In 1948, Walt Disney built a home in Palm Springs' Smoke Tree Ranch and, while he was forced to sell it to make a down payment on building Disneyland, a part of him always remained in that California desert. Now, in 2025, the company he co-founded has begun a new chapter in the nearby Rancho Mirage with Cotino, its first Storyliving by Disney Community.
We were invited to the grand opening of Cotino's Artisan Club to not only get a sense of what this new neighborhood actually is, but also to walk through the doors of an event space that was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering as a recreation of Incredibles 2's Parr House. It truly felt as though you were walking into the world of the Pixar classic, and walking through those red doors into the home was a moment I won’t soon forget.
What Is Cotino, A Storyliving by Disney Community?
Cotino, which welcomed its first residents earlier this year, is a very interesting new venture by Disney. It's a Disney community that is somewhat similar to Walt Disney World’s Golden Oak community, but it's not what you might think. Mickey isn't at the front gates welcoming guests, and there aren't fireworks every night or churro stands on every corner (which admittedly would be kind of amazing), but instead, this is a place infused with "the imagination of Walt Disney Imagineers and managed by Disney Cast members with the simple notion of bringing people together."
Homes here start from the mid $1 millions, and they welcome residents of all ages, as there is even a dedicated area known as Longtable Park for adults 55 and over. Cotino itself was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and developed in collaboration with DMB Development, and the three builders - Shea Homes, Woodbridge Pacific Group, and Davidson Communities - offer plenty of floorplans that really focus on the indoor-outdoor living that draws many to the wider Coachella Valley.
We were able to see a few model homes, and what really stood out to me was how open they were and how comfortable it felt to be both outside near the pool and inside the kitchen. And once again, there was very little Disney in these homes, save for the choice to purchase a Minnie Mouse- or Incredibles-themed golf cart and an awesome kids room with bunk beds and a ton of plushies, including Wall-E. Disney enthusiasts can of course choose to add their Disney artwork or memorabilia - and one of the builders even said they could install a custom Mickey-shaped pool if they'd like - but the Disney of it all was not front and center.
What was on prominent display, however, was that level of Disney service guests around the world have come to expect from the company's theme parks and cruises alongside a deep respect for the area. All that being said, this is a Disney community after all, and that dial of Disney Magic is turned up when you enter the voluntary Artisan Club that is located on the stunning Cotino Bay.
Incredibles 2's Parr House at Cotino's Artisan Club Is... Well... Incredible!
One of the purest joys of going to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is entering into the stories we hold closest to our hearts, and that feeling is brought to Cotino's Artisan Club by the event space that is a recreation of Incredibles 2's Parr House. This mid-century modern-inspired space was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering with the help of Pixar and built by Davidson Communities, and it's a six-bedroom retreat that members can host events at or even stay overnight.
As you can see in the video above, they absolutely nailed the feeling and look of the exterior of the home, the living room, and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible's bedroom. However, we actually didn't get to see the entire house in Incredibles 2, so the team had some fun and built five bedrooms upstairs that are based off of Violet, Dash, Jack Jack, Edna Mode, and Frozone.
And yes, there are Easter Eggs galore. You can find the Sugar Bombs and Fiber O's cereal on the kitchen shelf, the Incredible's family calendar on the wall, Dash's 'New Math' book in his room, and so much more. Furthermore, this space also honors the Coachella Valley in a really special way.
"It's a really full circle moment because, back during the making of Incredibles 2, Pixar artists actually came out to the Palm Springs region to get inspiration for the film," said Caleb Wild, Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Architect. "So, when we were trying to come up with an idea for this sort of event space for the Artisan Club, we were like, 'why not bring it back?' And the very region that inspired the film? Let's put that piece of architecture back in the region and bring it to life."
That inspiration can be traced back to the Mid-Century Modern architecture of the Coachella Valley, which utilizes clean lines and large windows and an almost welcoming of the outside inside. The idea was created to "blend Disney magic and regional authenticity together" and make it a caricature of this style.
Lorenzo Salazar, Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Interior Designer, expanded on this thought a bit shared that he and his team visited those same houses to make sure they got the small details right. Their mission was to ensure this event space didn't stick out like a sore thumb in the beautiful desert.
"I think we were able to achieve something that was modern and had the conveniences of 2025, but also have a little twinkle in our eyes towards the sixties, which is when the Incredibles took place."
He also shared that roughly 80% of the art, glasswork, and ceramics were sourced locally at vintage and antique shops and done by local artists.
All in all, there is a lot to love at Parr House whether you are an Incredibles fan or not. If you are, sliding a giant painting aside and revealing a secret art studio with a Mr. Incredible Sings vinyl record will delight and amaze you alongside learning that the rock formations were made by the same team at Disney Parks. If you aren't, the breathtaking views of Cotino Bay and open spaces to host an event with those that mean the most to you will be just as special.
