Buying Disney Vacation Club Resale: The Complete Guide
Buying Disney Vacation Club (DVC) through the resale market can save buyers thousands—and in some cases tens of thousands—of dollars compared with purchasing directly from Disney. But the lowest price isn't necessarily the best deal. Before you buy, it's important to understand how DVC works, what is different about resale ownership, and which factors can have the greatest impact on your ownership experience.
DVC by Resale has specialized in the Disney Vacation Club resale market for decades. Our broker began working in the DVC resale market in 1997 and founded DVC by Resale in 2002. This guide brings together the questions we answer every day and the lessons we've learned from decades of helping buyers and sellers navigate Disney Vacation Club resale.
Before You Buy DVC Resale
The right DVC contract isn't necessarily the cheapest one. Before making an offer, consider:
- Home resort and booking priority
- Annual dues
- Contract expiration date
- Number of points
- Use Year
- Resale restrictions
- Total cost of the purchase - closing costs vary among brokers!
What Is Disney Vacation Club?
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney's vacation ownership program, often referred to as a timeshare program. Instead of paying traditional hotel rates every time they travel, members purchase an ownership interest represented by vacation points. Those points can then be used to reserve accommodations at Disney Vacation Club resorts. DVC accommodations range from deluxe studios to one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas. Depending on the resort and villa type, accommodations may include kitchens or kitchenettes, washers and dryers, and significantly more living space than a traditional hotel room. For many families, Disney Vacation Club provides a way to create annual vacation traditions while potentially reducing their long-term lodging costs. Visit full-length detailed article...
What Is A Disney Vacation Club Resale?
A Disney Vacation Club resale purchase occurs when an existing DVC owner sells their ownership interest to another buyer. Rather than purchasing directly from Disney, the buyer purchases an existing DVC contract through a licensed resale brokerage. Because DVC ownership is a real estate interest, the resale process includes a purchase contract, escrow, title work, closing documents, and deed recording. In simple terms, ownership transfers from one DVC member to another.
What Makes DVC by Resale Different?
Buying resale is about more than finding a contract. It's about knowing exactly what you're buying and what you'll actually pay.
At DVC by Resale, our website is designed to give buyers a clearer picture of the DVC resale market. Our available contracts are displayed in real-time, so buyers can see what is actually available rather than relying on outdated listings or having to request current pricing. We also believe buyers should know the bottom-line cost before they make an offer. Our listings provide transparent closing-cost information so you can evaluate the actual cost of a contract instead of comparing brokers based only on the advertised price per point.
That transparency is central to how we do business. We believe the simplest way to buy DVC resale is to give buyers the information they need to compare contracts and make an informed decision.
Why Consider Buying DVC Resale?
For most buyers, the answer comes down to value. The resale market can offer substantial savings compared with Disney's direct pricing. Depending on the resort and contract size, those savings can amount to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. For many families, purchasing through the resale market can make Disney Vacation Club ownership financially attainable when purchasing directly from Disney would be considerably more expensive.
The Bottom Line
DVC resale isn't simply about finding the lowest price per point. It's about finding the contract that provides the right combination of price, resort, points, dues, and long-term usefulness for the way you vacation.
How Much Can You Save Buying DVC Resale?
One of the biggest reasons buyers consider DVC resale is the potential savings on the initial purchase price. The following examples are based on actual DVC by Resale transactions completed within the previous 12 months and compared with Disney's direct pricing at the time of writing.
Examples shown are based on actual resale transactions completed by DVC by Resale within the previous 12 months.
Disney direct pricing is subject to change and may include incentives or promotions not reflected here.
Recent DVC by Resale transactions have produced savings ranging from approximately $17,700 to nearly $40,000 compared with Disney's direct pricing at the time of those transactions!
Where Can You Use Disney Vacation Club?
Many people associate Disney Vacation Club exclusively with Walt Disney World, but DVC ownership extends beyond Orlando. Disney Vacation Club resorts are located in several destinations, including Florida's Atlantic coast, Hawaii, South Carolina, and California. Resorts include Disney's Vero Beach Resort, Aulani, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, among others. The best DVC resort for you depends on how and where you expect to vacation—not simply which resort has the lowest price per point.
Why Do DVC Owners Sell Their Contracts?
