There's a widespread belief that Disneyland is all about children. Is it hell. It was me, technically a grown-up, who spent the first day at the park racing around making sure no big ride was left unridden.

By early evening I was flagging a bit and as I'd dragged the rest of the family around in my slipstream, so were they. But we learned a valuable lesson. There was even more to see and do at Disneyland than we had expected and days are long - ending with spectacular late evening parades and fireworks you won't want to miss.

It pays to plan each day carefully and to take it steady. What's more, although our eight-year-old son was up for the white-knucklers like Big Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain, four-year-old Rhiannon didn't make the height qualification for them - and, to be honest, didn't fancy them one bit in any case.

It also came as something of a surprise that while I'd been a man on an adrenalin mission on day one, given more of a say on the second day, both children were just as happy enjoying the charm of gentler attractions such as Alice's Curious Labyrinth. They even spent a happy hour in a simple adventure playground, entirely free of whizz-bang technology.

In retrospect we'd turned up with a slightly wrong mindset. We'd bought guides to the resort and prioritised what we wanted to see and do. But our plan boiled down to a list of rides and there's a lot more to it than that to make an enjoyable and successful visit. For a start, the Disneyland park is divided into sections - Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Discoveryland and Main Street, USA - each with their own themes, rides, activities, restaurants and shops.

The park covers a large amount of real estate. On our first day we spent too much time and effort dashing from one sector to the other, ticking off the big attractions. Far better to stay in each of the 'lands' for a while, taking in whatever appeals, before moving on the next 'land'.

It also pays to put some order into your days by booking a restaurant table for the evening and seats for one or more of the popular shows - like the new Legend of the Lion King - first thing in the morning.

We had a holiday package which worked out well. You can, of course, stay nearby or in Paris and visit as you wish. The park has its own railway station and motorway exit, for goodness sake. But the convenience of staying at a resort hotel where you're within a few minutes walk of the park entrance swayed us. What clinched it was the knowledge that in season, the park stays open late for the firework finale.

The thought of a late-night drive back to base with two tired kids was not appealing. We stayed for two comfortable nights at the stylish four-star Hotel New York, one of a cluster of Disney hotels set spaciously around artificial lakes.

Two nights meant we could use the three-day entrance ticket option entitling us to visit the Disneyland park and its neighbour, Walt Disney Studios Park.

The studios park was a pleasant surprise on our third and last day. Less busy and more laid back than Disneyland, it has great rides - like Rock'n'roller Coaster with Aerosmith - but also a spectacular stunt show, a special effects attraction and much more.

We could easily have spent more time there. One final tip. Children will want to meet Mickey Mouse and the rest of the characters. Costumed actors are out and about the park and visit hotels at set times. To be certain of a photo opportunity, though, book a character breakfast - we chose the Caf Mickey venue - where Mickey, Goofy, Captain Hook and the rest arrive in succession and spend time at each table. Eat your fill and get snapping - a surreal and entirely suitable way to start a day of escapism.

l For more information see www.disney.co.uk

l We booked eight-year-old Daniel in for a morning two-and-a-half hour session at the Manchester United Soccer School, at a well-equipped base a short walk from our hotel. There are videos, framed shirts of stars like Giggs, and former British and French pros put the boys and girls through their paces in a structured coaching programme. Daniel loved it.

l Top tip: To avoid queuing, make good use of the excellent Fastpass system, available on many of the most popular rides. Simply insert your park ticket into one of the Fastpass machines at the entrance to each attraction and it will produce a ticket with a time to return and board the ride without queuing.