The first residents of Disney’s community development in California’s Coachella Valley have begun to move into their new homes.

Early Residents of Disney’s Cotino Remain Optimistic

In an article from USA Today, we’re beginning to hear details about the experiences of the first homeowners in Disney’s Cotino Storyliving community.

As of March 2026, Cotino remains in its early stages of development, with dozens of homes still under construction within the community. The 618-acre project is approved for roughly 1,900 homes and condos, with the initial phase of about 300 homes expected to take several years to complete.

Amenities, including the 24-acre swimmable Cotino Bay lagoon and the members-only Artisan Club, have opened to early residents, even as heavy construction continues throughout much of the site.

The USA Today piece highlights two couples in particular as they share their early impressions of Disney’s neighborhood: Amy and Joe Belshin, and their new neighbors, Dolores and Dennis Hamann.

The Belshins purchased their roughly $2.2 million home in late 2025 after considering other second-home markets, including Mammoth Lakes and Sun Valley. As of last month, about 30 homes in the Storyliving community have been sold.

Seeking a retreat within a two-hour drive of their primary residence near San Diego, the Belshins ultimately chose Cotino over traditional country club communities in the Coachella Valley. The couple said that the merits of the community itself drew them in, having no particular bias towards the stylings of other Disney experiences, namely, theme parks.

“We were impressed by the layout. It’s the creativity (of Disney) … We didn’t want a theme park,” Joe Belshin said. “We wanted a community, and it seems like they know what they’re doing in developing that.”

Still, as detailed above, the community remains under varying stages of development. Joe Belshin acknowledged the realities of moving into an unfinished community: “Cotino, when they say it’s under construction, they’re not kidding — it is under construction.”

For Dolores and Dennis Hamann, the decision to purchase required significant trust. The pair, who previously owned a home in Rancho Las Palmas Country Club, selected their lot before their home was built and moved in during April 2025.

Dolores Hamann described the experience as isolating at first. “I felt like I was camping out in the wilderness … (When) I came out here, there wasn’t a sound,” she explained. She then characterized the move for her and Dennis as a “leap of faith”, adding: “You put your faith, your finances, everything into that corporation.”

Homes at Cotino have sold for between approximately $1.3 million and more than $4 million, with many buyers coming from Southern California.

Residents have begun utilizing the Artisan Club, which requires a $20,000 initiation fee plus annual dues, and features amenities including a private restaurant overlooking the lagoon.

A public-facing town center is planned for later this year, bringing retail and dining options to the north side of Cotino Bay.

While construction continues across much of the property, homeowners say they are optimistic about the project’s trajectory. The development includes recreational offerings such as kayaking and paddleboarding on the lagoon and a beach area featuring temperature-controlled sand designed to remain cool in desert heat.

For residents like Dolores Hamann, the novelty of their new home has become a point of pride: “I say to my friend, ‘I’m going to the beach in the desert,’ and they’re like, ‘There isn’t a beach in the desert’ … I said, ‘Yes, there is.’”

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