Some heroes wear capes. Others wear uniforms. And at Cotino, a Storyliving by Disney community in California’s Coachella Valley, Disney recently brought those worlds together for a special day celebrating military families.
In honor of Veterans and Military Families Month, Storyliving by Disney welcomed families from Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms for an unforgettable experience filled with Disney and Pixar surprises, family activities and plenty of opportunities to make new memories together. The celebration was held in partnership with Blue Star Families, an organization Disney has proudly supported for more than 15 years.
And there may have been one very famous mouse waiting to say hello.
A Super Day at the Parr House
The setting couldn’t have been more fitting.
Families gathered for lunch overlooking the sparkling turquoise waters of Cotino Bay, with the Parr House serving as the backdrop for the day’s celebration. Inspired by the iconic mid-century home of everyone’s favorite super family from Pixar’s Incredibles 2, the Parr House offered military families the opportunity to step inside a piece of Pixar storytelling brought to life at Cotino.
From there, families were treated to a special tour of the home and a superhero experience uniquely suited to the surroundings.
Pixar artists joined the celebration to create one-of-a-kind portraits transforming participating family members into their own superheroes. Children also had the chance to enjoy arts and crafts on the event lawn, with plenty of time throughout the day simply to play, connect and enjoy being together.
For Claire Bilby, senior vice president of Storyliving by Disney, the celebration reflects the kind of connection Storyliving by Disney hopes to foster both inside its communities and in the places they call home.
“Being part of a community means being a good neighbor, and days like this are a wonderful example of what that can look like,” said Bilby. “We are proud to bring together military families, Disney storytellers and our Cotino community to create moments of connection and joy, while showing our appreciation for families who give so much through their service.”
A Little Extra Disney Magic
Of course, no one told the families about one final surprise.
Mickey Mouse arrived to spend time with the families and pose for photos, adding a little extra Disney magic to an already memorable day.
“Military families give so much in service to our country, and they deserve moments that are simply about being together and making memories,” said Blue Star Families Senior Vice President of External Affairs Ashley Saville. “We’re grateful to Disney for helping create a day filled with joy, connection and a few unforgettable surprises for these families.”
For one participating military family, the experience was a chance to step away from everyday life and simply enjoy time together.
“Military life asks a lot of the entire family, so having a day where we could just be together, have fun and see the kids light up was incredibly special,” said Blue Star Families member, Australia Herrera. “From seeing ourselves as superheroes to meeting Mickey, there were surprises around every corner.”
The celebration reflects Disney’s longstanding admiration for the U.S. military community. Supporting service members, veterans and their families is a tradition stretching back to Walt and Roy Disney, who both contributed to the World War I war effort. Since 2012, Disney has contributed more than $27 million in funding and media support to nonprofit organizations focused on bringing joy to veterans and military families.
Made With a Little Help From the Cotino Community
The celebration actually began a day earlier.
On November 3, Cotino residents and Disney Cast Members joined forces through Disney VoluntEARS to decorate special teddy bears for the children attending the following day’s celebration. Each bear was created as a small expression of appreciation and was waiting for its new owner when families arrived at Cotino.
It was also an opportunity for residents to play a personal role in welcoming these families to the community.
“What makes Cotino special is the sense of community we’re creating together. Seeing our residents and Disney Cast Members come together to make this day even more meaningful for military families is a wonderful reflection of that spirit,” said Cotino Vice President of Operations Jay Critcher.
For Cotino residents who helped prepare for the celebration, the experience was also a meaningful opportunity to show their appreciation for military families and take part in a Disney tradition of honoring those who serve.
“We appreciate the opportunity that Cotino has given us to volunteer to help the families of veterans and members of the military,” said Cotino resident, Larry Dick. “We know the struggle they must go through, especially during the holidays. We were so happy to help.”
At Cotino, being a good neighbor means finding meaningful ways to support the people and organizations that make the Coachella Valley such a special place. Together with Blue Star Families, Disney Cast Members and Cotino residents, this celebration offered another opportunity to put that spirit into action.
And for the military families at the heart of it all, the day was simply about being together, making memories and getting the superhero treatment they deserve.
