Tried & tested: Disneyland Paris

Taking a toddler to a themepark is an interesting prospect. On the one hand, taking advantage of Mickey's Magical Party celebrations (one child gets free entrance, Eurostar and hotel with each paying adult until 8 November) is a massive incentive. On the other, will the Magic Kingdom lose its sparkle when you've missed naptime and run out of nappies? Lucy Brett and Robin Parker offer their tips on avoiding tantrums...

Young toddlers are mostly too young for pester power, which is good news at Disneyland Paris. Don't fancy a 90 minute queue for Buzz Lightyear? No worries. Whatever you show your youngest travellers is pretty much going to blow their mind. And unlike many theme parks, the resort doesn't disappoint in the range of shiny things to look at.

But as most parents know, vast choice isn't always your friend and on a hot summer's day it's easy to arrive overwhelmed. We were wrongfooted for at least the first hour as we wandered dazed through the bustling crowds and achieved little more than creating an especially grumpy and hungry boy. Boring as it sounds, sending one parent ahead to recce or reserve while the other has a sit down with a drink and the little one is a great idea - whether for food, snacks, rides or the best gift shops. Whatever you do, get two maps - you're bound to tear one or have it torn for you as you navigate the two parks and their various themed zones.

Reservations are relatively easy and allow you more time to meet and greet the characters. Our very small boy responded brilliantly to meeting them one on one, where he had time to get used to them. And the longer spent with them, the more time to marvel at how calm, collected and creative they are in the face of initial non-recognition, general manhandling and tearful farewells. Despite meeting thousands of tiddlers a week, the characters are very willing to play peekaboo, and be alternately kissed, prodded, hugged, tickled and slobbered on.

(continues over)