Disney has announced Storyliving by Disney, a new initiative that will roll out branded, master-planned communities for fans who don't want to just visit Disneyland--but live within the magic and inspiration behind the content. Work has already begun on a 618-acre lot in Rancho Mirage, California--an area Walt Disney called his "laughing place."

　　"Walt Disney treated the area like his creative oasis," says Michael Hundgen, an executive producer with Walt Disney Imagineering. "We'd love our residents to treat this as their creative oasis and explore the next chapter of their lives."

　　Christened Cotino, the proposed community will include private homes, a hotel, entertainment, and dining--all surrounding a picturesque lagoon with "clear turquoise waters" and beach accessible only to members of the community's private club. Guests will be able to purchase day passes to visit the beach. The lagoon will feature the same Crystal Lagoons technology deployed at Disney resorts. The beachfront hotel and clubhouse will host "Disney programming, entertainment, and activities throughout the year."

　　As reported by USA Today, despite bearing Disney's name, the conglomerate will not own or be the developer of record--nor will it build or sell homes. Disney will be partnering with third parties for those functions.

　　Prices for accommodation and financing options have not been announced. As of this writing, no information is available on when residents might be able to move in.

　　Cotino is proposed as the first of many living communities, though as Disney fans already know this is hardly the company's first time exploring residential developments. In 1996, Disney opened Celebration, Florida near Walt Disney World Resort, and in 2011 opened its luxury Golden Oak resort--where prices for homes originally started at $1.6 million. Additionally, Walt Disney always intended to develop a utopian "city of the future" named EPCOT--an acronym for "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow."

　　David Wolinsky on Google+