The next day was wonderful for teachers and pupils alike. The teachers knocked at the doors of the room shared by the girls, then the one for the boys, with a call that breakfast was in ten minutes and to be waiting to be helped downstairs in five.

The teachers expected protests, and 'five more minutes please' comments.

Instead most of the kids were outside the doors and ready in just under two minutes.

"Hey it's only quarter to seven", Jeff commented.

"Mm. Maybe there are big fat long queues for breakfast." Lofty tried to be the voice of reason, as usual.

Miss Freeman, wearing Mickey Mouse ears, came to collect the giggling groups. Zax held hands all the way downstairs to make up for the whole night they'd been apart. Jeff wanted to bound downstairs two at a time but remembered where he was. Despite the early hour, Ethan's eyes were sparkling.

They assembled in the Inventions restaurant and their eyes nearly popped.

Mrs Beauchamp, Mr Keogh and – and – yes, Ms Chao were all wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

The teachers helped the kids round the buffet, advising them here and there:

"Ethan, darling, you need to have something like cereal – three Danish pastries will make you slow later."

"Robyn, you're on holiday and you've got some nice Weetabix there, of course you should have a pastry as well if you like."

"I thought you'd be too grand and dignified for Mickey Mouse", Louise said to Ms Chao.

"Back at school I shall be dignified, but this week is special and I shall be Disneyfied!"

Ms Chao had made a joke! What a holiday!

Mrs Beauchamp explained the reason for the early start.

"Guests at our hotel get a special treat, it's called extra magic hours. Instead of having to wait till ten to go into the parks, we can go in at eight."

"Oooh!"

"So you can see why three Danish pastries wouldn't have been good, Ethan."

Ethan sighed and ate his yoghurt which was nice enough, but he just knew he could have managed three pastries.

He was very glad he'd been persuaded to have yoghurt instead when he was whirling around on the Dumbo ride, with Ms Chao – another of his fantasy girlfriends – holding on to him.

It was in the Alice In Wonderland maze that a most wonderful thing happened.

They heard the shrill voice:

"Vernon! Get a move on!"

"But I can't find you" came a whining, familiar voice. The last time Lofty had heard that voice, it was when his Alien comic had been mercilessly ripped into four and thrown in the bin.

"DAD! Stop messing! We've loads more to see and the studios too! We go home tomorrow and we'll hate you if we miss anything!"

"C-can you come and help me?" wailed Vernon who was clearly dominated by wife and daughters in real life.

"Allow me" said Mr Keogh, who was savouring his moment of revenge.

"Still bullying six year olds or have you found other employment? My name's Dylan Keogh; I'm from Holby Mixed Infants."

Vernon grovelled.

"Please don't tell my wife; I wasn't even qualified; I just grabbed at the job."

Mr Keogh practically pushed the snivelling Vernon in the direction of his bawling family and came back to the Mixed Infants with a serene smile on his face.

For the Holby crew, the whole day was wonderful. They tried most of the rides, except the two big ones, Pirates and Phantom Manor, that were being kept back for Thursday. Lunch was a picnic near Adventureland – all the kids, not just the boys, gasped in wonder on seeing the pirate ship, which everybody explored to their hearts' content later. They rode the railroad, which took them all round the resort, enjoyed another parade – 'yes, there's a parade every day, Ethan!' – and after going back to change, enjoyed an evening meal in Café Mickey. Ethan was nearly speechless with glee when none other than Donald Duck sat down next to him.

The next day came a visit to the La Vallee shopping centre, just to break up the magic enough to keep it exciting. Mr Keogh had been the nominated teacher who was trusted not to snitch about the present and he had some wonderful ideas about gifts for the ladies. While they were all talking to him and listening intently as far as he could see, cheeky Max slipped away from them for a moment to buy the nicest wallet ever for Mr Keogh himself, as planned in an emergency Zax meeting before breakfast.

Then it was back to the resort and off to the Studios.