Golden Oak and Storyliving by Disney: what they are

Golden Oak and Storyliving by Disney are two different things. Golden Oak is a residential community at Disney World in Florida. Storyliving by Disney is a separate brand of new home communities, and Disney's site lists two of them: Cotino in Rancho Mirage, California, and Asteria in Pittsboro, North Carolina. Neither one is in Florida.

If you only want the Golden Oak basics, start with Can you live on Disney property?. This guide puts the two side by side.

Where are they?

Golden Oak's site places the community about four miles from Magic Kingdom Park.

Storyliving by Disney lists Cotino in the Greater Palm Springs area, where homes are selling now. Asteria is planned inside Chatham Park in Pittsboro, outside Raleigh, and Disney's pages say sales are expected to start in 2027. The site says more locations are being explored in the U.S., but it doesn't name any, and none is listed in Central Florida today.

Who builds and sells the homes?

This is the biggest difference between them.

At Golden Oak, homes are sold through Golden Oak Realty, whose team describes itself as Disney Cast Members. The site says single-family homes in the existing neighborhoods are sold out, with limited resales. The newest residences, at Four Seasons Private Residences (Florian Park), come from a developer the site names as HHR FSO Land LLC.

Storyliving by Disney works another way. Its disclosures say each community is Disney branded and managed, while third-party developers build out the land and third-party builders build and sell the homes. Disney says it isn't the developer, builder or seller, and it makes no promise that a community will stay Disney managed or keep the Disney name.

Do the clubs cost extra?

Each community has a club, and the rules differ.

• Golden Oak Club: The site says every Golden Oak homeowner must be a member. Its disclosures list association assessments plus club dues and fees on top of the purchase price, and some club services carry added charges. It also says membership may be offered to people who don't live in Golden Oak.
• Artisan Club at Cotino: Voluntary, with dues and fees. Disney's site says buying a home doesn't include access to Cotino Bay and its beaches. Residents get that through club membership, and visitors can buy day tickets.
• Second Star Club at Asteria: Asteria's disclosures describe a mandatory club membership that requires approval, with dues and fees under recorded covenants.

None of the three sites publishes dollar amounts for club dues. Ask for them in writing, along with any association fees. My HOA and CDD fee guide explains how those charges work in Florida.

What do the sites say about age rules?

Here is what each official site states, and nothing more:

• Golden Oak: The pages I checked don't state an age rule.
• Cotino: The FAQ says one designated section, Longtable Park Residences, is designated for residents 55 and older, and that buyers of any age can purchase homes elsewhere in the community.
• Asteria: The community page says homeowners of all ages are welcome, with some residences set aside for residents 55 and older.

Age-restricted housing has its own legal rules, so read the recorded documents for any home you're considering.

How do they compare?

Detail	Golden Oak	Cotino	Asteria
Location	Disney World, Florida	Rancho Mirage, California	Pittsboro, North Carolina
Status	Mostly resales, plus new Four Seasons Private Residences	Selling now	Sales expected in 2027
Who sells homes	Golden Oak Realty	Third-party builders, with sales through Storyliving by Disney Realty	Third-party builders
Club	Golden Oak Club, required	Artisan Club, voluntary	Second Star Club, mandatory
Planned homes	Not published	About 2,000	About 4,000
Starting price	See current details	From the mid $1 millions	Not published
Age rule on the site	None stated	One section designated 55 and older, other homes open to all ages	All ages, with some residences designated 55 and older

What should you read before you buy?

Both Storyliving communities tell buyers to get the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. At any of the three, ask for the recorded covenants, the club membership documents and a full list of recurring fees before you commit.

Tyler's note: [one or two sentences only Tyler can add, e.g. what he sees with clients]

Want a new home in Central Florida instead?

If you'd rather stay close to the theme parks, look at new homes near Disney World, or compare towns by distance and price.

I'm not affiliated with Disney, Golden Oak or Storyliving by Disney, and every detail here comes from their own sites. If you're weighing one of these against homes nearby, call me and we'll go through the numbers together.