Disney’s Newest Bar Is a Members-Only Oasis Near Palm Springs
When Walt Disney wasn’t busy at his bustling movie studio or growing theme park, he could usually be found in one place: Palm Springs.
His very own “happiest place on Earth” (or as he liked to call it, his “Laughing Place”), Coachella Valley and its dramatic desert terrain captivated the entertainment giant, who owned two homes in Palm Springs.
So it’s fitting that the Walt Disney Company has chosen the city as the backdrop for its new concept: Cotino, a just-opened residential community in Rancho Mirage, California, that includes a members-only club. Architects Fork, a sleek restaurant and bar overlooking Cotino Bay, serves American classics with a Southern Californian bent. (Temecula wines are on the menu, of course.)
The walls of Architects Fork are lined with original renderings of classic Disneyland attractions, like It’s a Small World and Big Thunder Mountain. Members also have access to the waterfront Plot Twist, a literary-themed desert beach bar inspired by Alice In Wonderland and other books that later became Disney films.
In essence, Walt Disney’s utopian city—an early idea for the theme park Epcot that never panned out—has been reborn in a place he loved, where his roots ran deep.
“Walt did spend a lot of time here,” says Claire Bilby, senior vice president of Disney Signature Experiences. “It was a way to get away from the craziness of L.A. But really, he would call it his inspiration, his creative inspiration.”
What’s on the Menu
The menu at Architects Fork focuses on American classics inspired by Southern California and seasonal ingredients. “A lot of the food and beverage inspiration is Old Hollywood,” says Brian Hart, co-founder of S&A Global Affiliates, which is heading the club’s culinary programming. Disney fans will appreciate Walt’s famous chili and the California Cobb salad from the Hollywood Brown Derby, the fine-dining restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The idea for a Cotija-stuffed, bacon-wrapped date appetizer came from a team member who was born and raised in the area, where dates thrive thanks to the dry climate.
The cocktail program, too, takes a classic approach, packed with standards like the Negroni and Vesper. Lighter options include the sunny Palm Spritz, which pairs limoncello with fresh mint and feels appropriate for the desert setting. There are also local favorites, like a prickly pear margarita. And for those eschewing alcohol? The zero-proof Apprentice’s Elixir, a nod to the 1940 Disney animated film Fantasia, combines butterfly pea-infused Seedlip with elderflower tonic. An exclusive Disney barrel program is in the works for members.
In addition to Temecula wines, and others bottlings from Southern California, the wine list emphasizes Disney Family of Wines, which includes offerings from wineries like Frank Family and Silverado Vineyards.
At waterfront Plot Twist, the literary-themed desert beach bar, the vibe is almost otherworldly, with a sprawling light fixture and mural featuring the pages from classic literature that were later turned into Disney films, like Alice In Wonderland and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The surrounding sand went through testing to ensure the texture and color contrasted attractively with the lagoon and has a pillowy feel.
So Who Can Get In?
For the near future, this will be Disney’s most exclusive experience, as membership is limited to Cotino residents. But plans are in motion to open amenities to the general public through a Cotino Bay beach day pass, retail and dining district, and on-site hotel. A second Storyliving By Disney concept, Asteria, is expected to open in North Carolina in the coming years.
Inside Cotino
The Cotino community offers 1,900 master-planned homes, with properties ranging from $1 million to the upper $4 millions. There are palm trees as far as the eye can see. While Disney’s first residential community, Golden Oak at Walt Disney World, leans into the quintessential Mickey Mouse experience, with many homes featuring overtly Disney decor, like bronze character statues, Cotino operates a bit differently.
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“We want to be respectful of the space for our residents,” adds Bilby. “Some will want more Disney, some will want less. And we’re going to make sure we cater to that.”
The focus here is less on castles and characters, more on Disney’s attention to detail and hospitality. Nods to the company’s history, like artifacts from the Walt Disney Archives, are woven throughout, but Cotino is distinctly Palm Springs, with influences from the area’s art, architecture, and culture.
At the heart of the community is the Artisan Club, a members-only, wellness-minded space designed by Disney’s “Imagineers” (the research and development arm of the company). Cotino Bay, the first project in the state with artificial lagoon firm Crystal Lagoons, offers sweeping 360-degree views of the San Jacinto mountains in the distance. The club features several indoor-outdoor spaces, white sandy beaches, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, and a pool.
This isn’t Disney’s first members-only club—that would be the uber-exclusive Club 33, which debuted in Disneyland Park in 1967. But the approach here is unique. Unlike Club 33, which carries a Victorian-esque ambience tying into the park’s New Orleans Square, Cotino feels like Palm Springs.
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“We talked a lot about this idea of blending Disney magic and regional authenticity together,” says Caleb Wild, Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) senior architect. WDI carefully studied the region’s signature mid-century modern architecture and partnered with local artisans.
The club’s mid-century modern event space, Parr House, was inspired by the family home from Incredibles 2, which itself was inspired by a famed estate in nearby Sunnylands.
“Everything that we’re doing at Cotino and Artisan Club is a first foray into this world for us,” says Lorenzo Salazar, Walt Disney Imagineering senior interior designer. “It was such a pleasure to work on this and so different from what we’re normally used to. We’re so focused on building experiences and attractions that people briskly walk through, like queues and an attraction that’s over within three minutes, but this is a home.”
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