We would only be staying 1-2 nights mid-week so I figure renting would be the best way to go. But I'm new to this. Should I be looking now? or closer to the actual date (Sept 06)
No hurry - September is one of the easiest times of the year to get a WDW DVC resort reservation.
Since you normally have to commit $$ quite a bit up front, I'd suggest you wait to book until closer to your date - April or even May. Use the time to do some research on the rental process. You'll want to understand the housekeeping differences as well as how a member's cancellation policy differs from Disney's. Keep in mind that most owners consider renting a "nonrefundable" transaction. Some will allow you to reschedule if your circumstances change (depending on the status of the points used to make your reservation).