4 min readWalt Disney often escaped to Palm Springs, California, where he owned two homes at Smoke Tree Ranch, an iconic neighborhood set beneath the San Jacinto Mountains and known for neighbors gathering for square dancing, live music, and other Western pastimes. While unwinding at his desert retreat, Disney reportedly dreamed up ideas for Disneyland. Eagle-eyed fans may even spot a nod to the neighborhood: The Smoke Tree Ranch insignia appears on several of Walt’s neckties, including the one he wore in the 1960s on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.
So when the team at Storyliving by Disney began scouting locations for its first housing development, they zeroed in on Palm Desert, about 95 miles southeast of the Happiest Place on Earth.
“The Coachella Valley was such a special place for Walt Disney to rest and recharge,” says Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Creative Director Caroline Boone. “When thinking about the story we wanted to tell at Cotino, we were inspired by the idea of a creative oasis: A vibrant community where people can gather, create, and share what they love, just like Walt did.”
Here’s an inside look at the 619-acre Cotino, as well as its homes and standout amenities, including a swimmable lagoon called Cotino Bay and an Incredibles 2-inspired midcentury modern waterfront clubhouse.
Desert Living, Disney Style
So what does living in a Disney-branded community look like?
While storytelling is thoughtfully and subtly woven throughout the community—and residents can expect a high level of Disney service (the residents-only Artisan Club, for example, is managed by Disney cast members)—Cotino isn’t overtly Disney-themed. Instead, homes are designed with private courtyards, spacious leisure areas, and expansive windows that embrace the relaxed Palm Springs mood. The Disney magic is felt most in the community’s shared spaces.
The first cohort of residents has already begun moving into Cotino, and the palm-tree-studded Rancho Mirage community will feature 1,932 single-family homes and condos, including a designated 55-and-up neighborhood called Longtable.
Home prices start at over $1 million, and residents have the option to join the Artisan Club, which comes with amenities like a restaurant, clubhouse, gym, Disney-themed workout classes, and more.
The community’s Villa Collection features homes ranging from 1,666 to 1,990 square feet, with two-bedroom, two-bathroom floor plans. At the higher end, the Estate Collection ranges from over $2 million to $4 million and includes homes from approximately 3,470 to 10,970 square feet, with floor plans offering three to eight bedrooms and three to eight bathrooms.
Shea Homes, Davidson Communities, and Woodbridge Pacific Group are the first homebuilders in the community.
The master-planned community also includes a collection of parks designed for families, pets, and adults, each planned by Disney Imagineers to encourage connection. A mile-long promenade loops around Cotino Bay, created for sunset walks, morning bike rides, and spontaneous moments with neighbors.
An Imagineers-Designed Artisan Club
All residents have the option to join the community’s Artisan Club, which is currently only available to those living in Cotino. Membership begins with a $20,000 initiation fee and $11,000 in annual dues. While the homes establish the community’s desert-modern lifestyle, the members-only Artisan Club is where Cotino’s distinctly Disney approach to design and storytelling becomes most visible.
“Everything we do at Cotino is informed by story,” explains Boone.
At the Artisan Club, the community’s story of a creative oasis comes to life across the club campus, including at the beach bar, Plot Twist.
“Plot Twist is inspired by the creativity of the written word,” Boone says. “While visiting, you’ll notice light fixtures that feature pages of literary classics like Alice in Wonderland and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that were eventually made into feature films. One of my favorite story nods is the wall detailing made to resemble a letterpress machine. If you look closely, you’ll notice some of the letters spell out ‘Mickey Mouse.’”
The Artisan Club’s amenities include Architect’s Fork, a table-service restaurant, a Wellness Center outfitted with indoor cardio and strength training equipment, an outdoor lap pool, and a movement studio for dance and yoga, plus outdoor courts for tennis and pickleball. The Studios is a multipurpose space where members can bring artistic inspiration to life, featuring art from Disney legends Mary Blair and Marc Davis, as well as commissioned pieces from local Palm Springs artists.
The storytelling continues through to programming, too. Members might begin the day with a Disney-inspired fitness class curated by Walt Disney Imagineering, like breaking a sweat during the Encanto Latin Dance class, finding calm during the Moana Breathwork class, or toning muscles during the Villain Era Power Sculpt: Maleficent Edition class. The Stitch & Splash class takes paddleboard workouts to the water.
Disney Design Meets Palm Springs Architecture
At the heart of the community is the Parr House, a dramatic midcentury modern clubhouse inspired by the Parr family home in Incredibles 2. The project represents a first-of-its-kind “screen-to-street storytelling” effort for Walt Disney Imagineering. Imagineers and Pixar artists collaborated to translate the animated home into an authentic architectural space reflective of Palm Springs’ iconic, retro-inspired design.
Inside, playful cinematic details can be spied: Boxes of Sugar Bombs and Fiber O’s cereal stacked on the kitchen shelf, and the family’s schedule scribbled on the calendar.
Beyond the clubhouse, the resort lifestyle extends outdoors. Members can unwind at Cotino Bay, a 24-acre turquoise lagoon open for swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding, or simply relaxing on the white-sand beach beneath an umbrella.
What’s Next for Cotino?
The next phase of the development, the Cotino Bay Beach, Dining and Shops, is scheduled to open to the public in fall 2026. The town center will bring a mix of restaurants, wellness offerings, and retail to the community, while also giving visitors paid access to Cotino Bay.
Storyliving by Disney is also developing a second community: Asteria, which is located in Pittsboro, North Carolina, a community outside of Raleigh. Disney expects sales to begin in 2027.
