Emma,
We are going to stay in October for 10 nights at the moderate resort, Port Orleans riverside, we booked direct with disney and are paying £880.00.(this is regular season room rates, £88 pn) This is for me, husband and our daughter. The US charge by room rate and that can mean up to 4 people in your room. This does not include any park passes.
We have stayed here before and love being on site, main reason probably is the theming and being part of it all...
We have also stayed at the Grosvenor resort which is one of 7 (?) hotels near down town Disney, i.e. hotels owned by other groups, hilton,wyndham, holiday inn etc and are on disney property. This could be a happy medium?
Off-site, I imagine you will not be paying the supplement of being on Disney property so your money will probably get you more space and extras included. Its a very personal choice and I think you must read as much as you can and maybe do both as another diser has recommended!
You also mentioned April/May, alarm bells are ringing a bit for those months, spring break, easter hols so depending on children etc, it would be cheaper and less crowded to go when children are in school and there are no major holidays. The first two weeks in November seem to me like they may be a better time to go in an ideal world.
My advice is read all these amazing peoples' posts, trip reports(especially the AMAZING Kevin Stringers' reports,) some travel brochures so you can see what the hotels look like, Simons' book and The Orlando section of Ottakers or any good book shop!!
The anticipation and planning is half the fun!!! Hope I have been a bit helpful, good luck, Prue
