Disney’s new neighborhood is coming to the desert. Locals are dubious
In Rancho Mirage, the Walt Disney Co. is making progress on an ambitious development that promises to sprinkle some Disney magic into real estate. Dubbed Cotino, the master-planned community is the first of the entertainment giant’s “Storyliving” projects, designed for home buyers who want to bring Disney deeper into their everyday lives. Donald Duck won’t be delivering your mail, but the specs offer plenty of Disney flourishes, including an “Incredibles”-themed gathering space and a 24-acre lagoon. … “Rancho Mirage is quiet, peaceful and friendly,” said Mark Wolpa, who moved to Rancho Mirage from San Francisco in 2008. “But Cotino’s bringing pollution, commotion and chaos to an area that didn’t want it.” Wolpa said his main concern is the water usage required to fill and maintain a lagoon in the middle of the desert.