I own DVC but there have been times when I needed a one night cheap before or after my Disney stay. I have stayed at a few inexpensive places, and it is true you get what you pay for but if you want to pay less you can find a place.
My needs are a clean sheets and a clean bathroom. I like to have a fridge, micro not so important. I always check for bedbugs before bringing suitcase in the room and check the bathroom for mold, room for smoking smell and make sure A/C works. I never used any of these hotel pools, I wait till I am at BeachClub for the good swimming. I am a single older woman who usually travels with my 7 year old grandson and have never felt that I was not safe but I stay on 192 or International Drive, not in Kissimmee or farther down 192 East.
I usually book with Hotel.com, priceline, or Orbits, but I always want to know the name of the hotel before I book, I never book without knowing the hotel name and location.
If you want to take a chance you can wait till you get down to FL and grab one of those hotel guides from I-hop or Dennys. They have hotel coupons in them, some as low as $29 a night. Again, check out the place before you pay, drive the parking lot and see who is hanging out. 192 East and West close to Disney has always been ok with me.
Here are a few I have stayed at and some words on each.
Knights Inn 192 West. clean room, sheets and towels clean although worn, carpets worn and dirty, I always wear slippers. has fridge and micro. 1 story.
Claremont (formerly Howard Johnson) 192 East very nice, clean rooms, sheets are clean, you have to get towels when you check in they don't put them it the room due to theft, newer mattresses since name change, Linoleum fake wood floors (nicer than dirty carpets but noisy if you are on lower floor, ask for top floor) 2 story has fridge and microwave
Parkside (formerly Travelodge and if you look for it at night you will see the Travelodge sign through the Parkside sign) clean rooms, clean sheets and towels, no one at front desk after 9 pm. Mainly seemed to be long term people, I felt safe but it wasn't tourists, more homeless. has fridge no microwave.
Champions Gate. A really nice place, not always in the low price range but for your time period you might find something cheap. fridge and microwave.
Rodeway Inn Maingate, clean, run down, fridge and microwave.
I have also gotten really good deals at some places that don't seem to be bargains using priceline and orbitz. I stayed at Embassy Suites Lake Buena vista for 3 nights in July for $83 a night with my son and grandson. I know that is more than you wanted to pay but the breakfast alone would have cost me about $50 for 3. We also went to the manager's happy hour (2 hours) and had at least 6 drinks each which at a bar would have cost us about $2 each. (grandson had shirley temples lol)
I also got a really good price one time when I was out of DVC points for Quality Inn and Suites over on International Drive. I paid $46 a night but it included full bfst. every morning, we got a gift basket with fruits and a bottle of FL wine, a balloon and so0me light up toys for my grandson.
there are plenty of great prices you just have to do some searching for them.
