Is it difficult to book at the 7 month window if you don't really care what property you're staying at in WDW?
Here's my situation...
I'm going to buy into DVC resale. To avoid financing, I want to keep the cost as low as possible.
We only intend to use points at WDW (probably in October) and do not really care where we stay.
Points for VB are significantly less per point but we probably wouldn't go to VB more than once or twice. The issue is, would we have difficulty getting a studio SOMEWHERE at WDW at 7 months?
Thanks!
In my limited experience (DVC member since 2009) the answer is yes and no! We have booked 4 trips since buying into DVC with only one booked at the 11 month window and that is an upcoming trip to VWL the week before Memorial Day 2012. Our first trip was a 2br at OKW for the same time period in 2010 - no problem. Our second trip was a split stay in a studio at AKL/BWV for the week after Thanksgiving 2010. Here we had to stay at AKL first and BWV second because of the availability. Our third trip was at HHI this past month and it was difficult to get a studio for a Tues-Sat trip. We originally were going in late September but nothing was available so we ended up getting a ressie in late October.
As you can see, it is hit or miss but mostly hit for us so far. However, as the pp stated, if we were trying for popular times like Christmas week, Thanksgiving week, spring break, F&W, F&G, etc., it might be difficult to get a specific time and a specific size room. If you are flexible with your dates, it makes it easier.
Also as pp stated, the annual dues (maintenance fees) are high for VB compared to other resorts and over time, that will add up. The rule of thumb as stated by many veteran DVCers is to buy your home resort where you want to stay first. Having that 11 month window makes it much more likely that you will get the dates and room size you want. Our last purchase was at BCV for that specific reason so that we would have a better chance to get a studio for F&G or F&W festivals.
I applaud you for taking the no-finance route. We did the same thing. We have purchased 5 small (40-50 points each) contracts to avoid any financing. I know we paid more in closing costs than buying one larger contract but we have membership in 4 different resorts too. With banking and borrowing, we are able to accumulate enough points to serve our purpose, take advantage of the 11 month window and experience the different resorts. It has worked for us so far.
Good luck with your purchase and please post the details of your contract once you get to that point over on Donald is #1's thread -
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2661661