there are a lot right across the street from hojo that is 10 min walk or so to gates, to desert inn that is at the cross walk. you have some really fancy ones like Camelot inn and not so fancy ones like desert inn. Desert inn is cheap and some ppl like it while others don't. I am staying there in nov
I have stayed at the Desert Inn and Suites before. While not fancy, it is decent especially for the price and being right across the street from the park entrance. It has a small breakfast and our room last time was well kept and a decent size (we had a little on in a pack and play and his stroller and still had room to move around). They have a rooftop viewing platform to watch the fireworks. It has an indoor pool and spa though I don't recommend using it (it was really warm inside and the spa needed cleaning). The distance was the best part especially when lugging two little ones back at the end of the night.
We have stayed at the Fairfield by Marriott many times, it's our favorite offsite hotel. It has external corridors but that doesn't matter to us. It's a fairly easy walk into Disneyland and there are plenty of places to eat nearby and the most important to me personally, each floor of the hotel has 2 washing machines and 2 dryers. So doing the washing is very easy, no dragging washing down to a central laundry.
I have never stayed onsite, but I believe that you are not able to book as far in advance as you are at WDW. You could always try calling them if your dates are not available online.
We are staying at the DI&S for part of our next trip. For me, location is very important, and that was just about as close as we could get, for a very good price. Plus, it had an appropriate suite for 2 adult couples to share.
I would happily stay at any of the motels on Harbor.
Everything is even closer together than in Paris. The two parks are literally right opposite each other, and the entrance to DTD is right there in between them. We enjoyed spending time in DTD on our arrival day and in the evenings.