A new community built by Disney is offering an alternative approach to Mickey Mouse magic. 

Cotino is the company’s first housing project, which boasts a very exclusive members’ club that opened last month and costs upwards of $30,000 to join, as well as homes starting at more than $1.3 million.

The desert paradise near Palm Springs in Rancho Mirage, California, gives few nods to the theme park’s characters and instead shows off sophisticated architecture with swanky amenities at eye-watering prices.

There are also neighborhoods tailored for people aged 55 and older, all created by the Walt Disney Company as part of its Storyliving project. 

Kevin Du Toit, a real estate professional in Southern California, told the Daily Mail: ‘They kept things authentic – not too modern or too animated – so it feels generational. Even the lagoon and restaurants use script lines and quotes instead of character branding. It’s a more mature Disney experience.

‘When you walk through the model homes, each one has a personal storytelling element. They’ve tied emotion and character into the architecture. You feel like you’re stepping into a life Walt Disney imagined.

‘There are sensory details built in everywhere. That’s why they call it “Storyliving” – it taps into that childhood ‘story time’ feeling and blends it into the home, landscaping, and environment. It becomes a full lifestyle.’

Residents started moving in earlier this year. The first phase of homes comprises 300 properties, with a total of 1,900 planned. 

Cotino is the first community built by Disney, in Rancho Mirage, California, and will surround a huge man-made lagoon. Above is a rendering of what it will look like when complete

The highest-listed property is the Westwind II design for $3.2 million

A rendering of one of the homes in the new community. It will eventually have 1,900 properties 

Walt and Lilly Disney look at plans by architect Carl Denny for their home at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs. Walt died in 1966 and Lilly in 1997 but his legacy lives on through the theme parks and other Disney projects

The Patina home design is the most affordable property listed on Cotino’s website, priced at a staggering $1,344,990. 

The 1,666sq ft pad features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two garage spaces and a half-bath.

The highest-listed property is the Westwind II for $3,203,000. These 4,485sq ft properties have three to six bedrooms, three to six baths, two to three garage spaces, and two half baths. 

‘I sometimes joke it’s not “the happiest place on earth,” it’s “the happiest place for high-earners,”’ Du Toit said.

He described the demographic of Cotino residents as ‘high-net-worth’ and said many of those moving to the community hold titles such as CEO, are executives or investors.

‘Teachers and first responders in California earn good salaries, so you’ll see families too, not just wealthy retirees,’ he added.

Du Toit said the hefty price tags offer long-term advantages as he claimed the California housing market consistently provides a positive return on investment.

Walt Disney, the creator of the entertainment dynasty, is said to have loved the area around Cotino.

He would often go to his property, the Smoke Tree Ranch in the Coachella Valley, to escape the stress of his work and become inspired, Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives, told the SF Gate. 

The relaxation Walt came for many years ago is echoed in the design, with calm-colored houses and its crown jewel, the Cotino Bay – a 24-acre man-made lagoon.

Du Toit described the demographic of residents who have moved in so far as ‘high-net-worth’

A kitchen inside one of the homes that are attracting ‘high net-worth’ buyers

Parr House (pictured) is modeled after the superheroes’ family home in the movie Incredibles 2

Members of the Artisan club must commit to spending a minimum of $1,000 a year on food and beverages there

Guests enjoying drinks at the Artisan club during its opening last month

Members have access to beaches, pickleball and tennis courts, entertainment and much more

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The lagoon, which will offer swimming areas, kayaking and paddle-boarding, will be surrounded by restaurants and shops and is expected to open in fall 2026.

Not included in the purchase of property in Cotino is an optional membership to the exclusive Artisan Club.

To unlock the magic of the club, homeowners must pay a one-time fee of $20,000, and then annually fork out $11,000 and a minimum spend per year of $1,000 on food and beverages to enjoy a beachfront clubhouse with a fitness center, pool, restaurant, beach bar and activity lawn.

It also gives them access to the Parr House, described as a ‘super’ fun, multi-functional venue and unique event space.

The building’s design is meant to resemble the home of the superheroes in Disney-Pixar’s Incredibles 2, which was originally inspired by midcentury architecture in Palm Springs.

Walt Disney Imagineering senior architect Caleb Wild told the Disney Parks Blog: ‘Parr House is a caricature of mid-century modern architecture. 

Residents started moving into homes in the California community earlier this year

A restaurant in the Artisan club features subtle decor of Disney rides on the walls 

Walt’s former home at Smoke Tree Lane in Palm Springs, which is close to Cotino 

Walt surrounded by children at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs

In this July 1964 photo, Walt gives a nod to Smoke Tree Ranch with the symbol on his tie

‘Our goal was to exaggerate that aesthetic in a way that told an overtly Disney story while still fitting stylistically within the community.’

And it has a number of Easter eggs throughout the building, including a Parr Family bulletin board in the kitchen, along with Fiber O’s and Sugar Bombs breakfast cereals like those eaten by the Parr family in the movie.

Du Toit said: ‘You feel like you’re in a resort 24/7. Most communities cut corners due to labor and material costs, but Cotino didn’t. They went all in.’

And despite no sign or Mickey Mouse or any roller-coasters, Du Toit added: ‘Living in a fantasy-like environment is powerful. 

‘That’s the real Disney magic – not the characters or rides, but living inside a story every day.’