It's a time of change at The Walt Disney Company. After the big CEO switch in late 2022, we've seen a small ripple of differences throughout the parks. The hiring freeze and layoffs announced by Bob Chapek are being followed through with despite his being fired. Just five months into Bob Iger's planned two year return, a wave of 7,000 layoffs is hitting the company. These are not expected to be frontline cast members. Many of those positions are continually being hired for. Instead, many think these layoffs will be contracted roles, perhaps some middle and upper management and those associated with areas of the company that are cooling down.

For years, Disney+ was touted to be the next big thing. This was an industry wide phenomenon in entertainment. As the pixie dust has settled, we've seen Disney focus on reprioritizing it's best money maker: destinations. All of this does gives a look into the current moment Disney is living in. Based on what's been shared, it's possible there could be a spending freeze in different areas throughout the company. Which leads us to our monthly ROFR buyback roundup. The Disney ROFR DVC stats for the year of 2023 have been surprising. In January, February, and now March, we have seen no buybacks come through for DVC Resale Experts clients. The Disney ROFR DVC stats for March 2023 brought good news yet again for Disney Vacation Club resale buyers.

Each month we share the Disney ROFR DVC stats for the previous month. 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 Disney ROFR DVC stats March 2023. If you’re interested but not sure what ROFR is or how it works, scroll down for the basics.

Disney ROFR DVC Stats for March of 2023

For the third month in a row, there is nothing to report! This is different from our usual monthly DVC ROFR roundup but we still have a lot to talk about. Below we discuss, and try to understand, why there are no ROFR buybacks to report on for this time period. In March of 2023, Disney chose to use ROFR to buy back 0% of DVC Resale Expert sales. Out of the 73 ROFR responses received, 73 contracts passed and 0 were bought back by DVC.

No properties were affected by ROFR DVC interception in March of 2023 and we are speculating on a few reasons why below.

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 why Disney Vacation Club favors buying back different resorts at different times. So far in 2023, no resorts have been favored as 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 DVC buying back contracts?

As mentioned earlier, this no buy back period could be the result of a spending freeze due to changes within the company. The travel industry's pent up demand has fizzled out, causing discounts to return. It's also possible Disney is not buying contracts back at this time because DVC sales have slowed down. Financial futures are uncertain as the economy finds its way after the pandemic, shipping delays, product and ingredient shortages and so much change in the labor force. Any or all of these factors could be causing Disney to stand off on resale contracts.

We don’t know how long this pause on buy backs will last but we will be following closely and keeping you updated. If you've been waiting to buy a resale DVC contract or add on points, now is the time to make a move. We've been in a buyer's market for a while with plenty of contracts on the DVC resale market at prices you will love. This is a great moment to negotiate with DVC sellers. With buy backs seemingly out of the question for the time being, that makes things a bit easier for buyers as long as it lasts.

Resorts that were consistently popular buybacks over the last few years are 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. Is it possible Disney could buyback another resale DVC resort contract? Yes, but it's less likely based on what we've seen. No matter where you plan to buy, the Experts are happy to talk you through pricing for success. 

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 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 while 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 resort and pricing.

Understanding DVC Numbers snd Statistics

Note that ROFR numbers for the month don’t always align perfectly with the numbers in our other monthly series on the DVC average resale price. The closing process usually takes more than thirty days from start to finish. Because of this, details of a contract may be accounted for in different months in these recurring blog post series.

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. Disney Vacation Club contracts say Disney has the Right of First Refusal, or the first chance, to buy a contract back when a Member chooses to sell DVC points. 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. 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. For sellers, Disney choosing to buy a contract back doesn’t make too much of a difference since the price is the same.

Using ROFR DVC Information

We aim to serve potential buyers with these monthly Disney ROFR DVC Stats. It’s helpful to be informed on recent price trends to place a competitive offer. There is no guarantee a resale transaction will go through but looking at the high prices Disney Vacation Club has paid recently and pricing your bid accordingly can help lower the chances of a ROFR buyback. The resorts Disney Vacation Club is most interested in buying back change at random. Knowing if the home resort you want to buy at has recently been favored by Disney for buybacks is helpful as well.

Count On DVC Resale Experts

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 your professional. Get in touch today for next steps or 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 and you’ll be contacted when a contract that suits your vacation needs magically appears on the DVC resale market.