AS a kid, I never dreamed of Disney. Maybe because there was no way my parents could ever have afforded to take me. Over the years I’ve often wondered what all the fuss is about.

I’ve just found out in spectacular style, taking my own family to Florida to delve into the land of the world’s famous mouse and I’ve plenty of advice if you dream of following suit.

There is no getting around the fact a trip to Walt Disney World Resort (disneyworld.co.uk) is not cheap, but it can be brilliant value for memories etched into wee hearts forever. And I hadn’t really appreciated that Disney – with its huge array of connecting parks – is these days for everyone. I met young singletons, groups of thirtysomethings and even a couple of loved-up octogenarians.

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Here I’ll presume, like me, you want to save cash when you can, but still splurge on things that are worth it. On that note, Lightning Lane passes are essential. Our pass allowed three Lightning Lane accesses a day, which saved us hours. Make sure to download the Disney World App in advance and get used to navigating it. It’s essential on site – the map navigation saves times whizzing between rides, lets you book meals and join in some virtual queues.

I also strongly recommend staying in a Disney hotel, as you snare early exclusive park access. This meant we hopped on all three Star Wars attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios without having to use our fast passes. Our hotel was gorgeous too – the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a luxury dame peering over a lake towards the Magic Kingdom. From the balcony, we could see the iconic turrets of that castle.

I’m used to having to meticulously plan logistics. There was no need at Disney. An easy-to-navigate, free and frequent network of efficient buses, the monorail (another Disney icon) and even boats ease you around the landscaped site – all part of the fun rather than a bane.

Little tips for saving cash include ducking the valet parking. They offered $29 valet parking, but we self-parked right by our hotel. We also took water bottles, which we filled up at the free dispensers.

You can also take snacks, but dining with Disney is a real highlight and not just for kids with themed fast food. Our hotel, remarkably, was home to the first theme park restaurant in the world to be awarded a Michelin star earlier this year. We couldn’t justify the expense of dining there, but we enjoyed a proper Italian feast at Mama Melrose’s, then a spot-on Japanese lunch of sushi and sashimi at Shiki-Sai.

We managed to take in the four main theme parks over our three days. Magic Kingdom is the original and still has the magic. It has all the themed sections from the Disney cartoons and films, with a highlight being the famous evening fireworks over the castle. This is the park that utterly charms the really wee ones. The section on Scottish-themed Brave made me think of home.

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What keeps Disney so popular is that they never rest on their laurels. Magic Kingdom is home to Tron Lightcycle Run. I hopped on with my 16-year-old Tara and it was me closing my eyes in the first bit as we rocketed off at 60mph. This was a brilliantly fun ride, my favourite in this park.

Running Tron close is another new arrival – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It is simply one of the best water rides I’ve ever ridden. It is themed around the character and is a joy to float through. Then there is that drop – you’ll see what I mean! I ended up soaked, but we were smiling ear to ear, as were the quartet of fellow passengers on our raft.

We found our fellow guests a chatty, welcoming lot, far more than I’ve experienced at the likes of Legoland in the UK.

We loved Disney’s Hollywood Studios too, with those Star Wars rides amongst the cinematic highlights, but Animal Kingdom was the biggest surprise. This lush tropical oasis looks beautiful, with lots of natural shade. The Avatar rides thrilled my girls, but it was the Kilimanjaro Safaris that struck me.

This is the closest most people will ever get to rambling around the African savannah on safari, with real trucks used to eke around a massive reserve home to buffalo, zebra and lions.

Last but not least was Epcot. I instantly recognised the iconic oversized golf ball and monorail, but was impressed at the diversity of a park I thought might be dated. The international-themed sections were fun, including the Eiffel Tower and a “traditional” British pub that has served up beers since the park opened in 1982.

Again, Disney always keeps up to date, with Marvel breaking into Epcot with the stellar Guardians Of The Galaxy innovative rollercoaster. It spins, zooms, backtracks and soars, bashing the senses around a thrilling indoor track.

I may never have dreamt of visiting Disney, but my daughters are utterly delighted that we went. Dad is a convert too. Disney know how to weave together a seamless experience that charmed everyone I came across, from wee ones to those octogenarians. Well done, Mickey.

Further information: www.visitorlando.com, www.visitflorida.com. jetBlue (www.jetblue.com) offers flights from Edinburgh to Orlando, via New York, that allow stopovers