Purchasing a DVC membership through the resale market is one of the smartest financial decisions a Disney fan can make. We have helped hundreds of families through this process over more than 25 years. People who understand the steps before they start have a much smoother experience.
The full buying process typically takes four to eight weeks, depending on Disney Right of First Refusal timeline and how quickly both parties complete paperwork. Each step is there for a reason, and understanding why makes the waiting far more manageable.
Step One: Research and Planning
Good DVC purchases start with good planning. Before you look at a single listing, spend some time thinking about how your family actually vacations. Do you typically go for four or five nights in a studio, or do you need a two-bedroom villa for extended family? These questions directly affect how many points you need and which resort makes the most sense as your home resort.
The DVC resort options range from value-friendly properties like Saratoga Springs and Old Key West to premium destinations like Grand Floridian and Riviera Resort. Your home resort matters because you get booking priority there starting 11 months before check-in. At every other DVC resort, you can book starting at 7 months.
Browse the current resale listings early in your research to get a feel for pricing across different resorts and contract sizes. You do not need to be ready to buy yet. Just looking at what is available helps you build realistic expectations.
You should also check annual dues by resort. Dues vary meaningfully from one resort to another. A lower purchase price with higher annual dues can actually cost you more over time than paying a bit more upfront for a lower-dues resort.
Step Two: Working With a DVC Specialist
Once you have a basic sense of what you want, connecting with someone who knows the DVC resale market well is worth your time. At DVC Sales, our job is not to sell you something. Our job is to make sure you purchase the right contract for your family.
A good specialist will explain the difference between use years and why they matter, help you understand banking and borrowing rules, and walk you through what resale restrictions actually mean in practice.
We will also talk through financing options if you would rather spread payments over time. Several lenders specialize in DVC resale transactions and understand the unique ownership structure involved.
Right of First Refusal is Disney ability to step in and purchase any resale contract at the price you agreed to. It adds time to the process, but it also helps protect resale values. Most contracts pass through ROFR without issue, especially when priced near current market rates.
Step Three: Making an Offer
When you find a contract you like, the next step is submitting an offer. A DVC resale offer covers more than just the price. You will also specify the use year, how many points are included in the current year, whether any points are banked from the prior year, and your preferred closing timeline.
Check our price comparison tool before you finalize your offer number. Knowing what similar contracts have sold for recently puts you in a much stronger negotiating position. Coming in at a fair market price often leads to a faster, cleaner deal.
The seller can accept, reject, or counter your offer. This negotiation phase typically wraps up within a few days. Once both parties agree on terms, you move into the formal contract stage.
Step Four: Contract Execution
After agreeing on price and terms, a formal purchase contract is prepared. Read it carefully. It specifies who pays which closing costs, how annual dues are prorated, what happens to any existing reservations, and the timeline for each phase. Both parties sign electronically.
At the time of contract signing, you will typically submit an earnest money deposit. This deposit gets applied to your total purchase price at closing and demonstrates to the seller that you are a serious purchaser committed to completing the transaction.
If you are financing, the loan application process begins right after contract execution. DVC-specialized lenders move through this faster than traditional mortgage lenders.
Step Five: Disney Right of First Refusal
Once the contract is signed by both parties, it gets submitted to Disney for ROFR review. This process typically takes 20 to 30 days. Disney reviews the contract terms and decides whether to purchase the property at the agreed price or allow the transaction to proceed to the buyer.
Disney exercises ROFR infrequently. They tend to act on contracts priced meaningfully below market value. Most contracts pass through without any issue. But if Disney does step in, your deposit is returned in full and you can search for another contract.
Step Six: Closing Preparations
Once ROFR clears, the title company moves into closing preparation mode. They order an estoppel certificate from Disney, which confirms the membership status, outstanding dues, existing point balances, and any restrictions. They also prepare the deed transfer documents and calculate all closing figures.
You will receive a closing statement a few days before your scheduled closing date. The buyer pays a 00 Disney Administration Fee at closing. The seller covers the 50 estoppel fee and DVC Sales 6.9% commission. Our commission is significantly lower than the industry average of 9.5%.
Step Seven: Final Closing
Closing happens remotely. You will sign documents through a secure electronic platform, and transfer the remaining purchase funds via wire to the title company escrow account. No in-person meetings, no travel, no notary appointments.
Once all signatures are in and funds are received, the title company records the deed transfer with the appropriate county. After recording, funds are disbursed to the seller and all fees are paid. The final closing process moves quickly once ROFR has cleared, often completing within five to seven business days.
Step Eight: Membership Activation
After the deed records, the title company submits everything to Disney for membership activation. Disney typically processes this within one to two weeks. Once your account is active, you can start booking. Check the how DVC works guide for a full breakdown of the reservation system.
