We had been lucky enough to first visit Disneyland as a family back in 1998. Eight years later, on Tuesday June 27, 2006, with our girls now 17 and 13, we were privileged to get there again. A 5-day pass meant that we could tour the park at leisure and return to those rides we enjoyed the most.

Our pattern was to get there as early as we could in the morning. With the park opening at 8am mid-summer (which it was then), that meant a few earlyish starts. We would head back to our hotel a short distance away early to mid-afternoon for a swim and a breather. Early evening we would return to Disneyland (or California Adventure) for another 3-4 hours' worth.

That was our routine, more-or-less, for four consecutive days Tuesday to Friday. The intention was to return the following Tuesday July 4, to sample Independence Day at Disneyland. As it turned out, Rebecca was sick that day, which meant that just Nicola and I got back there, from mid-afternoon through to about 11pm.

"The happiest place on earth" lived up to its billing once again. We had a fantastic four (or for some of us, five) days.