Flying elephants, gravity-defying water slides and giant mice - it can only be Disney World...

After a couple of very successful trips to Disneyland Paris, we decided it was time to head to Walt Disney World Florida and see how it all compared.

In my experience, small boys aren't great at road trips, and we took two of them on a journey that took in Atlanta (Georgia) and Beaufort (South Carolina), ending up in Orlando (Florida). So by the time we arrived at the Key West Resort, after the seven-hour drive from Beaufort, tempers were somewhat frayed. However, a couple of hours later we were all relaxing by the pool and planning our first day at Walt Disney World.

It's all in the planning

Planning was to play a large part in our five-day stay here, as indeed it should for anyone. A well-planned trip is fun for kids and grown-ups alike, but if you don't do your groundwork you'll be in for some disappointment and frustration. And if you have children with large age-gaps (we had an eight-year-old and a four-year-old) be prepared to split up for some of the day (single parents at Disney World - I salute you!).

If you're on a short visit (less than one week), don't attempt to do everything. Pick the things you really don't want to miss, and have a reserve list of rides and attractions you can do if time permits.

The Magic Kingdom

Almost everyone on Day 1 of their visit heads to the Magic Kingdom, and it really is charming. We split up almost immediately so that Charlie (8) could head straight to Space Mountain with his Dad, while Louis (4) and I enjoyed the less heady thrills of Peter Pan's Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant, in Fantasyland.

The team met up during the day to try out some rides en masse, with varying success. Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain got a big thumbs up from most (although they were on the scary end of Louis' thrill barometer), but the unanimous hit of the day was Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. Zapping aliens with a laser from your space cruiser to defeat the evil Captain Zurg was declared 'Wicked!' (Charlie, aged 8), 'Again, again!' (Louis, aged 4) and 'Excellent!' (Bob, aged 43).

A word of warning about Stitch's Great Escape, billed as 'mild but wild': we missed the small print which says it 'may be frightening for small children'. Louis was hysterical - definitely not one for the under-fives!

One of the best attractions for kids of all ages is meeting the characters. You can see them around the park, but we had breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and his friends at The Crystal Palace, which was a big hit. And don't miss the Disney Dreams Come True Parade at 3pm every day.

Epcot and Animal Kingdom

Epcot, we discovered, is best for older children, (although it does have the utterly charming The Seas with Nemo & Friends) and the thrill-seekers absolutely loved Mission: Space ('The most mega ride in the universe ever', according to Charlie).

Animal Kingdom had a slightly more relaxed feel about it, and we loved the Kali River Rapids and Kilimanjaro Safari. Although it's the largest park by area, it was certainly the least busy when we were there.

Must-see shows here are Finding Nemo - the Musical, Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade and the wonderful Festival of the Lion King.

Wet and wild

The surprise hit of our trip, though, were the water parks - Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They really do have something for everyone: exciting, fast water slides, fun family rides, great places for little ones to paddle and play, and lots of sun loungers for relaxing.

Blizzard Beach - as the name suggests, the theme is a ski resort - was our favourite. The 120ft free-fall body-slide, better known as Summit Plummet, had Charlie screeching with excitement (and Bob quaking in his trunks), while Louis hurtled down the somewhat tamer (but still thrilling for a 4-year-old) inner tube slide so many times I lost count. There are slides galore, plus a lovely meandering river ride that floats you around the whole park.

Typhoon Lagoon has a more tropical feel, and the main focus here is a huge lagoon that provides a gigantic wave every minute or so - great for body surfing! There are gravity-defying water slides, family float rides, as well as Ketchkiddee Creek with fountains and mini rides for the little ones.

Extra Magic Hours

If you're staying at a Disney Resort, you must take advantage of the early opening times. Each park opens one hour in the morning and three hours later in the evening on certain days of the week (check with your resort for the schedule), for those staying in any of the Disney Resorts. It's well worth getting up a little earlier to try out the most popular rides without the queues. We arrived for 'early opening' at both of the water parks and it was well worth it. We bagged ourselves a prime spot with sun loungers and then swooshed through all the big water slides before the crowds arrived.

Down-time

We stayed at the Key West Resort, which had a lovely relaxed atmosphere, and boasted four swimming pools, spas, playgrounds, tennis courts, a gym, games room and boat and bike rental. So when you're in need of a break from the parks, it's a great place to unwind.

The studios and villas are spacious and have very well-equipped kitchens, and the villas also have a washer and dryer. If you want to be able to get the children to bed at a decent hour and have a couple of hours to yourselves, plus have the flexibility of cooking your own meals (always a benefit when you're dealing with picky-eaters), a villa is a great alternative to a hotel.

Top tips

• Make the most of the 'Extra Magic Hour' if you're staying at a Disney Resort
• Collect a park map at the entrance so you know where you're going and the times of the shows
• Use the FASTPASS system to jump the queues on the most popular rides
• Collect a buggy at the entrance for any child under 5 (even if they don't use one at home, small children get very tired and irritable, and there is a lot of walking to do)
• Make reservations for dinner, especially if you want character dining
• Plan! Even the most basic of itineraries will prove invaluable for getting the most out of your holiday

Practical information

• Flights to Orlando start from around £480 with Virgin Atlantic
• One-bedroom villas at the Old Key West Resort in peak season (Feb-April) are $485/night and in value season (Jan, July-Sept, Mid-Nov-Mid-Dec) are $370/night
• www.virginholidays.co.uk offer package deals (flights, Walt Disney Resort accommodation and park passes) from £1,800 for a family of four