Disneyland Paris keeps on pulling fresh treats out of its toy box, as RACHEL JANE and her son Morgan discover on a long-awaited trip to one of Europe's top family attractions

MICKEY,  Minnie, Goofy and Donald are iconic Disneyland characters. They are the Richard Burtons and Elizabeth Taylors of their day and hark back to the golden age of animated cinema.

However, while some people reminisce about hand-drawn animation and stop-motion filming, there are now new toys that have crept into the spongy minds of our children.

In recent years Disney has brought to life racing cars with Lightning McQueen (Cars);
monsters with heart in Monsters Inc. ; a toy community's unconditional love for their playmate in Toy Story; plus a pageant of new princesses, the latest being Princess Tiana from The Princess And The Frog.

Disney has bottled the secret formula to keeping generation after generation entertained and that philosophy is pumped into Disneyland Paris, which manages to sprinkle its magic dust over the whole family.

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Having never been to Disneyland in Florida or Paris, I had been waiting impatiently for my son Morgan to reach the age and height to go. Now four-and-a-half, when I told him we were going to meet his heroes Buzz Lightyear and Woody I thought he was going to burst.

A civilised and speedy trip on Eurostar from London St Pancras to Marne-La-Vallée station, situated on the doorstep of the resort, was blissfully easy.
 
After checking in at Hotel New York and armed with our passes, we could not wait to enter the parks of Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios.

The New Generation Festival launched this weekend and continues until March 2011.
Putting the newest stars in the spotlight, Ratatouille characters Remy and Emile ride in an all-new car during the Stars 'n' Cars cavalcade in Walt Disney Studios and old-timer Mickey Mouse joins the festivities in the Showtime Spectacular in Disneyland Park. Don't miss these shows, they are pure showbiz and a welcome break from queuing for rides.

Of course Disneyland wouldn't be Disneyland if you weren't deafened by visitors' screams:
Monsters Inc. Scream Academy at Walt Disney Studios allows you to get some practice in.
Scream into the decibel meter and when you hit the high notes star Sulley ambles out. We raced over for a photo-opportunity and cuddle. Sulley, a big blue furry monster, refuses to give autographs. I didn't have the heart to tell Morgan it was because his giant hands couldn't hold a pen.

At Walt Disney Studios the Crush Coaster is a must, while the Finding Nemo-inspired rollercoaster sees you locked into a turtle's shell with Nemo and pals before you are thrown into darkness, hurtling backwards.

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Scary but fantastic fun.

Taking a slower pace we headed to Radiator Springs for the Cars ride, where you are literally taken for a spin on a good ride for young children.

In Disneyland Park head towards Discoveryland for the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast.
Space Rangers blast aliens and bad robots to protect the world from evil Zurg. For pure fantasy join Peter, Wendy and Captain Hook on Peter Pan's Flight.

It's gentle but utterly beautiful.

There are, of course, all the classic rides as well, like Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain and Star Tours.

It's essential to plan carefully or you spend more time walking between parks, and make sure you book a meal at Café Mickey.

The atmosphere is great and you meet the Disney cast.

Later this summer the new Toy Story Playland premieres at Walt Disney Studios with three new attractions: the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop, the Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin and the RC Racer circuit. Buzz Lightyear also invites you into Andy's "yard" to be shrunk to the scale of toys in an enormous playground and given that we helped defeat his nemesis we're hoping Buzz'll be happy to invite two new recruits.
 
GETTING THERE:

Eurostar (0843 218 6186/www.eurostar.com) offers two nights at Disneyland Paris from £477 per adult, £202 (aged seven to 11). Children under seven stay and play for free during the New Generation Festival until November 8, 2010.

Price includes two nights at Disney's Hotel New York (two sharing), B&B, three-day hopper tickets for Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park and return travel from St Pancras.

Disneyland Paris: 0844 800 8111/www.disneylandparis.com The French Government
Tourist office: 0906 824 4123/www.franceguide.com