Hi jberndt10,
I agree with all frank808 said.
I've been a member since DVC first started and as a rule do not have much trouble booking a non-home resort at 7 months with some exceptions. It's a supply/demand thing. Trying to get a Studio at VGF at 7 months? A Standard View room at BWV? A GV at a resort that has only 6 total villas at 7 months? The cheapest points rooms at Aulani at 7 months? Booking Grand Cal Villas at 7 months is also difficult though I know folks that have been successful at doing this. If you are booking a peak demand time (the point charts will tell you when this is for the most part as those are the most expensive times, like Christmas to New Years and the week before and after Easter Sunday. The first 2 weeks of December are also super popular with members to book though they are NOT the premier season.), especially if you are wanting a low supply room at a peak time, it can be very difficult to impossible to book at a non-home resort in the above scenarios.
I mentioned I was generally successful booking at non-home resorts at the 7 month window and that is true. I call or get online right at 7 months as a rule, and if the villa/location I want is not available, I immediately get on the waitlist. AND I try to book somewhere else, or a different category room that IS available as a backup. You can have the w/l set up to where if it comes through for you they will automatically cancel the other rez and book your desired waitlisted room. This has worked very well for me over 20 years.
I always tell people to BUY WHERE YOU WOULD BE HAPPY STAYING. I think it is a huge mistake to buy what is cheapest if one would never plan on staying there. Can't count the members I've talked to that did this and lived to regret it big time.
The only other thing I would add to what frank808 said is that if one buys direct there is financing available. Buying a timeshare becomes a MUCH less wise decision if one has to finance, but to do so for a short time works for many folks. With DVC I know there is no penalty for early payoff. If you can pay cash, then this of course will not apply to you. Happy hunting! I loooooove my DVC membership!
Oh, as an aside, I have MUCH, much less difficulty booking my DVC membership at 7 months than I do trying to book January or Feb. at my MVC resort on Maui at 13 months. MUCH,