Your DVC Sales Offer Was Accepted. Here Is What Comes Next.
Getting an offer accepted is a great milestone. But for many purchasers, especially first-time DVC buyers, the period after acceptance can feel like a fog. What exactly happens now? What do you need to do? How long will this take? Let's walk through every step clearly so you know what to expect from the moment your offer is accepted until the day your new membership is active.
Step 1: Sign the Purchase Agreement
Within a short time after the seller accepts your offer, DVC Sales sends the purchase agreement to both parties by email. You'll receive a link to review and sign electronically. This works from any device. You don't need special software or to print anything.
Read through the agreement carefully. Confirm that the resort name, contract size, use year, sale price, and deposit amount all match what you agreed to. Check your name and address are spelled correctly. If anything looks off, contact us before signing so we can correct it. A mistake in the purchase agreement is much easier to fix before both parties have signed than after.
Once you've confirmed everything looks right, sign. The seller will sign on their end. Once both signatures are in, the agreement is fully executed and the transaction moves forward.
Step 2: Submit Your Deposit
After both parties sign, you'll receive deposit instructions from the title company. These instructions tell you exactly where to send your deposit, either by wire transfer, cashier's check, or personal check depending on the title company's preferences.
Your purchase agreement specifies the deposit deadline, typically three to five business days from the fully executed date. Send your deposit promptly to keep the transaction on schedule. The deposit is held in escrow by the title company and is credited toward your total purchase price at closing.
A note on wire fraud: real estate transactions are a target for wire fraud schemes. Always verify any wire instructions by calling the title company directly using a phone number from the original deposit instructions, not a number from any subsequent email. If anything about the payment instructions seems different from what you received initially, stop and call before sending anything.
Step 3: Disney's Right of First Refusal Review
Once the title company confirms your deposit, DVC Sales submits your contract to Disney for their Right of First Refusal review. This is a legal right Disney holds on every DVC resale transaction. They have 30 days from submission to decide whether to purchase the contract themselves at the agreed price.
The majority of contracts pass through ROFR without Disney exercising their right. But it does happen, particularly when a contract is priced significantly below market value. If Disney takes the contract, you receive a full refund of your deposit from escrow. There's no financial penalty to you if that happens, but you're back to searching for a new contract.
During the ROFR period, you're in a waiting phase. There's nothing for you to do except wait for the notification that Disney has waived their right. DVC Sales will notify you as soon as we receive word.
Step 4: Title Company Closing Process
After Disney waives ROFR, the title company takes over. They prepare the new deed, coordinate with Disney regarding the Estoppel and Administration fees, and handle all the document work for the transfer of ownership. You'll receive a closing statement showing a full breakdown of all charges and credits, including the purchase price, your deposit credit, Disney's $500 Administration Fee, and the closing costs.
Review the closing statement carefully before signing the closing documents. If anything looks incorrect, ask for clarification before you sign. The title company will work with you to resolve any questions.
The closing process typically takes two to four weeks from ROFR waiver to completed transfer. The title company is working with Disney's timeline, so it's not something that can be rushed significantly.
Step 5: Membership Activation
After the deed is recorded with the county and Disney processes the new membership, you'll receive your membership credentials from Disney Vacation Club. This activation process typically takes one to two weeks after the deed is recorded. Once activated, you can log in to your Disney Vacation Club account and start making reservations.
Your home resort gives you an 11-month booking window. This means you can book stays at your home resort up to 11 months in advance. At any other DVC resort, the booking window opens at seven months. This home resort advantage is one of the most practical reasons why choosing your home resort carefully matters. Our DVC resorts guide explains each resort's character, point requirements, and location to help you understand what you're getting.
What You'll Pay as a Purchaser
At closing, you pay the balance of the purchase price after your deposit is credited, Disney's $500 Administration Fee, and the title company's closing costs. The seller pays DVC Sales' 6.9% commission and Disney's $150 Estoppel Fee.
Your ongoing costs after closing are annual dues, which vary by resort. You can view current annual dues on our dues page. These dues cover the maintenance and operation of the DVC resorts and are billed annually based on the number of points in your contract.
For a complete overview of the DVC resale process and what every fee means, visit our how DVC works page. And if you need financing for your purchase, our DVC financing page covers options available to resale purchasers. Congratulations on getting your offer accepted. The DVC Sales team is here with you every step of the way from here to closing.
