Disney has unveiled a new residential community concept, though it’s not located directly next to the theme parks, for those who want to live the Disney way year-round.
Disney’s Storyliving program attempts to build communities specifically for people who want to start a new chapter of their lives that is entwined with the Disney experience.
While the first Storyliving project was located in California, the most recent development, Asteria, has just been announced. Asteria will be located in North Carolina, close to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
A Disney press release states that the project is in its early planning stages in association with Walt Disney Imagineering and DMB Development.
According to the press release, Asteria is inspired by the spirit of exploration and is meant to encourage a lifelong love of learning while promoting exploration of the area’s natural beauty.
Sales for homes within the community are anticipated to commence by the year 2027.
What’s more to learn about Asteria?
Following the announcement of Storyliving’s initial community, Cotino, in February 2022, situated in Rancho Mirage within California’s Coachella Valley, where Walt Disney himself once owned a residence, the company has revealed its second community, Asteria.
The new development, located in Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina, spans 1,500 acres and is part of the larger Chatham Park community. Sales for homes in Cotino and Asteria mark Disney’s expansion of its branded communities to the East Coast.
Claire Bilby, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Disney Signature Experiences Emerging Businesses, expressed excitement about the Asteria project, emphasizing its unique vision inspired by Walt Disney’s curiosity and North Carolina’s spirit of discovery.
The community is designed to offer residents metropolitan amenities in a small-town atmosphere, along with numerous parks and extensive trails for walking and biking.
The community will have more than 4,000 units, including single- and multi-family homes and sections reserved for occupants 55 years of age and older. A restaurant, sports courts, swimming pools, a community garden, a wellness and recreation center, outdoor areas for events, fire pits, and lawn games are among the other features.
Disney is aiming to extend storytelling to storyliving
The Storyliving website states that single-family homes in Cotino are anticipated to be priced between the upper $1 million and the lower $2 million range, despite the fact that precise pricing information for Asteria units has not yet been released.
“For nearly 100 years, Disney has shared stories that have touched the hearts and minds of people all over the world,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, last year during the Cotino announcement.
“As we get ready to enter the next century, we are creating brand-new, innovative methods to spread Disney magic to people everywhere they go and extending storytelling to storyliving. We are eager to welcome people to these exquisite and distinctive Disney communities so they can fully enjoy their lives.”
Disney first unveiled Celebration, a distinctive planned community in Central Florida, close to Walt Disney World, back in 1996.
Walt Disney Day
Every year on December 5, the United States observes Walt Disney Day, a unique occasion honoring Walter Elias Disney’s birth anniversary. This day honors Walter Elias Disney’s significant contribution to the founding of The Walt Disney Company.
Walt’s love of art and drawing flourished during his formative years in Marceline. He started taking art classes and even started selling his sketches to people around him. Following the Disney family’s move to Kansas City, Walt kept up his artistic endeavors.
Walter Elias Disney was the visionary behind the voices of Mickey Mouse and many other characters that the company brought to life. His imaginative brilliance not only brought Mickey Mouse to life but also established the foundation for a vast and enduring world full of lovable animated characters.
Disney is the record holder for the most Academy Award nominations and wins of any single person in the film industry. Among other notable accolades, he has been the recipient of two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards, an Emmy Award, and other noteworthy distinctions.
