Every year we get the same question from buyers: "Why would I buy resale when I can just buy from Disney?" And every year the answer is the same. Money. A lot of it.
Buying DVC direct from Disney feels great. The sales pitch at the resort is polished, the financing is easy, and they throw in some perks to sweeten the deal. But when you sit down and look at the actual numbers, the price difference between direct and resale is hard to ignore. We're talking tens of thousands of dollars on a typical 200-point contract.
Let's break this down resort by resort so you can see exactly what you'd save.
What Does Disney Charge in 2026?
Disney's direct pricing changes a few times a year, and it always goes up. In early 2026, here's what they're asking per point at several popular resorts:
| Resort | Direct Price Per Point | 200-Point Contract |
|---|---|---|
| Riviera Resort | $207 | $41,400 |
| Grand Floridian | $250 | $50,000 |
| Polynesian Village | $250 | $50,000 |
| Bay Lake Tower | $225 | $45,000 |
| Copper Creek | $225 | $45,000 |
| Beach Club | $225 | $45,000 |
| Saratoga Springs | $195 | $39,000 |
| Animal Kingdom | $195 | $39,000 |
| Old Key West | $185 | $37,000 |
Those are big numbers. And Disney doesn't negotiate. The price is the price.
What Does Resale Cost?
Resale prices depend on supply and demand, and they move around. But here's a realistic snapshot of what 200-point resale contracts were selling for in Q1 2026:
| Resort | Resale Price Per Point | 200-Point Contract | Savings vs Direct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riviera Resort | $115 | $23,000 | $18,400 (44%) |
| Grand Floridian | $155 | $31,000 | $19,000 (38%) |
| Polynesian Village | $145 | $29,000 | $21,000 (42%) |
| Bay Lake Tower | $130 | $26,000 | $19,000 (42%) |
| Copper Creek | $125 | $25,000 | $20,000 (44%) |
| Beach Club | $130 | $26,000 | $19,000 (42%) |
| Saratoga Springs | $95 | $19,000 | $20,000 (51%) |
| Animal Kingdom | $105 | $21,000 | $18,000 (46%) |
| Old Key West | $90 | $18,000 | $19,000 (51%) |
The savings range from 38% to 51%. On a 200-point contract, you're keeping $18,000 to $21,000 in your pocket. That's real money. That's a car. That's two years of annual dues paid in advance. That's a lot of park tickets.
But What About the Perks You Lose?
This is where Disney's sales team earns their commission. They'll tell you that buying direct comes with perks that resale buyers don't get. And that's true. But let's be honest about what those perks actually are and what they're worth.
Direct buyers get access to Member Extras like discounts on dining, merchandise, and recreation. They get access to the Members Lounge at Epcot. They can book at Disney Collection resorts (non-DVC Disney properties). And they can buy Annual Passes at member pricing.
Resale buyers still get the core DVC membership. You can book at any DVC resort. You get the same rooms, the same housekeeping, the same pool access. You can bank and borrow points. You can add on more points later. And you can sell your contract whenever you want.
The honest question is: are those direct-only perks worth an extra $18,000 to $21,000? For most families, the answer is no. The Members Lounge is nice but it's not $20,000 nice. The dining discounts save you maybe $200 a year if you use them aggressively.
Closing Costs on Resale
Resale does have closing costs that you don't pay when buying direct. Here's what they look like:
- Buyer closing costs: typically $500 to $800 depending on the title company
- Disney Administration Fee: $500, paid by the buyer
- Broker commission: 6.9% at DVC Sales (the seller pays this, not the buyer)
So add about $1,000 to $1,300 to your resale purchase price. On a $25,000 contract, that brings your total to around $26,300. Still thousands less than buying direct.
The ROFR Factor
Disney has a Right of First Refusal on every resale contract. That means when you agree to buy a resale contract, Disney has 30 days to decide if they want to buy it instead at the price you offered. If they exercise ROFR, your deal is dead and you start over.
This sounds scary, but it's not as bad as it seems. Disney exercises ROFR on maybe 10-15% of contracts, and mostly on the ones priced well below market. If you're paying a fair price, you'll almost always get through. And even if you don't, you get your deposit back and try again.
The 30-day wait is the worst part. You're sitting there wondering if Disney is going to step in. But that waiting period happens to everyone, and most contracts clear without any issue.
What About Financing?
Disney offers financing on direct purchases. The convenience is real, but the interest rates are steep. Disney typically charges 10-13% interest on their financing. On a $40,000 contract financed over 10 years at 12%, you'd pay about $27,000 in interest alone. Your $40,000 purchase becomes a $67,000 purchase.
