Largely depends on whether option 2 will often result in sleeping around or not. If I really wanted to stay in Boardwalk October to first week Jan, I'd have bought there.
In the end masses of research made me realise when we travel, and we also go for 1 beds, I can stay anywhere no problem. So option 2 was a no brainer for me as it saved me lots of money. So far I'm 100% certain I made the right choice as I have, literally, been able to book anywhere. For example, Boardwalk 2 bed standard in July 2018.
But I also thought about the changing nature of my
DVC over time. Once the kids are gone, we will come twice as often in a studio. We will probably come for winter sun, end of Feb time. In that scenario I may not even get park tickets, so staying in my resort of SSR may be the preferred choice then, even if I couldn't get anywhere else.
It's unlikely I'll come at Xmas or Easter because I don't like the crowds, but if I ever come at another busy time I will be perfectly happy staying at SSR. But for the foreseeable future my travel pattern is summer.
Another issue is resale value. One day I'm pretty sure I'll either sell it, or rent it out. Your Epcot resort will have no residual value in 24 years. I'll be selling mine or cashing in with a healthy points rental return for over a decade longer.
