Walt Disney World Florida

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