Celebration Town in Kissimmee area near Disney – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by VIAVAL TOURS
Though it’s not quite near the theme parks, Disney has designed a new residential community that residents can join if they want to live the Disney way year-round.
The latest step in Storyliving by Disney, an initiative aimed at creating communities that will “cater to those looking to write [the] next chapter of their lives with Disney,” was revealed on Wednesday.
The second Storyliving complex, called Asteria, will be situated in North Carolina, close to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. The original Storyliving development was in California. A press statement states that planning is just getting started with Walt Disney Imagineering and DMB Development.
Asteria is “inspired by the spirit of discovery,” according to the press release, and it is “designed to encourage exploration of the region’s natural beauty and spark life-long learning.”
It is anticipated that house sales in the community will start in 2027.
The first community developed by Storyliving, called Cotino, was revealed in February 2022. It will be situated in Rancho Mirage, in the Coachella Valley of California, where Walt once owned a property.
“The announcement of the Asteria community builds upon strong initial interest for our first Storyliving by Disney community in California and will expand Disney-branded communities to the East Coast,” Claire Bilby, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Signature Experiences Emerging Businesses, said in a statement. “Our team has been working closely with Disney Imagineers to develop a unique vision for this project inspired by Walt Disney’s innate curiosity and North Carolina’s spirit of discovery.”
The business states that Asteria will provide inhabitants with metropolitan conveniences with a small-town vibe, as well as lots of parks and miles of walking and bicycling trails, on 1,500 acres in the town of Pittsboro in Chatham County. The development will be a component of Chatham Park, a larger neighborhood.
There will be more than 4,000 units total, including single- and multi-family dwellings, with some locations reserved for occupants 55 years of age and above. A restaurant, sports courts, swimming pools, a communal garden, an outdoor area for events and lawn sports, and a fire pit are among the other benefits.
Prices for Asteria apartments have not yet been disclosed, but according to the Storyliving website, Cotino single-family homes should fall between the high $1 million and lower $2 million range.
“For nearly 100 years, Disney has shared stories that have touched the hearts and minds of people all around the world,” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said in a statement last year when Cotino was announced. “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.
“We can’t wait to welcome residents to these beautiful and unique Disney communities where they can live their lives to the fullest,” he added.
In 1996, Disney first unveiled Celebration, a one-of-a-kind planned town next to Walt Disney World in Central Florida.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.