Understanding the DVC Resale Market
The DVC resale market is where existing Disney Vacation Club members sell their memberships to new buyers. Rather than purchasing a brand-new contract directly from Disney, buyers in the resale market are stepping into an existing ownership arrangement. The membership transfers completely, including the Home Resort, the Use Year, the annual points, and whatever points are currently available on the contract. Once closing is complete and Disney has processed the transfer, the new owner is a full DVC member with all the booking rights that come with it.
This market has existed almost as long as DVC itself. The first DVC resort opened in 1991, and members have been reselling contracts for decades. The resale market is substantial, with thousands of transactions happening every year across the roughly two dozen DVC resorts currently in operation.
If you want to see what is currently available, you can browse the current DVC resale listings to get a feel for the range of options on the market right now.
How Pricing Works in the Resale Market
Resale prices are set by sellers, not Disney. A seller decides what they want for their contract, lists it with a licensed broker, and the market determines whether that price is realistic. Because resale contracts do not come with the full suite of Disney direct benefits (more on that below), they trade at a discount compared to what Disney charges for new memberships.
That discount is real and meaningful. Resale prices are typically well below what Disney charges for equivalent points at the same resort. The exact discount varies by resort, point size, and market conditions at any given time. Some resorts trade closer to Disney's retail price because demand is high and supply is limited. Others offer more significant savings. The best way to get a current picture is to compare what's on the market against what Disney is charging, which you can do at the DVC Retail Prices page.
Price per point is the standard unit of comparison in the DVC market. If a 150-point contract at a given resort is listed at $15,000, that is $100 per point. Comparing contracts on a per-point basis makes it much easier to evaluate whether a listing is fairly priced relative to others.
What Drives Resale Values Up or Down
Several factors influence how much a given DVC contract sells for in the resale market:
Home Resort Desirability
Some resorts are simply more in demand than others. Contracts at resorts that are hard to book, centrally located at Walt Disney World, or particularly popular tend to hold their value better and command higher prices. Resorts like Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Beach Club have strong resale demand because owning there gives you a real booking advantage during peak seasons.
Years Remaining on the Deed
Every DVC deed has an expiration date. A contract with 40 years left is inherently worth more than one with 12 years remaining, even if everything else is the same. Buyers should pay close attention to the expiration when comparing contracts at similar prices.
Available Points
Contracts that come with extra banked points from a prior year are more immediately useful and often worth a small premium. Contracts where points have already been borrowed against a future year are less attractive and may sell for slightly less, since the buyer will have fewer points available right after closing.
Contract Size
Larger contracts often trade at a slightly lower price per point than smaller ones, though this is not a rigid rule. Smaller contracts (under 100 points) can actually command a premium because they make it easier for buyers who want a smaller ownership stake without committing to a large upfront cost.
Use Year
Use Year affects how easily you can use your points each year. Common use years trade more easily because they give buyers flexibility. Less common use years may not impact price significantly, but they can matter for buyers with specific vacation timing needs.
Resale Restrictions: What Buyers Need to Know
Disney introduced a formal resale restriction policy in January 2019. Contracts purchased on the secondary market after that date are not eligible for what Disney calls the "Disney Collection" benefits. This specifically means resale buyers cannot use their DVC points to book stays at non-DVC Disney properties like the Grand Floridian hotel (the non-DVC sections), Disney's Fort Wilderness cabins, or Adventures by Disney trips.
What resale restrictions do NOT affect:
- Booking any DVC villa at any DVC resort
- The 11-month Home Resort booking window
- The 7-month all-resort booking window
- Banking and borrowing points
- Trading through RCI for external exchanges
- Standard DVC membership benefits like discounts and dining events
For the vast majority of DVC owners, the resale restrictions are not a meaningful limitation. Most DVC members use their points to book DVC villas, which is exactly what the restrictions do not affect. The lost benefits are real, but they are rarely central to how members actually use their contracts.
You can read a full breakdown at the How DVC Works page to understand exactly how the booking system operates.
The Buying Process in the Resale Market
Purchasing a DVC resale contract is a real estate transaction with formal legal steps. Here is how it works in practice:
Finding a contract: You browse available listings, compare them by resort, points, use year, price per point, and available points. Once you find one that fits your needs, you make an offer through the licensed brokerage.
Negotiation and acceptance: The seller reviews your offer and either accepts it, declines it, or makes a counter offer. Once both parties agree on price, the transaction moves forward.
Disney's Right of First Refusal: The agreed-upon sale contract is submitted to Disney, which has the right to step in and buy the contract at the agreed price. This is known as ROFR. Disney exercises this right selectively, usually when prices drop below what they consider market rate. The process takes approximately 30 days.
Closing: Once Disney waives ROFR, the title company prepares closing documents. The buyer pays the contract price, closing costs, and the $500 Disney Administration Fee. The seller pays the $150 Disney Estoppel Fee and the broker commission. DVC Sales charges sellers 6.9% commission, and buyers pay no commission at all.
Transfer and activation: After closing funds, Disney processes the membership transfer. This typically takes a few weeks. Once complete, the buyer receives their DVC member credentials and can begin booking immediately.
Total timeline from accepted offer to booking-ready typically runs 60 to 90 days. If you want a full cost breakdown before making an offer, the DVC Compare Prices tool is a useful starting point.
Costs Buyers Actually Pay
No buyer commission is charged at DVC Sales. The seller pays the commission. As a buyer, your out-of-pocket costs are:
- The agreed contract price
- Closing costs through the title company (title insurance, deed recording, preparation fees)
- The $500 Disney Administration Fee (also called the CAF)
- Prorated annual dues based on the bankable points included with the contract
Annual dues are an ongoing cost of DVC ownership, charged every year for as long as you own the contract. You can review current dues rates by resort at the DVC Annual Dues page.
How the Resale Market Compares to Direct Purchases
The honest comparison between resale and direct comes down to a few key tradeoffs. Direct buyers pay more per point but get the full package of Disney benefits, including the ability to book non-DVC Disney properties using points and access to newer Disney Collection experiences. They also get Disney's in-house financing, which some buyers prefer.
Resale buyers pay less per point and get the core DVC ownership experience without those extra perks. For families who want to stay in DVC villas at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Aulani in Hawaii, the difference in benefits is small, and the difference in price is real.
Most buyers who do their homework conclude that resale offers compelling value. But it depends on your priorities, how much you value the extra Disney Collection perks, and whether the savings justify the tradeoff for your specific situation.
Why Work With a Licensed Brokerage
DVC resale transactions involve real estate deeds and legal transfers. A licensed brokerage protects both the buyer and seller by making sure the transaction follows proper procedures, documents are correctly prepared, and the transfer is completed through a qualified title company. Attempting to buy directly from a private seller without a licensed broker introduces real risk, including title issues that could cloud ownership or transaction disputes with no professional mediation.
DVC Sales is a licensed real estate brokerage with over 25 years specializing in DVC. The team includes former Disney cast members and licensed Florida real estate professionals. All listings are verified, and the team is available seven days a week to answer questions throughout the process.
If you are ready to explore your options, start with the DVC resale listings. And if you have questions before you get started, the team is available to help at any time, with no pressure and no obligation.