One common misconception about the DVC resale market is that owners sell only because they are unhappy with their membership.In reality, owners sell DVC contracts for many of the same reasons people sell homes, vacation properties, or other long-term assets. Common reasons include changes in vacation habits, retirement, relocation, family changes, estate planning, changes in financial priorities, divorce, or other life events. The existence of an active resale market is simply a natural part of DVC ownership.
Is Buying DVC Resale Safe?
Yes. When handled properly through licensed professionals and an independent closing company, buying Disney Vacation Club resale is a well-established real estate transaction. Through reputable brokers, funds are held in escrow by a third-party closing company rather than by the buyer, seller, or brokerage. The purchase contract should always disclose important details of the transaction, including available points, future points, annual dues responsibilities, closing costs, and ownership details. The brokerage and closing company coordinate the transaction and verify contract information throughout the process. If material information changes during the transaction, the buyer may have contractual protections, including the ability to cancel under certain circumstances.
Understanding DVC Resale Restrictions
One of the most common questions prospective buyers ask is: What are the restrictions on DVC resale? Disney Vacation Club resale ownership comes with certain limitations that do not apply to all direct purchases from Disney. These restrictions were introduced through program changes implemented in 2011, 2016, and 2019. The effect of those restrictions depends on the resort and the contract involved. Many resale buyers purchase DVC primarily to stay in spacious Disney Vacation Club villas while saving money compared with paying cash for deluxe Disney accommodations. For those buyers, the accommodations themselves are the core value of ownership. Read full article here...
The Original 14 DVC Resorts
Owners who purchase resale contracts at the following resorts may use, transfer, and exchange their points among these applicable Disney Vacation Club resorts, subject to the program's current rules:
| Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas | Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas |
| Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort | Disney's Beach Club Villas |
| Disney's BoardWalk Villas | Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort |
| Disney's Old Key West Resort | Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Villas |
| Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa | Disney's Vero Beach Resort |
| Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa |
| Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge | Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge |
Resorts With Different Resale Rules
Disney's newer resorts operate under different resale rules. When purchased on the resale market, ownership interests at Disney's Riviera Resort, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, and future Disney Vacation Club resorts may have more limited use than contracts purchased directly from Disney. Because resale restrictions can vary by resort, acquisition date, and Disney's current policies, buyers should always verify the specific restrictions that apply to the contract they are considering.
What About DVC Membership Extras?
Disney does not provide resale buyers with the same membership extras, perks, and privileges that may be available to eligible owners who purchase directly from Disney. Because Disney can modify or discontinue benefits, we encourage buyers to focus primarily on the core value of ownership: access to Disney Vacation Club accommodations at a potentially significant savings compared with purchasing directly from Disney.
Interval Exchange
Resale owners currently have the ability to exchange eligible points through Interval International, Disney Vacation Club's external exchange partner. As with all exchange programs, availability is subject to exchange rules, inventory, and Disney's administration of the program.
Important: Disney Vacation Club rules, benefits, exchange opportunities, and resale restrictions can change over time. Buyers should always verify current policies and ownership eligibility before making a purchase decision.
Focus on What You Get, Not Just What You Don't Get
One of the most common questions we hear is: What don't I get if I buy DVC resale? It's a fair question. However, we encourage buyers to look at the entire ownership equation. A buyer who saves $20,000, $30,000, or even $40,000 through the resale market may determine that those savings are more valuable than benefits that Disney can modify or discontinue. For many owners, the core value of Disney Vacation Club is the accommodations: spacious villas, deluxe resort locations, and the opportunity to vacation with family and friends. That's the fundamental ownership experience many resale buyers are purchasing.
How the DVC Resale Process Works
| 1 | Find a DVC Resale Contract Identify a contract that fits your vacation goals, budget, travel style, preferred resort, and desired number of points. |
| 2 | Buy or Submit an Offer Once a suitable contract is found, the buyer commits to the purchase or submits an offer to the seller. Once accepted, both parties sign the purchase agreement and the buyer submits the required deposit. |
| 3 | Disney's Right of First Refusal Disney reviews the purchase contract and determines whether to exercise its Right of First Refusal. If Disney exercises that right, it purchases the contract under the same terms agreed upon by the buyer and seller. The deposit is returned to the buyer or applied to another resale, their choice. |
| 4 | Closing The closing company coordinates escrow, title review, deed recording, and the documentation required to transfer ownership. |
| 5 | Disney Membership Activation After closing, Disney completes the ownership transfer process and establishes the buyer's membership account. |
What Should You Consider Before Buying DVC Resale?
