DVC Resale Restrictions

Disney Vacation Club resale contracts remain one of the best values in vacation ownership. Buyers who purchase on the resale market typically save 40–60% compared to buying the same number of points directly from Disney, and the core benefit — the ability to book stays at world-class Disney resorts using a flexible points system — is fully intact for the vast majority of contracts available today.

How Resale Booking Access Works

When you purchase a resale contract at one of the original 14 DVC resorts, you receive the same booking privileges as a direct buyer at those properties. You can reserve your home resort up to 11 months in advance, giving you priority access during peak seasons like Christmas week, spring break, and the Food & Wine Festival. At the 7-month window, the entire network of 14 unrestricted resorts opens up, allowing you to book at any property with available inventory. This includes iconic Walt Disney World resorts like Bay Lake Tower, Beach Club Villas, and the Grand Floridian, as well as Aulani in Hawaii, Grand Californian in Disneyland, and the off-site retreats at Hilton Head Island and Vero Beach.

What the Restricted Resorts Mean for Buyers

Three resorts carry resale restrictions: Riviera Resort, the Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and Fort Wilderness Cabins. If you buy a resale contract at one of these properties, your points can only be used to book at that specific resort — you cannot access the broader DVC network. This is an important distinction, but it does not make these contracts a bad purchase. Riviera, for instance, is one of the newest and most sought-after DVC properties, and resale contracts there are priced significantly below retail precisely because of the restriction. Buyers who love a particular restricted resort and plan to return year after year can still realize substantial savings.

Perks You Lose on Resale — and Why Most Buyers Don't Mind

Resale buyers do lose access to certain member-exclusive benefits. These include Moonlight Magic after-hours events, the Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower, member-only merchandise and pin trading events, and small discounts on dining and shopping at Disney parks. While these perks are enjoyable, they represent a fraction of the overall value of a DVC membership. The primary reason people buy DVC is to lock in future resort stays at today's prices, and resale contracts deliver that benefit in full. Most experienced DVC owners will tell you the perks are nice to have, not a reason to pay double at retail.

Choosing the Right Contract

The best resale contract depends on your travel habits. If you want maximum flexibility to book across Walt Disney World, a contract at a resort like Saratoga Springs or Old Key West offers lower per-point costs and full network access. If you prefer a specific resort and want the best room availability during peak dates, buying your home resort gives you the 11-month advantage. Point charts vary by resort, so a property with lower point requirements per night effectively stretches your ownership further. Annual dues also differ — resorts like Animal Kingdom Lodge and Saratoga Springs tend to have lower per-point dues, while deluxe properties like the Polynesian and Grand Floridian carry higher annual costs.

The Resale Process at DVC Sales

Purchasing a DVC resale contract through DVC Sales is straightforward. You browse available listings, make an offer, and once accepted, a licensed title company handles the closing. Disney has a 30-day Right of First Refusal (ROFR) period during which they can choose to buy the contract at the agreed price. If Disney waives ROFR, closing typically takes 45–60 days total. Our commission rate of 6.9% is the lowest among major DVC brokers, and buyers pay no broker commission — the seller covers that cost. Closing costs for the buyer typically run $500–$700 depending on the contract size and title company fees.

How Points Work Across Resorts

Every DVC contract comes with a fixed number of points that replenish each year on your use year. These points are the currency you use to book resort stays, and each resort has its own point chart that determines how many points a given room type costs per night. A studio at Animal Kingdom Lodge during value season might require just 10 points per night, while a two-bedroom villa at the Grand Floridian during Christmas week could cost 60 or more. Understanding these point charts is essential when deciding which resort to buy, because the same number of points will stretch further at some properties than others. Resale buyers have full access to the same point charts and booking system as direct buyers — there is no difference in how your points are used once the contract is in your name.

Banking and Borrowing Points

One of the most powerful features of DVC ownership is the ability to bank and borrow points. Banking allows you to carry unused points from the current use year into the following year, effectively giving you up to two years of points to use in a single trip. This is particularly useful for planning larger vacations or booking premium room categories that require more points. Borrowing works in the opposite direction — you can pull points forward from next year's allotment to supplement a current-year booking. Both banking and borrowing are available to resale owners with no restrictions. The only requirement is that banking must be done before a specific deadline tied to your use year, and borrowed points cannot themselves be banked. These features give DVC members extraordinary flexibility in planning vacations of different sizes from year to year.

Annual Dues and Ongoing Costs

Every DVC owner pays annual maintenance fees, commonly called annual dues. These fees cover the resort's operating expenses, maintenance reserves, property taxes, and insurance. Dues are calculated on a per-point basis and vary by resort. As of 2026, annual dues range from approximately $7.50 per point at the lower end (resorts like Saratoga Springs) to over $12.00 per point at premium properties like the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. When evaluating a resale contract, annual dues are just as important as the purchase price because they represent a recurring cost for the life of the contract. A contract with a low per-point purchase price but high annual dues may cost more over time than a slightly higher-priced contract with moderate dues. DVC Sales lists annual dues for every contract so you can compare total cost of ownership before making an offer.

Right of First Refusal (ROFR) Explained

After a buyer and seller agree on a price for a DVC resale contract, Disney has 30 days to exercise its Right of First Refusal. This means Disney can choose to purchase the contract at the agreed-upon price instead of allowing the sale to proceed to the buyer. Disney exercises ROFR selectively — contracts priced significantly below market value are more likely to be taken back, while fairly priced contracts typically pass without issue. At DVC Sales, our team monitors ROFR trends closely and can advise you on pricing that balances savings with a strong likelihood of passing. If Disney does exercise ROFR, neither the buyer nor the seller incurs any cost — the transaction simply does not proceed, and both parties are free to enter a new agreement.

Why Resale Remains the Best Value in 2026

Disney continues to raise retail prices for new DVC contracts, with per-point costs at newer resorts now exceeding $250. Meanwhile, resale contracts at the original 14 resorts are available at $90–$170 per point depending on the resort, contract size, and current market conditions. That gap represents tens of thousands of dollars in savings on a typical 150-point contract. The restrictions that apply to resale purchases — limited to booking at the original 14 resorts and losing access to member perks — affect only a small portion of the overall DVC experience. The core value proposition of DVC ownership is the ability to stay at deluxe Disney resorts at a fraction of rack rates, and resale contracts deliver that value in full. For families who vacation at Disney regularly, buying resale through a trusted broker like DVC Sales remains the smartest way to join the Disney Vacation Club.