Disney to develop residential communities so fans can 'make Disney a bigger part of their lives'

Disney has good news for fans who think the company hasn't taken over their lives enough already.
The Walt Disney Company announced Wednesday it's launching a new business to develop its own residential communities. The company said these will be "vibrant new neighborhoods" where Disney cast members "will operate the community association," and Disney's Imagineers, who work on the company's theme parks, will develop the "creative concept for the communities."
The first one of these communities will be built in California's Rancho Mirage, where Walt Disney once owned a home, and it will offer estates, single family homes, and condominiums, Disney said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"As we prepare to enter our second century, we are developing new and exciting ways to bring the magic of Disney to people wherever they are, expanding storytelling to storyliving," said Josh D'Amaro, the chair of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. "We can't wait to welcome residents to these beautiful and unique Disney communities where they can live their lives to the fullest."
Disney said this new initiative, dubbed "Storyliving by Disney," comes as fans "look for new ways to make Disney a bigger part of their lives," and the Rancho Mirage community will have its own section for those 55 and older. The company is partnering with DMB Development to develop the communities, and according to The Verge, Disney itself won't actually own or sell the homes.
Disney previously developed a residential community in Florida near its Walt Disney World park called Celebration in the 1990s, The Wall Street Journal notes. The company sold it to a private equity firm in 2004, according to The Daily Beast.
The Wednesday announcement only offered details about its plans for the Rancho Mirage community, but it said additional U.S. locations are "are under exploration for future development."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off