Budget Trip - When to go - Where to stay?

[firsttimer2007]

I need/want to plan a budget trip to disney.

I would like to stay in a home off-site but close to disney. We can go anytime and would like to stay 2 weeks. When is the cheapest time to rent a home with a pool, kitchen, and washer/Dryer?

Where is a good location? I do not want to spend the trip driving around. Do any of the homes have transportation to disney parks?

I have always stayed in a hotel and love the free breakfast and stuff that a hotel offers but I thought if we stayed in a home then we could get our own pool so the kids can swim when we are tired. They could also nap and not have to make the rest of the family be quiet. We could fix our own snacks. Is it better to stay in a hotel or in a home.
I also have never stayed off site.
What are the pros and cons???

Also is it better to get a AP or just get tickets? Is the price worth the diffrence?

 

[mombare]

We made our first trip in February as a family, and Windsor Hills was great for us. We had a condo (4 adults, 4 kids)...but that was perfect for us. The swimming was hit or miss, but this is normal for early February. There are many homes in Windsor Hills for rent with their own swimming pools. I found our on vrbo.com - and we were very happy with the whole process. It took us no more than 10 minutes each day to get to Disney. Their is a private shuttle, but that was quite expensive.
As for the best time of year, most rentals will have a value season that corresponds with Disney's value season.