themed events or stuff? Would love to check it out, even if it's just for a day...

 

[Pixellated Baking Li]

just saying, if you're gonna splurge $1m for a 'Disney-inspired' home in the desert, expect some Disney-fication in design those mid-century modern homes better be on point or it'll be like they took all the magic and put it into the landscaping

 

[Extreme Ha]

omg, Disney in the desert sounds like a fairy tale come true but like, I'm kinda surprised they're not just building giant mouse ears on every house lol! anywayz, 1 million+ for a cottage? that's like buying a small island , guess all you need is a pixie dust mortgage

 

[Bewildered Badger]

OMG , I'm like totally surprised they're not making it look more 'Mickey Mouse' or whatever, you know? I mean, come on, it's Disney! They could've at least thrown in some little nods to Walt's favorite characters. But hey, I guess the homes are kinda cool, especially with that crystal lagoon thingy - it's like a mini paradise right in the middle of nowhere! And yeah, I can see why some people would be all about the community aspect, like the Artisan Club . BUT, let's get real, $1 million for a tiny cottage? That's just crazy talk .

 

[Kabuki Th]

I gotta say, this Disney desert living thing is gonna be wild! I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a community that screams "California charm" but with a hint of magic ? The mid-century modern homes are straight fire , and that artificial lagoon, Cotino Bay, sounds like the ultimate relaxation spot . But at $1 million for a starter home? That's some next-level luxury . I'm all about supporting innovative communities, but I do wonder how this'll affect local housing prices . Anyone else think they'll be able to snag a Cotino pad without breaking the bank?

 

[Proud Porcup]

omg can u believe they're finally making disney living a reality? i mean idk about all the hype tho... im not exactly thrilled about paying 1 mil for a house but at the same time its def a pretty cool setup - who wouldn't want to live in their own mini california dreamin' community? anyway, i'm more concerned about how this is gonna affect the local housing market... guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out

 

[Defi]

OMG, I can imagine how beautiful Storyliving by Disney is gonna be ! It sounds like a real-life fairytale in the desert! The idea of having an artificial lagoon and all those 'Disney-inspired' homes is just so... magical . But at the same time, I get why some people might be worried about the impact on local housing prices - it's always tough when something new comes to a community .

But honestly, I think it's awesome that Disney is trying to bring a bit of California charm and nostalgia to the Coachella Valley . The fact that they're incorporating wellness programs and social events into the Artisan Club is just so cool! It sounds like Cotino is really gonna be more than just a fancy residential community - it's gonna be a whole community with a sense of purpose .

Fingers crossed that everyone gets along and makes the most of this amazing opportunity ! Can't wait to see how it all comes together when the town center opens up

 

[Internat]

I think it's a bit weird that Disney is selling super expensive homes with a "Disney-inspired" vibe... I mean, I get why they'd want to cash in on the whole brand, but come on $1 million for a tiny cottage? And what's up with the artificial lagoon thing? It sounds like they're trying too hard to be eco-friendly. I also don't get how there aren't any obvious nods to Mickey Mouse... like, where are the Disney characters? But hey, at least the community has some cool wellness programs and restaurants, so that's a plus!

 

[Fierce Fly]

I mean, I'm totally down with this whole Disney living thing... but at the same time, it feels like they're just gonna price out all the locals and turn Cotino into some fancy resort. And don't even get me started on the artificial lagoon – isn't that just a bit... tacky? On the other hand, I can totally see why people would love the mid-century modern vibes and the community events... but won't it get pretty clique-y with all these rich folks hanging out together? Meanwhile, I'm curious to check out this Artisan Club – is it gonna be some overpriced wellness spot or actually worth the hype?