Understanding DVC Use Years Before You Buy
One of the most confusing aspects of DVC contracts for new buyers is the use year. Your use year is the month when your annual point allocation resets each year. DVC has 12 possible use years, and every contract falls into one of them: January, February, March, April, June, August, September, October, November, or December.
Why does this matter? Because banking and borrowing rules depend heavily on your use year relative to the current date. If you want to bank points before they expire, you need to do it before a specific deadline that is calculated from your use year. And if you are hoping to borrow points from next year to supplement a near-term trip, your use year affects when that becomes possible.
Most buyers find it easiest to think about use year in terms of their typical vacation timing. If you vacation in July, a June use year gives you fresh points right before your trip. If you tend to vacation in November and December, an October use year means your fresh allocation arrives right when you need it.
Banking and Borrowing Basics
DVC points have an annual use year deadline, but Disney built in flexibility through banking and borrowing. Banking means setting aside unused current-year points to use the following year. Borrowing means pulling points from next year allocation to use before your current year ends.
You can bank current-year points, but you must do so before a specific deadline, typically about seven months before your use year ends. Once points are banked, they are available for use during the following use year only. They do not roll over indefinitely.
You can borrow up to 100% of next year allocation to use now. When you are buying a resale contract, check whether any points in the listing are banked or borrowed. Banked points from the previous year are a bonus, giving you more immediate flexibility.
Home Resort Priority
Home resort priority is one of the most valuable aspects of DVC ownership. Starting 11 months before your check-in date, you can book rooms at your home resort. Every other DVC resort is available to you at 7 months out.
That four-month window is enormous for popular room types at high-demand resorts. Grand Villas, preferred-view studios, and popular categories at resorts like Bay Lake Tower or Grand Floridian can book up almost entirely during the 11-month window. If you do not own at those resorts, you are competing for whatever is left when the 7-month window opens.
Before choosing your home resort, think carefully about where you most want to stay. If you dream of Grand Floridian villas, buying at Saratoga Springs because it is cheaper means you may never actually stay at Grand Floridian.
What Resale Restrictions Actually Mean in Practice
Disney implemented resale restrictions in 2019 for contracts purchased on the secondary market. Resale purchasers cannot access the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection, or the Cruise Collection through DVC. Most DVC members use points almost exclusively for DVC resort bookings anyway, so this restriction rarely matters in practice.
Everything else is the same: full access to all DVC resorts worldwide, full banking and borrowing capability, full home resort 11-month booking priority, and ability to rent your points. The resale discount compared to direct Disney pricing typically far exceeds the value of the excluded benefits. Browse the current Disney retail prices to see the gap between what Disney charges directly and what resale contracts cost today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the full process take?
From the time an offer is accepted to the day your membership activates, plan on four to eight weeks. The biggest variable is Disney ROFR review, which typically runs 20 to 30 days. Total elapsed time can stretch to ten weeks in some cases, which is completely normal.
What fees does the buyer pay?
The buyer pays a 00 Disney Administration Fee at closing. You are also responsible for your own closing costs, which the title company calculates based on the purchase price. Annual dues are typically prorated between buyer and seller based on the closing date.
What happens if Disney exercises ROFR?
If Disney exercises ROFR, the original purchase contract is canceled. Your deposit is returned in full. You start fresh and look for another contract. Most buyers who go through ROFR find a comparable contract within a few weeks.
Ready to start the process? Browse the available listings or reach out through our contact page and one of our specialists will walk you through the options that fit your family vacation style and budget.
Choosing Between Different Contract Sizes
DVC contracts range from very small (25 or 50 points) to very large (300-plus points). Smaller contracts give you lower annual dues and a lower entry cost, but they may not give you enough points for a full week in a standard room. Larger contracts provide more vacation flexibility but come with higher annual dues.
A single person or couple who vacations for four or five nights per year in a studio might be perfectly happy with 75 to 100 points. A family that takes two trips a year in one-bedroom villas might need 200-plus points. Our team can help you model out different scenarios based on your vacation preferences before you commit to a specific contract size.
Keep in mind that you can own multiple DVC contracts at different resorts. Some members start with one smaller contract and add another over time as their vacation needs evolve. Resale contracts can be purchased at any time, so there is no need to get everything right in one shot.
What to Expect From Your First Reservation
Once your membership is activated, you are ready to book your first stay. Log into your Disney account and navigate to the member reservation system. You will see your available points balance and can search availability by resort, room type, and dates.
The 11-month home resort window is when serious DVC members jump in. For popular room types during peak season, the booking window opens and the best availability disappears within hours. If your priority dates or room types require home resort priority, mark your calendar and be ready to book the moment your window opens.
For trips where flexibility is possible, the 7-month window still offers good availability at most resorts. Saratoga Springs and other large resorts with many units typically have solid availability even at shorter notice. Grand Villas and preferred studio rooms at smaller resorts are the hardest to snag without home resort priority.
