Choosing the best DVC resort to buy resale is one of the most personal decisions in this whole process. There is no single right answer, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something. What I can do is walk you through the real factors that experienced DVC owners weigh when they shop the resale market, and point you toward the resorts that consistently hold strong value over time.
This guide is based on what we see every day at DVC Sales. We have been brokering DVC resale contracts for over 25 years, and patterns emerge when you watch thousands of transactions.
What Makes a DVC Resort Worth Buying on Resale?
The resale market strips away the direct-purchase perks like Membership Extras and the ability to book certain Disney Collection hotels. So what you are left with evaluating is the core DVC membership itself: the resort, the points, the use year, and the price. That is actually a cleaner comparison than most people expect.
Here are the things that matter most when choosing which resort to purchase resale.
Home Resort Priority Is the Biggest Factor
When you own a DVC contract at a specific resort, you get to book rooms at that resort 11 months in advance. Every other DVC member can only book that same resort at the 7-month window. That four-month head start is enormously valuable at popular resorts during peak seasons. It is, in my opinion, the single most underrated feature in DVC ownership.
At hard-to-book resorts like Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Copper Creek Villas, the 11-month window can be the difference between getting your preferred room category and getting nothing. If you have your heart set on a specific resort, owning there and using the 11-month window makes the most practical sense.
At more accessible resorts like Saratoga Springs or Old Key West, the 7-month window is usually enough to book what you want. That flexibility means you can own a budget-friendly resort and still visit other DVC properties without too much difficulty.
Location on Disney Property
Location matters for two reasons: convenience and emotional attachment. Resorts that sit on the monorail loop or within walking distance of a park command higher prices, but they also tend to hold value better on resale. Bay Lake Tower, connected directly to the Contemporary and a short walk from Magic Kingdom, is one of the most requested resorts we list. BoardWalk Villas sits steps from EPCOT's International Gateway entrance, which is a draw for guests who spend significant time at EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
That said, some of our most satisfied buyers own at resorts that are a bus ride away from the parks. Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge have a boat launch to Magic Kingdom that many guests actually prefer over the monorail. Beach Club Villas has Stormalong Bay, arguably the best resort pool on property, and a short walk to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via the International Gateway.
Think about how you actually vacation. If you are a park-open-to-park-close family, proximity to the gate matters. If you like to spend afternoons at the pool and evenings at the parks, pool quality and overall resort atmosphere might outweigh a slightly longer bus ride.
Price Per Point and Annual Dues
Resale contracts are priced per point. The total cost is simply the per-point price multiplied by the number of points in the contract. But that is only half the picture. Annual dues are the ongoing yearly cost, and they vary meaningfully between resorts. A resort with a lower per-point price but significantly higher annual dues may cost more over a 10-year period than a slightly pricier resort with modest dues.
You can review current DVC annual dues by resort on our site. Take both the purchase price and the annual dues into account before committing. We can also walk you through a side-by-side comparison if you reach out to us at DVC Sales.
For a complete picture of what resale contracts are currently selling for, check our DVC resale listings and our retail price comparison page.
Contract Expiration Date
DVC contracts are deeded real estate with expiration dates. Most Walt Disney World resorts expire in 2042 or 2057. Some resorts, like Old Key West (extended contracts expire 2057), and newer additions like Riviera Resort (2070) and Disneyland Hotel (2073), have longer timelines.
A contract expiring in 2042 has roughly 16 years of useful life remaining as of 2026. That is still a solid run of family vacations, but it is worth factoring into price. Contracts expiring in 2057 or later offer considerably more value for families with young children who plan to use DVC for decades.
When you look at listings on our site, the expiration date is clearly noted. Compare the per-point price against the remaining years to assess true value.
The Resorts Worth Considering
Best for Luxury and Prestige: Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Grand Floridian is the flagship Walt Disney World resort, and owning DVC there reflects that. The architecture, the service culture, and the location on the monorail loop are hard to beat. The Villas at Grand Floridian occupy their own building, and the home resort priority at 11 months means you can plan a stay months before anyone else can touch that inventory.
The per-point price on resale is among the highest in the DVC portfolio, which reflects demand. If budget is the top concern, this is not the right resort. But if you want the best Disney experience on property and plan to vacation there regularly, the premium is justified by many owners.
Best for Magic Kingdom Access: Polynesian Villas and Bay Lake Tower
Both of these resorts sit on the monorail, giving you direct access to Magic Kingdom without a bus. Polynesian Villas and Bungalows has a tropical, relaxed atmosphere and a beach bar that is genuinely one of the best spots on property for an evening drink. Bay Lake Tower sits atop the Contemporary and has a rooftop deck with one of the best views of Magic Kingdom fireworks anywhere on Disney property.
