We went during Jersey Week many times - for 12 years in a row until my son went off to college and we couldn't take advantage of that week any more. Yes, somewhere along the way the airlines wised up and jacked up the fares. However, I was usually able to secure reasonable fares by flying Southwest out of PHL. I generally purchased tickets as soon as the schedules opened. Even that has become trickier since SWA's recent merger, as they've reduced the number of non-stop flights out of PHL. However, SWA just started flying to MCO from Newark, so you may have luck on that front. No doubt about it... when it comes to Jersey Week flights, you have to plan far in advance and be flexible.
That being said, we absolutely LOVED visiting that time of year! Crowds are robust but very manageable, and the weather is usually gorgeous. Depending on your trip dates, you can also enjoy the F&W festival and the Halloween or Christmas party, which are both fabulous! It's quite magical to arrive with the parks decorated for Fall, and then leave when they're decorated for the holidays, as the transformation often occurs that week! If you can find decent airfare, I wouldn't shy about from Jersey Week at all. It really is a fantastic time at WDW!!!