Can someone give me a slight overview of what DVC offers that makes it easier than booking a DVC room on Disney's website?
i wouldn't say it's easier. timesharing is very different than hotel stays.
here's the basics - DVC works
best for people who:
1) go to disney at least every other year
2) prefer to stay onsite at deluxes (or at least moderates)
3) can plan their vacations 10 or 11 months in advance
4) intend to use DVC primarily for staying at a DVC resort at disney (rather than trading out for other timeshares or cruises, etc.)
5) need or prefer larger accommodations than a basic hotel room
OTOH, there are lots of good reasons to balk at buying DVC:
1) thousands of $ upfront plus annual fees require a certain level of financial ability and commitment (and you still need to pay for tickets and travel, etc.)
2) commitment to wdw/fear of wdw burnout (sorta - while you can trade out of the system, the best value is staying at the DVC resorts)
3) DVC not as deluxe as deluxe hotels in some senses (limited housekeeping, sofabeds, no room service at some DVC resorts)
4) financing a depreciating (sooner or later) luxury purchase is generally a poor idea
5) you are happy with value hotels/offsite
6) amenities like a kitchen and washer/dryer have no value for you
7) you don't/can't plan vacations 6+ months in advance
8) you enjoy hunting for deals/bargains for each trip
if youll be upset when other people can pay cash for a room and get a discount or get free dining thrown in, then DVC is not for you.
also be aware that if you think you might keep DVC for 6-8 years and then sell it down the road, it may have little to no value as DVC has begun cutting perks that transfer when you sell your contract. resale contracts no longer qualify to trade for cruises and wdw hotels like the poly...(but those trades tend to be a poor value anyway.)
remember that DVC is not a "membership" so much as a long-term real estate lease commitment with continuing costs. while you can stay in studios that are similar to hotel rooms (only OKW has 2 queen beds, though, and all the rest have 1 queen + 1 pullout sofabed), DVC is a better value if you want to spread out and get a 1BR villa or larger...
Also, if we buy into DVC this year and don't use our points, can we take those points and keep them for next spring (along with next year's points)?
points have what's called a "use year." my use year starts in october so my 2012 UY pts are valid for stays from oct 1, 2012 through sept 30, 2013.
i don't plan to use them during that period so i can "bank" them forward to my 2013 UY. now they are valid for stays from oct 1, 2013 through sept 30, 2014. if i don't use them for a stay before oct 1, 2014, they disappear into the void and become worthless.
but if i wanted to, i could use my 2012 pts for a stay in july 2014 - because that falls one UY away from my 2012 UY. i could not use my 2012 pts for a stay in nov 2014 because that is 2 UYs away and you cannot bank pts twice.
do you see what i mean about it not being easier...?
but this discussion is really beside the main point of this thread and should be taken to a thread of its own if you have more questions.
). 
my DH is gonna love this (I drive him crazy when I change my mind like this). 
. OTOH, I do love the resort. It is so beautiful there! 
Bill 
