Last month was the first time in a long time that we heard of Disney buying contracts back but they weren't ours. So, after a dry spell, there is potential for Disney to start buying contracts back again. We know this could cause a major shift in the DVC resale market and overall contract and per point prices. Another month has passed and there still have not been any ROFR DVC buybacks for DVC Resale Experts. As you'll see below in our Disney ROFR DVC September 2023 edition, this has been great news for DVC resale buyers as contract sales continue to go through to completion on the first try every time. While this makes it a great time to buy, note that well priced contracts are selling so if you're ready to sell DVC, it is very possible.

Each month, we share the Disney ROFR DVC stats from the month before. We go over the numbers, aiming to inform potential DVC resale buyers and sellers. The statistics discussed below are based on DVC Resale Experts’ own sales and data. So welcome, or welcome back, and let’s see how things turned out for ROFR DVC September 2023.

If you’re interested but not sure what ROFR is or how it works, scroll down for the basics.

Disney ROFR DVC September 2023: Still No Buybacks

For the ninth month in a row, there is nothing to report here. This is different from our usual monthly DVC ROFR roundups. We usually cover the resorts that were bought back by Disney in the past month. Instead we're chatting about why things might be the way they are. Others reporting ROFR buybacks could mean we will be seeing more soon. It could also mean nothing. We just won't know for sure until time passes.

Below we discuss, and try to understand, why there are no ROFR buybacks to report on at this time. In September of 2023, Disney chose to use ROFR to buy back 0% of DVC Resale Expert sales. Out of the 48 ROFR responses received, 48 contracts passed and 0 were bought back by DVC.

At this point, the last DVC ROFR buyback was Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge in December of 2022. No properties were affected by ROFR DVC interception in September of 2023. This is great news for those interested in buying and hoping to avoid a ROFR buyback during the process.

Resorts that were not bought back by DVC during this time, because Disney Vacation Club chose to not buy any back, include the entire home resort round up: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Villas, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

Thoughts on Disney ROFR DVC Stats

It’s important for us to share the popular ROFR DVC buy back resorts to inform buyers of their potential risk of a ROFR buy back. We don’t know exactly why Disney Vacation Club favors buying back different resorts at different times. So far in all of 2023, no resorts have been a favorite because no DVC ROFR buy backs have happened for DVC Resale Experts clients. That means if you place an offer on a resale contract and the seller accepts, you're on your way to becoming an owner. We’re not sure why this DVC ROFR report is another blank slate but we can take a few guesses. 

Why isn't Disney Vacation Club buying back contracts in 2023?

Each month we don't have any ROFR buybacks, we can consider related news and changes. DVC doesn't share why or when they might buy contracts back. Following news and trends can help us hypothesize. The pause on ROFR buybacks could be due to any of the following or some combination of these:

• Disney reported in the most recent quarterly stockholder report that Disney Vacation Club sales are down.
• Big changes have been happening at Disney since Bob Iger's return to the CEO position last year including possible hiring and spending freezes.
• With higher interests rates, potential buyers could be waiting for loan rates to come down.
• There are lots of DVC additions, like The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort that me be more of a draw for buyers.
• Because of all this, Disney Vacation Club may be fully stocked and not need to buy back any contracts to cater to potential buyers' needs.

Something else we can also consider is Disney's recent commitment to invest $60 billion in the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment globally. That will certainly bring changes to Disney Vacation Club. We'll have to see how that affects the resale market. You can catch up on news and updates of this kind, and more, each month in our Disney updates.

What ROFR DVC September 2023 Stats Mean for Buyers

We saw no ROFR DVC buybacks from January up through September of this year. However, that could change at any time. Knowing Disney might be interested in buying contracts again changes a few things. We've been sharing the resorts Disney bought contracts back at before the pause as ones to watch. Only time will tell if Disney Vacation Club is still interested in the same properties. It may take us a few months to see consistent trends. Check back here to keep up with what happens. We will update the following resorts when we are able.

Over 2022, popular ROFR DVC buyback resorts included Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Copper Creek Villas and Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Old Key West Resort and Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort. Animal Kingdom and Saratoga Springs had about two times as many buybacks as some others mentioned here. Those two are especially important to aim to price right for with Bay Lake Tower a third to consider. It's possible that Disney can buy back at any home resort. These are the ones we saw a notable percentage of go to ROFR last year.

ROFR DVC Stats and Pricing Competitively

If you’re interested in buying a contract at a home resort that Disney is more likely to buy back in more normal conditions, this might be a good time to put in that offer you’ve been waiting on. If buy backs start up again and you miss this rare window of opportunity, talk to an Expert about pricing your offer competitively. DVC Resale Experts helps buyers reach a number that makes the most sense based on the current DVC resale market. Following buyback trends and high prices paid by Disney Vacation Club continually gives us insight into what is necessary to submit a strong offer and have a contract close for resale buyers.

In more normal months, when we’re talking about the per point prices, remember the amount of points on the contract has an affect on that number. Contracts with higher point values typically sell for a little less per point. Contracts with less points sell for a bit more per point. This can definitely have an influence on how buyback high prices appear to be going. Talk with your expert regarding your specific interests and pricing.

Disney ROFR DVC Meaning

To refresh your memory or fill you in, here’s a reminder of what ROFR stands for and means. The letters ROFR stand for Right of First Refusal. What is DVC ROFR? Disney Vacation Club contracts say Disney has the Right of First Refusal, or the first opportunity, to buy a contract back when a Member chooses to sell Disney Vacation Club. ROFR buybacks happen during the closing process when a Member is selling a DVC contract. When the seller accepts an offer from a buyer, Disney is able to buy the contract back at the agreed upon rate instead of letting the sale go through.

When Are Disney ROFR DVC Stats Important?

The Right of First Refusal is not as important for someone who is selling DVC points. Sellers make the same amount from a sale if Disney chooses to buy it back because they must pay the rate the seller agreed to sell it for as specified in Disney Vacation Club contracts. For sellers, Disney choosing to buy a contract back doesn’t make too much of a difference since the price is the same.

The Right of First Refusal is a very important part of the process for those who are buying resale DVC points. If Disney chooses to buy back the contract during the Right of First Refusal process, the sale does not move forward for the buyer. When this happens, DVC Resale Experts is happy to help the buyer find the next right contract that will make their vacation dreams come true.

DVC Resale Experts is Ready to Help

DVC Resale Experts is an independent, licensed real estate broker with a team specializing in resale DVC. Our licensed real estate agents are former Disney Vacation Club Guides. That means you can expect pixie dusted service and helpful insight when buying or selling DVC with the Experts. If you have questions throughout the process, you can consult with your professional. Get in touch today for next steps. You can also see our resale DVC listings for a look at what’s available right now. Don’t see what you’re wishing for? Join the DVC Resale Experts Buyer Wish List. An Expert will contact you when a contract that suits your vacation needs magically appears on the DVC resale market.