Cotino Review: What's It's Like Inside the Storyliving by Disney Community and Artisan Club
The Artisan Club — along with the mid-century–inspired Parr House — has officially opened at Cotino, Disney’s first Storyliving by Disney community (located in Rancho Mirage). This Disney-operated private club, initially exclusive to Storyliving residents, offers an array of curated amenities and activities, along with access to the sparkling waters of Cotino Bay.
Whether it’s an exclusive dining experience, an Encanto-themed dance class, or a presentation celebrating Disney storytelling and design, the appeal of this new desert oasis is immediately apparent. The club feels like a natural evolution of Disney’s legacy — a place where the company’s expertise in hospitality and community building blends seamlessly with everyday life.
Disney has long operated private clubs and residential enclaves, from the hallowed halls of Club 33 to the elegant neighborhoods of Golden Oak. But Cotino represents something new: a full-scale residential community built on the promise of Disney design, service, and storytelling — without the shadow of a castle in sight.
On that front, Disney delivers. The cast members and mid-century modern architecture infuse the space with unmistakable Disney DNA, even if character touches are intentionally subtle. Instead of Mickey motifs, you’ll find hospitality, attention to detail, and a sense of narrative continuity woven into the environment. The community’s long-term success, however, will depend on how residents and management continue to shape enrichment activities that serve their shared vision. In conversations with the Storyliving team, it’s clear that residents will have a genuine voice in prioritizing and developing future amenities.
Developers and builders were quick to credit the guidance of Walt Disney Imagineering for helping them bring Cotino’s vision to life. While these builders are seasoned experts in luxury construction, many of the concepts Disney fans take for granted — placemaking, storytelling, emotional resonance — were entirely new to them. Imagineers acted as creative translators, ensuring that Cotino would feel like more than just a neighborhood; it would feel like a Disney neighborhood.
Inside the model homes, Disney’s influence is present but understated. Individual owners will, of course, personalize their spaces, but the staged interiors favor a restrained aesthetic. One developer proudly pointed out a Mickey Mouse cookie jar as a subtle nod — and while some fans may wish for more overt theming, the community as a whole exudes a distinctly Disney spirit.
The exteriors, shared spaces, and overall master plan evoke a retro-modern oasis, reminiscent of projects like Celebration or select Disney Vacation Club resorts. It’s the kind of place that whispers rather than shouts — a desert canvas painted with mid-century optimism and Imagineering precision.
Walt Disney’s final dream was to create an ideal community — a living laboratory where innovation and imagination coexisted. While Cotino isn’t E.P.C.O.T. as he envisioned it, it clearly draws inspiration from the same principles: design, connection, and forward-thinking optimism.
The community’s Coachella Valley setting also feels serendipitous. Walt’s beloved Smoke Tree Ranch wasn’t far from here, and Cotino’s spirit — refined, relaxed, and rooted in the desert’s beauty — channels that same energy. While no one can truly say what Walt would have done, it’s easy to imagine his fascination with a project like this.
Disney has always thrived on reinvention — from feature films to theme parks, cruise ships to streaming services. Storyliving by Disney continues that tradition, expanding the organization’s reach into an entirely new chapter of experiential living.
A Cotino home won’t be attainable or practical for everyone, but for those who do join this pioneering community, it represents something extraordinary: a chance to live surrounded by the Disney spirit every single day.
And in that sense, The Artisan Club isn’t just a place to gather — it’s proof that the magic of Disney storytelling can thrive far beyond Main Street.