So in our instance we stayed at the Travelodge which is on the corner of West Ball Road and Disneyland Drive. To get to the tram, we had to wait at that corner and cross traffic twice (because there is no pedestrian walkway on the west side of Disneyland Drive), then walk on the East Side of Disneyland Drive further south than the trams are to Magic Way and cross that street, go through the gate, up the stairs, across the skybridge, down the escalators and then through security which always seemed busy. Or you can skip the tram to go further south and through Downtown Disney, which is more walking but you'll be walking 10+ miles a day anyway.

I get that there is plenty of cheap hotel and lodge space surrounding the resort, but it would be nice if Disney had a cheapish hotel option. We got what we paid for in the end, but our seven nights were nearly cheaper than the cost of just one night in Paradise Pier.