Disneyās Bold New Vision for Residential Living Is Pure Magic
As the morning sun cast long shadows across the Coachella Valley, I arrived at Cotinoāthe first-ever Storyliving by Disney community in Rancho Mirage. The energy was electric, and for good reason: this wasnāt just another desert development. This was a bold new chapter in residential living.
Cotino is still under construction, but even in its early stages, itās clear this isnāt just about real estateāitās about a lifestyle built around creativity, connection and story. We boarded a bus for a guided tour, cameras ready, eager to get a first peek at what Walt Disney Imagineering and their builder partners have been working on.
Caroline Boone, executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, commenced the tour by framing Cotinoās guiding vision:
āItās a Storyliving by Disney communityā¦and weāre going to give you a first sneak peek.āĀ
With Imagineering directly involved in the conceptualization and execution, every corner of Cotino in Rancho Mirage is infused with intention.
Walking through the site, Boone shared what drove the design philosophy. āWhat I love about our designs is that it is an inspired timeline of the Coachella Valley.ā She explained how the natural environment and midcentury roots of the region helped shape the architectural language of the community. āThe reason we picked the Coachella Valley is because Walt was so inspired by the regionāit was where he was able to come and relax and find creative inspiration.ā
During the tour, we explored homes by three builders: Shea Homes, Davidson Communities and Woodbridge Pacific Group. The largest home we toured belonged to Woodbridge. The space was impressiveāabsolutely stunning, with a great use of indoor and outdoor flow that made the most of the desertās dramatic light and clean air.
Bill Davidson walked us through Davidsonās vision for life in Cotino.Ā
āIt is about the indoor-outdoor living. Itās about opening all these homes up and being able to be outside 9 or 10 months out of the year.ā
That philosophy isnāt just evident in architectureāit runs through the entire communityās design. Cotino is meant to be walkable, welcoming and full of spontaneous moments. Pocket parks and community gathering spaces are planned throughout the neighborhoods, creating an environment that encourages interaction without forcing it.
Still, nothing defines Cotino quite like Cotino Bay. The 24-acre freshwater lagoon sits at the heart of the community, designed for both leisure and lifestyle. It stretches wide and shimmers under the desert sun, with a planned depth that ranges from three feet at the beaches to twelve feet at its deepest point. You can even stand-up paddleboard on it!
āWe were told thereāll be passes available for visitors and also special sections for members of the club,ā Boone notes. That balance of accessibility and exclusivity reflects Cotino ās broader goalāto create something that feels alive and inclusive but still elevated.
Beyond the visuals, Cotino Bay is designed to be a catalyst for connection.Ā
āThe lagoon is the centerpiece of our community; itās a place where we hope our residents can connect,ā she says.
āItās also where the lines between the private and shared experience are drawn thoughtfully.āĀ
A short ride away, we stopped at one of the most talked-about sites on the tour: the under-construction Parr House. Part of the communityās Artisan Club and inspired by Disney-Pixarās āIncredibles 2,ā this space will serve as an event space for club members and their guests. Even with scaffolding still up, the homeās midcentury lines and bold silhouette were already visible. Floor-to-ceiling windows, floating rooflines and sharp angles give the structure a cinematic presence. Once completed, it will host everything from private gatherings to creative workshops.
The future town center is another major piece of the Cotino puzzle. While itās still in the early planning stages, renderings show a vibrant commercial district with shopping, dining, an open-air artist market and more.
The goal is to create a place where residents and visitors can grab a coffee or meet friends for dinnerāall within walking distance.
Whether youāre looking for a cozy desert retreat or a forever home, Cotino offers a mix of residences for different life stages. That even includes a planned 55+ neighborhood designed for active adults seeking resort-style amenities and a tight-knit community vibe. But the unifying thread is storytelling. Each home is meant to be a canvasāan extension of the ownerās lifestyle and personality.
Imagine waking up to pink mountain sunrises, walking down shaded pathways and spending afternoons on the sand or waterāright outside your front door. Thatās the everyday rhythm Cotino is aiming for. Itās not just about amenities; itās about emotion. Itās about building a life that feels intentional, joyful and connected.
Disneyās Cotino community in Rancho Mirage doesnāt feel like a Disney theme park. And itās not trying to. Instead, it channels the same core principlesāimagination, attention to detail and a deep respect for storytellingāand applies them to real life. You wonāt find characters on every corner, but you will find something just as immersive: the chance to live inside a story of your own.
As the tour came to a close, Boone summed it up best:
āThereās so much happening over the next year,ā Boone says with a smile, hinting at the evolution still to come.
For those ready to step into something newāsomething inspiredāCotino isnāt just a development. Itās a destination. And itās waiting to welcome you home.
Cotino Community
@storylivingbydisney
Erik Hale is the visionary and publisher behind LOCALE Magazine. He launched the magazine in 2010, wanting to give the community of OC a premiere lifestyle magazine that knew all the native knowledge behind OC. āSix years ago Ashley and I sat at a table scratching the name LOCALE (among some other names) onto a sheet of paper,ā says Erik, ācoming up with story ideas and basically dreaming. Everything we imagined has happened and we have been blessed with so much more. I am so grateful as we start another year for my family, my two wonderful children, my health, our amazing writers, designers and photographers, our advertising partners and you.ā