Compare the Total Purchase Cost
Many buyers focus exclusively on the advertised price per point. However, the price per point is only one part of the transaction. Compare the complete bottom-line cost, including applicable closing costs, annual dues responsibilities, and other transaction expenses. Some brokers and closing companies fees can cost - or save - you hundreds of dollars on your purchase!
Understand Annual Dues
The purchase price gets most of the attention, but annual dues can have a significant impact on the long-term cost of DVC ownership. Ownership costs continue for the life of the contract, so differences in annual dues can meaningfully affect your total cost of ownership over time.
Understand Home Resort Priority
Home resort priority is one of the most important factors to understand before choosing a DVC contract. Before purchasing, consider where you realistically expect to stay most often and whether the contract's home resort aligns with those vacation plans.
Consider One Large Contract Versus Multiple Smaller Contracts
One large contract isn't always the best option. Multiple smaller contracts can provide greater flexibility if your vacation habits change or if you eventually decide to sell part of your ownership.
Don't Overemphasize Use Year as a First-Time Buyer
Use Year is one of the topics that tends to cause the most confusion for first-time DVC buyers. While Use Year is important, many first-time buyers place far more emphasis on it than necessary. Unless you expect to vacation during the same season year after year, factors such as home resort priority, annual dues, contract size, resale restrictions, and contract expiration dates may have a greater impact on your ownership experience.
Existing DVC Members Should Think Differently About Use Year
For current DVC owners looking to add more points, Use Year can become more important. Purchasing an additional contract with the same Use Year as an existing ownership can simplify point management and make banking, borrowing, and trip planning easier.
Understand the Program Before Making an Offer
Disney Vacation Club ownership is a significant long-term purchase. Before making an offer, buyers should understand home resort booking priority, banking and borrowing points, annual dues, contract expiration dates, resale restrictions, and reservation availability.
The most successful DVC owners are not necessarily the fastest buyers. They're the most informed buyers.
Why Trust DVC by Resale?
Disney Vacation Club resale has been our sole focus for decades.Our broker began working in the Disney Vacation Club resale market in 1997 and founded DVC by Resale in 2002 after managing another timeshare resale company. That experience has given us the opportunity to help buyers and sellers navigate a wide range of DVC resale transactions and questions. Our approach has always been simple: provide accurate information, maintain transparency throughout the transaction, and help buyers make informed decisions. We believe buyers should understand exactly what they're purchasing, what it costs, how the program works, and whether a particular DVC contract truly fits their vacation goals.
See What You'd Actually Pay
When you're comparing DVC resale contracts and brokers, don't stop at the advertised price per point. Look at the complete cost of the purchase.
At DVC by Resale, our real-time website, transparent closing costs, and bottom-line pricing information are designed to make that comparison easier.
See what's actually available, compare contracts, and determine which ownership best fits the way you vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions About DVC Resale
What is DVC resale?
DVC resale is the purchase of an existing Disney Vacation Club ownership interest from a current owner rather than purchasing directly from Disney.
Is buying DVC resale safe?
Yes. When handled through licensed professionals and an independent closing company, DVC resale is a well-established real estate transaction. Funds are held by a third-party closing company, and the transaction details are outlined in the purchase contract.
How much can you save buying DVC resale?
Savings vary by resort, contract size, market conditions, and Disney's current direct pricing. Recent DVC by Resale transactions have produced savings ranging from approximately $17,700 to nearly $40,000 compared with Disney's direct pricing at the time of those transactions.
What don't I get when I buy DVC resale?
Disney does not provide resale buyers with all of the perks, privileges, and membership extras that may be available to eligible owners who purchase directly from Disney. However, many resale buyers choose the resale market because of the substantial savings available on the initial purchase.
What are the restrictions on DVC resale?
DVC resale restrictions vary depending on the resort and the contract involved. Certain newer DVC resorts have more restrictive resale usage rules, while eligible resale contracts at other resorts have broader usage options within the applicable DVC program rules.
Because Disney's policies can change, buyers should verify the current restrictions that apply to the specific contract they are considering.
How long does the DVC resale process take?
We generally advise buyers to plan for approximately 60 days from accepted offer to closing. Some transactions close faster, and we've recently completed several in less than 30 days.
The largest variable is often the time required for Disney's Right of First Refusal review and the subsequent ownership transfer process.