Resale buyers can finance through timeshare lenders at lower rates, typically 10-14%. Or you can use a home equity loan or line of credit at much lower rates, often 6-8%. And of course, paying cash saves you the most.
At DVC Loans, we help buyers find financing options for resale purchases. The interest rates aren't as different as you might think, and the lower purchase price means your monthly payments are significantly smaller. A $25,000 resale contract financed at 12% over 10 years costs about $359/month. The same resort bought direct at $45,000 would be $645/month. That's $286 less every month for the same vacation.
The Resale Restrictions on Riviera and Newer Resorts
There's one big exception to everything above, and it matters. Starting with Riviera Resort, Disney added a resale restriction that limits resale buyers to booking only at their home resort. So if you buy Riviera resale, you can only book at Riviera. You can't use your points at the Polynesian, Beach Club, or any other DVC resort.
This restriction also applies to the Disneyland Hotel Villas and Fort Wilderness Cabins. For these newer resorts, buying resale means you're locked into one resort. For some buyers, that's fine. If you love Riviera and only want to stay there, the savings still make resale worthwhile. But if you want flexibility to book around, you either need to buy direct or buy resale at one of the older resorts that don't have this restriction.
Every resort from Saratoga Springs through Copper Creek (opened before 2019) has full booking access for resale buyers. Buy resale at Animal Kingdom and you can book at the Polynesian, Bay Lake Tower, or anywhere else at the 7-month window. The older resorts give you the best of both worlds: resale savings and full system access.
Total Cost of Ownership Over 10 Years
Let's look at the full picture. Assume a 200-point contract, annual dues increasing 3% per year starting at $8.50 per point in 2026.
| Cost Component | Direct (Poly) | Resale (Poly) | Resale (SSR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $50,000 | $29,000 | $19,000 |
| Closing Costs | $0 | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| 10 Years of Dues | $19,540 | $19,540 | $17,200 |
| Total 10-Year Cost | $69,540 | $49,740 | $37,400 |
| Cost Per Point Per Year | $34.77 | $24.87 | $18.70 |
Buying resale at Saratoga Springs costs roughly half of what buying direct at the Polynesian costs. And you're still staying in DVC deluxe rooms with full kitchen, washer/dryer, and all the resort amenities.
Who Should Buy Direct?
There are legitimate reasons to buy direct. If you absolutely need access to Members Extras, the Epcot lounge, and Disney Collection resorts, then direct is your only option. If you want to buy at Riviera or a newer resort and need full booking flexibility across the system, direct removes the restriction. And if you qualify for Disney's military discount or Florida resident pricing, the gap between direct and resale gets smaller.
But for the vast majority of families just looking for great Disney vacations at a reasonable price? Resale is the smarter buy. The rooms are the same. The pixie dust is the same. The only difference is your bank account has an extra $20,000 in it.
How to Get Started with Resale
If you're ready to look at resale contracts, start by deciding which resort you want and how many points you need. Then browse current listings to get a feel for pricing. When you find a contract that looks right, make an offer. Your broker handles the paperwork, submits to Disney for ROFR, coordinates with the title company, and walks you through closing.
The whole process takes about 60-90 days from accepted offer to Disney membership activation. And when you're done, you're a DVC member with the same booking access, the same resort experience, and a much lighter bill.
Have questions about financing your resale purchase? Call us at (407) 205-1435 or visit our financing calculator to see what your monthly payments would look like.
How much cheaper is DVC resale compared to buying direct from Disney?
Resale contracts typically sell for 38-51% less than Disney direct prices. On a 200-point contract, most buyers save $18,000 to $21,000 by purchasing resale instead of direct.
What perks do DVC resale buyers lose compared to direct buyers?
Resale buyers don't get Members Extras (dining and merchandise discounts), the Epcot Members Lounge, Disney Collection resort access, or member Annual Pass pricing. Resale buyers keep full access to all DVC resort booking, banking and borrowing points, and the ability to resell.
Can I finance a DVC resale purchase?
Yes. Timeshare lenders offer financing for DVC resale purchases at rates typically between 10-14%. You can also use a home equity loan or line of credit for lower rates. DVC Loans helps buyers find the right financing option for their purchase.
What is ROFR and will Disney take my resale contract?
ROFR (Right of First Refusal) gives Disney 30 days to buy any resale contract at the agreed price. Disney exercises this right on about 10-15% of contracts, mostly those priced well below market value. If your offer is at fair market price, you'll almost certainly pass ROFR.