Two summers ago we went to VB with friends and their 2 daughters (and our son and his best friend). We needed a 2 BR for the 8 of us. VWL is our home resort, so I couldn't start booking until the 7 month window. Just to be safe, I called every day adding a day to the reservation until I had all days reserved. I had no problem at all. We all LOVED VB. We were going to try a trade to Key West next summer, but our friends can't go, so I came up with a "solution". Me, DH, DS and DS's friend go to VB for a week, DH then drops us off at WDW for a week (he's not a WDW fan, I know, I know, how could anyone NOT be a WDW fan!!), he flies home and then me and the boys fly home a week later. Voila!! We have stayed at OKW, BCV, and BWV and never had a problem booking at the 7 month window. Hopefully my luck will continue! I think that the beach cottages at VB are pretty tough to get (even at the 11 month window), but everything else seems to be available at 7 months.