Welcome to the Dis!
If you stay at a resort other than your home property, you can only book at 7 months out (the 11 month is for your priority at your home resort)
I think you will find a mixed bag - some always stay at home resort, some mix it up.....
We (for example) are mixing it up - we will be staying at OKW in Nov, BWV and BCV in Jan and VWL in Feb - BCV is our home but we had no problem booking within 7 month windows for the other resorts.
We did prefer BWV as our first choice for Nov but with Food and Wine Festival, there were no 2BR there so we picked OKW which is a fabulous alternative
One thing that comes out is that if you want a GV you can only stay at BWV or OKW so that is factor behind some always staying at their home resorts
Thanks
jaysue