Speaking of Cotino Bay, that's what we need to talk about next.
Cotino Bay and the Many Amenities On Its Shores
While the Parr House is the most striking Disney part of Cotino, Cotino Bay is its crown jewel that serves as a gorgeous, impossibly turquoise (thanks to Crystal Lagoons tech!) oasis in the middle of the desert.
This body of water, which has the added benefit of having views of the mountains right behind it, is meant to be used by Artisan Club members to swim, use watercraft like kayaks and paddle boards, and just to relax by on the private white sand beaches that has sand that is specifically designed not to get too hot by the desert sun.
Just a few steps away is Architects Fork, which is inspired by the motif of an architectural drawing room, and this is where guests will go to eat their main meals. The inside of this table-service restaurant has a great view of Cotino Bay, but it also has construction documents of it's a small world and Big Thunder Mountain, art from Mary Blair, Bruce Bushman, and Ken Chapman, and even a chandelier above the bar that is a topographical map of the area.
We were able to try some of the food that residents will be able to enjoy, and it really is a nice mix of Disney and California cuisine. You will find Walt's famous chili and Hollywood Brown Derby's Cobb Salad, but there is also a bacon-wrapped dates appetizer that honors the legacy of dates in the Coachella Valley.
This is all elevated by a kitchen that is run by a Disney Cast Member who grew up in the Coachella Valley and infuses his story and experiences into the dishes he helps create.
If residents are looking for something a bit more casual, they can head over to the outdoor bar called Plot Twist. This sits even closer to Cotino Bay and features a mix of craft burgers, seafood, salads, and bowls alongside island cocktails, craft beers, and frozen beverages.
This space is an homage to the written stories that inspired some of our favorite Disney films, including Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella. This can be seen with a wall filled with pages of the stories that Disney adapted to the big screen, complete with notes and highlights of the important moments, and a chandelier with glass pages that appear to be draped over beams.
Beyond the food and drink, Cotino and the Artisan Club specifically have a ton of wellness programs that, with the help of Optum, want to give residents an option to stay healthy with a touch of Disney storytelling thrown in.
We had the chance to try out the Encanto Latin Dance Cardio, which was in a studio overlooking Cotino Bay, and it was a high-energy and welcoming exercise that had us smiling and laughing with the incredible staff, who even gave us hats and flowers to add to the experience.
The Encanto class is joined by others like Moana Breathwork, the Incredibles Super Circuit, Villain Era Power Sculpt: Maleficent Edition, and Stitch & Splash. Oh, and there is also a fitness center, outdoor sports courts, a lap/leisure pool, and more.
Cotino Is Just the Start
Cotino's Artisan Club opening to the few residents on the property is a huge milestone, but it is still very much the beginning of not only this community, but Storyliving by Disney as a whole. It's a very intriguing new venture for Disney, and it already has its second project well underway with Asteria in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
At Cotino, there are already tons of plans in progress for not only residents, but also for the public. In fall 2026, a town center known as Cotino Bay Beach, Dining, and Shops will open up and will offer the public a chance to experience Cotino Bay for a fee alongside restaurants, shops, and even an open-air artisan market.
As for the residents, Cotino will offer a wide range of programs that will tap into the wider Disney umbrella and surrounding area. For example, a creative show director may come and talk about the latest parade or Nighttime Spectacular happening at Disneyland, and then Cotino will offer an excursion to the park with that Cast Member so they can experience this show in a very unique way. Or perhaps a National Geographic photographer will stop by to teach residents how to perfectly capture those magical sunsets in the Coachella Valley.
These are all great additions to the community, but I think what impressed me the most about Cotino and this new Storyliving by Disney brand is how much care and respect they are putting into developing this land. These aren't cookie cutter houses or obnoxious neighborhoods next to a theme park, but a celebration of the region with that Disney Magic we all love so much thrown in there.
"Walt was really interested in the idea of model cities and urban planning, and he knew that there were ways to make facilities and places that made living better for people," Becky Cline, director of Walt Disney Archives, told us. "That was the original plan for EPCOT, that it would be a community that could be self-sustaining and use futuristic transportation, but it would also be a place where they would prioritize conservation. With Cotino specifically, they're very interested in natural landscaping and using resources wisely and building homes that fit into this environment. I think this would have really pleased Walt, that they are choosing to live off the land instead of developing things that hurt the land."
Walt lovingly called this region his "laughing place," and it would often be a safe space he'd go to get away from the stress of the studio to find some peace, quiet, and a new spark of imagination and motivation. In a way, it's quite beautiful that Cotino is the first Storyliving by Disney Community and that it will provide the very same for its new residents all these years later.
For more on Disney Parks and Experiences, check out our look at how the Disney Destiny was built, our impressions of Walt Disney - A Magical Life, our exclusive chat with Disneyland president Thomas Mazloum for the park's 70th anniversary, and our retrospective on how Walt Disney started his company over 100 years ago.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.
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