Mickey Mouse left Central Florida behind this month for a surprise appearance in Pittsboro, North Carolina, where The Walt Disney Company is developing its second Storyliving by Disney community.
A Celebration in Pittsboro
On October 17, Storyliving by Disney sent Mickey to help mark two milestones: the fifth anniversary of the Pittsboro Club and the 30th anniversary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina. The company also gave $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs, honoring the organization's three decades of work with local children and families. Disney says it hopes the relationship will encourage creative confidence in kids and help them build a brighter future.
Storyliving by Disney posted a behind-the-scenes video of the surprise with this caption:
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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“It is very exciting to have Storyliving by Disney here supporting our organization,” said Dr. Fallon Brewington, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Carolina. “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, said:
“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.”
Park visitors shouldn't worry when Mickey Mouse is out of town. The same pixie dust that lets him move between parades and meet-and-greets keeps him greeting guests at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney parks around the world, even when he's making surprise appearances like this one in North Carolina.
About Asteria
Asteria follows Cotino in Rancho Mirage, California, as the second Storyliving by Disney community. Walt Disney Imagineering Site Portfolio Executive Shawn Montague says the name honors the aster flower, which is native to North Carolina. In Greek mythology, tears of stardust from the goddess Astria fell to Earth and grew into the first asters.
The 1,500-acre neighborhood will feature the rentable Lost Key Cottage, a clubhouse inspired by Peter Pan (1953), along with a recreation center, dedicated outdoor spaces, a community garden, enrichment programming, and Disney-themed activities for residents.
When Asteria was announced in December 2023, 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.”
What Comes Next
The first homes are expected to be completed and put on the market in 2027, and the full build-out of more than 4,000 single-family and multi-family homes near Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill should wrap up by fall 2028. Disney hasn't said whether more Disney-branded communities, like Asteria, Cotino, or Walt Disney World Resort‘s Golden Oak, are planned elsewhere.
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