Disposable Vs Reusable?

I'm pregnant with my third baby and am weighing up the differece between the two different types of nappies. I used disposable with my first two but have heard that reusable can save a lot of money.

All I invisage is how there is no way I would have wanted to wash some of my sons disposable nappies!! So really I'm after advice from people who know. What are the differences and what would you recommend? How do they work and how much more washing will it generate? I don't see how they can be cost effective when you have to wash them and still buy the inserts? As you can see I'm pretty clueless so please any advice would be appreciated!! Thank you!