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DVC Guide

DVC Resale vs. Direct Purchase
Honest Analysis (2026)

Resale DVC typically costs 30–50% less than buying direct. Disney sells Riviera, Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness and Aulani at $243 a point in 2026, and the Villas at Disneyland Hotel at $248; Riviera resale averaged about $126 a point in September 2026. You lose member perks (Moonlight Magic, member discounts) but keep full booking rights at non-restricted resorts. For resorts first sold since 2019 (Riviera, the Cabins, the Villas at Disneyland Hotel), resale buyers lose multi-resort booking entirely.

Updated

The Price Difference

Disney raised its direct prices on February 10, 2026: $243 a point at Riviera, Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, the Cabins at Fort Wilderness and Aulani, and $248 at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Resale contracts trade far lower. September 2026 averages were about $126 a point at Riviera (48% below direct), $156 at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel (37% below) and $172 at Polynesian (29% below). At the older resorts, resale averages ran from about $99 a point (Old Key West) to about $168 (Grand Floridian).

What You Lose Buying Resale

  • Moonlight Magic exclusive after-hours park events (typically 4–6 per year)
  • DVC member lounges at some resorts
  • 10–20% discounts on dining and merchandise (not trivial on a week-long trip)
  • Access to member-only merchandise collections
  • Eligibility to participate in certain new resort previews

What You Keep Buying Resale

  • Full home resort booking rights (11-month window)
  • Full multi-resort booking rights (7-month window) for non-restricted resorts
  • DVC points value for stays: same room, same experience
  • Banking and borrowing points across use years
  • All core member services including reservations and point transfers
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DVC Resale vs. Direct Purchase: FAQ

Is DVC resale worth it vs direct?

For most buyers, yes. The upfront savings (30–50%) typically exceed the value of lost member perks over the life of the contract. Exception: if you highly value Moonlight Magic events or member discounts on heavy merchandise spending.

What DVC resale restrictions exist in 2026?

Resorts first sold since 2019 carry resale restrictions: Riviera Resort, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and The Cabins at Fort Wilderness. Resale buyers of these properties can ONLY book at their home resort, with no multi-resort access.

Does Disney buy back resale contracts?

Disney has the Right of First Refusal (ROFR) on resale contracts. They can step in at the agreed sale price and buy the contract directly. They exercise ROFR selectively, most actively on premium resorts (Grand Floridian, Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian) and less on older resorts near 2042 expiration.

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