Disney Vacation Club is reportedly placing holds on points tied to resale contracts while those contracts go through Right of First Refusal review. For buyers and sellers, this change can affect booking plans, point access, and the timing of a resale transaction.
What Right of First Refusal (ROFR) Means
Right of First Refusal, often called ROFR, is part of most Disney Vacation Club resale transactions.
When a DVC owner agrees to sell a contract to a buyer, Disney Vacation Club reviews the signed resale contract before the sale can move forward. Disney then has the option to waive ROFR and allow the buyer to proceed, or exercise ROFR and buy the contract itself under the same terms.
Disney generally has up to 30 days to make this decision, although decisions can sometimes come sooner.
How the Point Hold Works
Under the reported policy, Disney Vacation Club places a hold on the Vacation Points connected to the ownership interest being sold once the resale contract enters the ROFR process.
During that hold, the points cannot be used. This means the current owner may be unable to make new reservations using those points while Disney reviews the contract.
The hold appears to apply to the points associated with the contract being transferred, not necessarily every DVC contract an owner may have.
In accordance with the signed contract we have received for the sale of the above stated Disney Vacation Club Ownership Interest, we have instituted a “hold” on the Vacation Points associated with this Ownership Interest. During the hold, these Vacation Points cannot be used. As provided in your Purchase Agreement, Disney Vacation Development, LLC may decide to exercise its Right of First Refusal and purchase your Ownership Interest at the price stated in your Third-Party Real Estate contract. At the conclusion of the purchase, the hold will be lifted. If Right of First Refusal is waived or we receive written notification the aforementioned contract is cancelled, the hold will also be lifted.
Disney Vacation Club Email Sent to MemberWhen the Points Become Unavailable
The points reportedly become unavailable after Disney receives the signed resale contract and begins reviewing it for ROFR.
This matters because the seller may still technically own the contract during this stage, but the points connected to that contract are restricted until the review is complete.
For sellers, this limits the ability to use, rent, or book with those points while waiting for Disney’s decision.
When the Hold Is Lifted
The hold is reportedly lifted when one of the following happens:
- Disney waives Right of First Refusal
- Disney exercises Right of First Refusal and completes the purchase
- Disney receives written notice that the resale contract has been canceled
Once the hold is removed, the next step depends on the outcome. If Disney waives ROFR, the resale transaction can continue toward closing. If Disney exercises ROFR, Disney becomes the buyer instead.
Why This Matters for Sellers
For sellers, the main issue is point access during the review period.
If a seller planned to use points before closing, this reported hold could prevent that. It may also reduce confusion by keeping points from being used while they are tied to an active sale.
Sellers should be careful when listing a contract with available points. If those points are part of the value being advertised to a buyer, using them during the sale process could create problems. A hold helps protect the point balance while Disney reviews the transfer.
Why This Matters for Buyers
For buyers, the hold may add some protection.
A resale buyer often agrees to a price based on the number of points available on the contract. If those points could be used after the contract is signed but before closing, the buyer could receive a contract with fewer points than expected.
By freezing the points during ROFR, Disney may reduce the chance that the point balance changes during the review period.
Buyers should still verify the point status before closing and review the contract terms carefully.
Conclusion
Disney Vacation Club’s reported point hold during ROFR adds an important detail to the resale process. It limits point use while Disney reviews a resale contract and helps keep the point balance stable before closing.
For DVC buyers and sellers, the key takeaway is simple: once a resale contract enters ROFR, the points tied to that contract may not be available until Disney makes its decision.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
