DavenRobin-
Thanks for the information! I just went off and running with it.
Recognizing that the art of the sales manager is to sell, I nevertheless just called the sales manager as WSJ and asked him to explain the process of reserving floating weeks and the possibility of reserving a desirable week within the platinum plus season.
As you explained, the HS and BV units are different in that HS is all fixed, and BV is half fixed, half float.
I have to begin by saying that trying to make sense of the numbers has been a stressful trip back to the 6th grade in terms of the math. I'll do my best to share what the manager told me.
At BV there will be 24 3br. villas total (selling 8 each year in phases for 3 years).
Of those 24 units, 12 are fixed and 12 are float.
There will be 240 owners total. 120 of those owners own floating weeks.
The Platinum Plus season is 20 weeks long. 12 units x 20 weeks = 240
There are 3 weeks that would potentially work for us in a given year which = 36 slots.
If all 240 owners want one of the 36 slots than we have a 1 in about 6 chance of getting the week we want.
Christmas week is Christmas week, President's Week doesn't change either, but the one thing we have going for us is Spring Break. Because Spring Break is different from school to school we have more chances of getting in at that time. What I am not sure is if the increased odds are worth the risk.
When I got off the phone with the salesman I had peace of mind until I started to wrestle with the numbers. Now I am back to thinking that I should rescind.
I am so confused. Do the numbers and my analysis of the potential to book holidays weeks with a floating make sense?
I don't think it is that confusing - I wouldn't get caught up in the math.
What weeks work for you in the Plat-plus season? It was hard to tell from you post - sounds as if you can go weeks 51-52 (Holiday), week 7 (Presidents), and another week (Spring Break) that could change year-to-year? - that is 4 possible weeks? Or are you considering just the Spring Break week that may change from year-to-year?
Regardless of the math - a few main issues remain - 1) Will you know 12 months ahead of time when you plan to go? 2) Are you willing to call 12 months in advance when the reservation lines open?
A third issue is one you may need to check on - when SVO-WSJ say they are selling 1/2 fixed and 1/2 float - do they mean for a particular week, or within the season? I asked this because if it is the former (a particular week will be constrained to have only 1/2 being fixed), then you should have no problem if you are willing to do #1 and #2 above.
I say this because it is likley that most BV float owners will not be aware of this, and therefore you have a clear advantage over them.
If not, and the owners that buy fixed weeks - buy them for the weeks you want to go - then... forget it, and rescind (or buy a fixed week for when you can go...).
I think it would have to be the first scenerio - otherwise it would not make sense - most fixed owners will just buy the premium weeks anyway.
A contact number I have for WSJ sales is: Greg Gray Dir. Sales/Marketing - 340-714-6086. If you are not getting a clear answer from your guy - call him.
Good luck. Let us know the outcome.