That depends on how you like (or think you'd like) to spend your time at WDW. If you plan to spend a lot of time at the hotel, you probably want to look at one of the moderate resorts or deluxe resorts as the themeing is generally better there. If you plan to spend every possible minute in the parks, a value resort may be a better choice as it isn't worth spending money to stay in a moderate or deluxe and not spend much time there.
We go without the kids a few times a year. Always stay at the values, with Pop Century being our favorite. Sometimes we do a split stay with a couple days at a Deluxe to treat ourselves. Michaels advice above is the reason we don't stay at the more expensive resorts very often.
Thanks for the info ExploringWDW and mSummers. We don't spend a lot of time at the hotel but we would prefer to not spend crazily for our lodgings so we can do more activities.
MY personal favorite of the hotels (I'm single, and either travel solo or with adult friends) for combination of good theming, calm environment (not as many running screaming kids in the halls) and reasonable price is Port Orleans French Quarter. Love the atmosphere there, yet it's moderate in price level...much smaller and more intimate than Riverside, Coronado, Caribbean...less kids and noise and banging than other 'values', not a big outlay like the 'deluxes'. I often stay in my DVCs, but when I go for business trips, I often elect French Quarter over the other moderates. It's one of the few resorts for me that really feels like coming 'home' from the parks, into a different environment - the theming, landscaping, cobblestone streets, horse and carriages jingling along, jazz music, beignets and coffee, relaxing pool bar, good jazz/blue live music inside...and boat transportation to Downtown Disney.
Oh, and since this is in 'offsite' hotels category, I've also stayed in the Wyndam Lake Buena Vista, and the Hilton, both right across from Downtown Disney. The Wyndam is one of the best of the offsites for me, because they frequently offer sales which puts them in the Moderate price level, have decent bar and restaurant and even supply stores, and have a lovely and easy walkway right over to the Marketplace bus stop, where you can catch busses or boats to any Disney resort, and on to the parks from there...much better for me than taking the Wyndam bus to the parks directly as they don't run on as frequent a schedule (plus, it's just as easy or convenient to take the Contemporary bus and walk to MK, or the Boardwalk bus and walk to Epcot or DHS.
I like to go to the Best Western across the street from Disneyland. It's very close by so I always walk to the park. It's great, you don't have to worry about parking, you get free continental breakfast, and fairly well prices.
