OK, I think I have found some kindred spirits, so let me share my strategy/logic and see what you all think!
I have an offer pending ROFR for 210 SSR points, and after that comes through, I’d buy 100 SSR Direct points for the same use year. It seems like managing different use years can get complex. Overall, I’m hoping to use our points to get 1 BR villas at SSR, but occasionally try to get a 1BR at other places if there is availability. Our kids are grown, but no spouses/grandkids just yet, but it seems like we could easily use 310 points/year for future whole-family trips with 2BR villas.
Getting the 100 Direct points would be not just to get the perks, but to also have the opportunity to stay in Riviera and future DVCs.
Thanks for your thoughts and I’m really enjoying the DIS boards!
I bought double the points at SSR to sleep around the resorts, but love SSR. Most times of year dead on 7 months you can take your pick of any resort in 1 beds.
Very busy times, certain resorts may be waitlist.
So for example this Christmas and New Year, the following were open (I am going 11 nights): SSR, OKW, AKL, BWV, BCV, VWL.
I am doing a split stay on purpose, so I switched my first week to Beach Club, and the second week BLT came up, maybe got lucky with that one as it’s busy that time of year, so I switched the second 5 days to that.
If you go Feb to Sept avoiding major holidays you can also get most views, last summer I could even book AKL value for two separate weeks. Basically during that period every resort is bookable and every view, but you may have difficulties getting the following views (not resorts) - BLT Standard, AKV concierge or value, Boardwalk Standard (but I booked it last summer via waitlist).
Peak times don’t expect to get in Copper Creek. Need to be bang on 7 months even non peak for that due to limited rooms.
I like Boardwalk and that’s pretty easy to get bang on 7 months.
I observe 1 bed availability multiple times per week (I’m sad like that). Of course patterns may change in the future, although I haven’t noticed much of a shift over the last 3 years with 1 beds.