For families who center their trips around Magic Kingdom, owning at one of these two resorts and using the 11-month booking window is a smart strategy. Both resorts sell quickly on resale and tend to hold their per-point value well.
Best for EPCOT Access: Beach Club Villas and BoardWalk Villas
Beach Club Villas and BoardWalk Villas share the EPCOT resort area, with both within walking distance of the International Gateway. If you love EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Festival, or just the general EPCOT experience, owning at one of these resorts is genuinely transformative. You can walk back for a nap, drop off shopping, or use the room as a base without worrying about transportation logistics.
Beach Club has Stormalong Bay, a three-acre pool complex with a 230-foot slide carved into a shipwreck. It is the standout pool at Disney World. BoardWalk Villas has live entertainment most evenings along its lakeside promenade. Both resorts are worth serious consideration.
Best Value: Saratoga Springs and Old Key West
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa is across the lake from Disney Springs and consistently comes in as one of the most affordable per-point resorts on the resale market. The grounds are beautifully landscaped with a horse racing theme, the accommodations are spacious, and the resort has multiple pools, a full-service spa, and dining options. For families who want to stretch their DVC budget, Saratoga Springs is often the smartest buy.
Old Key West is the original DVC resort, opened in 1991. It has a Key West marina theme and some of the largest DVC accommodations on property. The per-point price tends to be lower than newer resorts, and contracts extended to 2057 are available. For buyers who value space and price over proximity to a specific park, Old Key West delivers.
Wilderness Lodge Resorts: Boulder Ridge and Copper Creek
Both DVC resorts at Wilderness Lodge offer something unique: a boat launch to Magic Kingdom that many guests prefer to any other mode of transportation on property. The setting is stunning, with a five-story lobby fireplace and Pacific Northwest national park architecture. Copper Creek Villas is the newer building with more modern rooms. Boulder Ridge contracts often come at a lower per-point price.
These resorts do not get the same attention as the monorail resorts, which we think is an advantage for buyers. The 11-month booking window at Copper Creek gives you access to a high-demand resort at below-premium resale prices compared to Grand Floridian or Polynesian.
Resale Restrictions: What You Give Up
DVC resale contracts purchased from a third-party broker do not come with Membership Extras, which include access to Disney Collection resort bookings (certain non-DVC Disney hotels), Concierge Collection hotels, and Adventure Collection bookings. You also do not receive direct-purchase incentive pricing or discounts that Disney sometimes offers at member events.
What you keep is full access to every DVC resort at both the 11-month and 7-month windows, full banking and borrowing flexibility, and the same annual dues structure. For most DVC owners, the resale restrictions are a non-issue. The vast majority of DVC points are used at DVC resorts, which are fully accessible with resale contracts. Read our full breakdown of how DVC works for more detail on what ownership includes.
Use Year Selection
Your use year is the 12-month period during which your points are valid. The most common use years are February, June, August, and October, but most resorts offer multiple options. Choosing a use year that starts one to two months before your typical vacation timing means your full annual allotment will be available for that trip. Points cannot be used after their use year expires without banking them first, so alignment matters.
If you tend to vacation in the summer, a June use year is often recommended. If you are a fall visitor, October or August can work well. Your DVC Sales broker can walk you through this in detail when you are looking at specific listings.
Right of First Refusal
Disney has the right to match any accepted resale offer and buy the contract back from the seller. This is called Right of First Refusal, or ROFR. Disney exercises this right selectively, generally when resale prices fall below a threshold they want to maintain. ROFR typically takes about 30 days to clear. We handle this process for every transaction at DVC Sales, and we will let you know the moment your contract passes ROFR and moves into closing.
Closing Costs and Fees
As a buyer, your costs are the contract price, closing costs (which vary by title company but typically run a few hundred dollars), and Disney's $500 Administration Fee. There is no buyer commission charged by DVC Sales. Our commission comes from the seller side. The seller also pays Disney's $150 Estoppel Fee separately.
In some transactions, you may also be asked to reimburse the seller for prorated annual dues on points that are available for your use. This is all disclosed clearly before you sign anything.
How to Shop Smart
Start by browsing our current DVC resale listings. You can filter by resort, number of points, and price range. When you find something that interests you, reach out and we will walk you through the details specific to that contract, including use year, available points, and any reservations already on the books.
You can also compare DVC resale prices across all resorts to get a clear picture of the market before you start making offers. If you want to understand how resale pricing compares to what Disney charges directly, our retail price page lays that out side by side.
We are a licensed real estate brokerage, and our agents have been doing this work for a long time. We do not pressure anyone into a purchase and we are happy to answer questions at no cost before you ever commit to anything. The best DVC resort to buy resale is the one that fits your family's vacation style, budget, and long-term goals, and we want to help you find exactly that.
Reach out to us at DVC Sales whenever you are ready to talk through your options. There is no obligation and no pressure.
