Cheap hotel near Disney with transport to the parks? GO!
Who ever designed Disney's new website should be fired.
It's been a number of years since I've stayed off-site. If you have any interest in the Disney Springs area, check out the various hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard (such as the Holiday Inn, Best Western, the Hilton at DTD, etc.), which are across the street from the (formerly called) Disney Marketplace. The prices run the gamut there, depending upon the hotel, but I believe all still share a complimentary, private shuttle bus system to the Disney parks. And, obviously, the prices depend upon your travel dates, etc.
For myself, I enjoy the Swan and sometimes the Dolphin. The prices aren't bad, although not exactly cheap, but cheaper than many of the Disney-owned hotels on property. (Swan/Dolphin depends upon room availability, time of year, etc., and both are so convenient with the water shuttle to both DHS and Epcot. They have buses to all the other parks and Disney Springs. You can also enjoy the Boardwalk area there during the day, or at night with a few clubs.
I know recently that Goofyernmost commented that the Kissimmee side of the parks (the Route 192 stretch of what used to be quite a few motels, etc.) has gone down, and maybe not the safest place to stay, even though some places have very low rates.
If you have a convenient travel agency near you, they often will offer some really good package deals with airfare, off-site hotels, etc., and may be worth looking into. Also, the major airlines such as Jet Blue, Delta, etc., often will offer some good packages. If you have American Express, they have their own travel agency as does AAA, if you're a member there as well. All this can be a bit overwhelming, so really take your time to research and make the best decision for your own needs. Good luck!
