Mickey Mouse traded Central Florida for the Carolina countryside this month, joining a community celebration in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where Disney is building its second Storyliving community.
A Double Anniversary in Pittsboro
On October 17, Storyliving by Disney brought Mickey to Pittsboro to mark the fifth anniversary of the Pittsboro Club and the 30th anniversary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina. As part of the celebration, Storyliving by Disney donated $30,000 to the organization, recognizing three decades of service to local children and families. The Walt Disney Company says it hopes the partnership will inspire creative confidence in kids and help them build a brighter future.
The company shared behind-the-scenes footage of the surprise, writing:
Join us behind the scenes as we pull off a magical surprise for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina as #StorylivingbyDisney continues to become part of the Pittsboro community. Mickey Mouse helped make the @bgccentralcarolina 30th anniversary extra special! Asteria, a Storyliving by Disney new home community, is proud to support organizations that help young people learn, grow, and succeed.
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Dr. Fallon Brewington, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina, said:
“It is very exciting to have Storyliving by Disney here supporting our organization. To know they are stepping in as a partner and being here for us on our 30th anniversary of our organization is amazing.”
Claire Bilby, SVP and General Manager of Storyliving by Disney, added:
“Being part of a community means supporting the people and organizations that help make it special. As we look toward the future of Asteria in Pittsboro, we’re excited to build connections in the community and recognize and enhance the important work organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina has already been doing.”
Guests at the Disney parks needn’t worry that Mickey Mouse was missing. As always, a little pixie dust kept him greeting visitors at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney parks abroad, even while making a surprise appearance in North Carolina.
What Is Asteria?
Asteria is the second Storyliving by Disney community, after Cotino in Rancho Mirage, California. According to Walt Disney Imagineering Site Portfolio Executive Shawn Montague, the name comes from the aster flower, native to North Carolina. In Greek mythology, the goddess Astria’s tears of stardust fell to Earth and sprouted the first asters.
The 1,500-acre development will include the rentable Lost Key Cottage, a clubhouse inspired by Peter Pan (1953), plus a recreation center, outdoor spaces, a community garden, enrichment programming, and Disney-themed activities for residents.
In a December 2023 news release, Bilby said:
“The announcement of the Asteria community builds upon strong initial interest for our first Storyliving by Disney community in California and will expand Disney-branded communities to the East Coast. Our team has been working closely with Disney Imagineers to develop a unique vision for this project inspired by Walt Disney’s innate curiosity and North Carolina’s spirit of discovery.”
The first residential units are expected to reach the market in 2027, with the rest of the development- more than 4,000 single-family and multi-family homes near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill- finished by fall 2028. Whether Disney will bring more branded communities beyond Asteria, Cotino, and Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort remains unclear.
Where should Storyliving by Disney build its next community? Share your ideas with Disney Dining in the comments!
