It is 8am and we are standing on a raised boardwalk in the middle of a wildlife enclosure, hand-feeding giraffes. As their handsome heads swing towards our proffered branches, the only sound is my daughter giggling with delight. Early morning is a special time at Chessington World of Adventures.

The Surrey park does not open to the public until 10am; until then, guests at the on-site hotels have it all to themselves.

Alone on the Trail Of The Kings, we watched as sleepy lions stirred, gorillas dozed with arms wrapped around their young and tigers prowled, looking for breakfast. Several rides were open and queue-free and we felt privileged as we strolled through the empty grounds.

Across the country, theme parks are transforming into resorts by building on-site hotels and encouraging visitors to extend their stay by throwing in second-day park tickets, early-doors access and other benefits. The fun and theming usually continue inside and 69-room Azteca, Chessington’s second hotel which opened this month, is no different.

Stepping through its doors we are transported to the jungles of Mexico, with tombs and temples at every turn.

Every inch of our top-floor Temple Summit room is adorned with rainforest foliage, ruins, monkeys and colourful birds.

As five-year-old Isobel and Henry, three, followed the treasure hunt around the room, counting birds and temples to find the code for the treasure chest (aka the hotel safe, where they found two sticks of Aztec rock), we explored our new space.

Each room has a separate sleeping area for up to three children, with bunk beds andits own television.

The master bedroom area and bathroom are also decorated like a page from The Jungle Book, all that was missing was Mowgli. Our view from the window was more serene, offering a taste of Africa.

Rooms overlook the Wanyama Reserve safari park on one side and the monkey enclosure on the other.

Watching giraffes, zebras, ostriches, emus and oryx from the window or from the restaurant terrace below was magical and after dinner the previous night we had walked around the reserve and said goodnight to the animals. As we slept, the simulated sound of crickets chirping outside helped transport us to a more exotic land.

The hotel’s Temple Restaurant is equally well designed for families. The excellent buffet serves grilled meats, fish and vegetarian options and there is a dedicated children’s station with healthy favourites.

Characters from Madagascar Live! prowled the restaurant, high-fiving the children and encouraging us to attend their stage show in the park, inspired by the film.

As the park got busier, the hottest seats were on the Scorpion Express, a new rollercoaster through the “Mexican desert” inhabited by giant scorpions.

My children were a little young for this but they adored the Safari Skyway monorail, which slowly snaked high above the animal enclosures, the sealion show, the Sea Life Centre and playing among the monkeys on Amazu rope trail. With more than 40 rides across 10 areas, it was easy to spend a second day at Chessington. And, by arriving in the afternoon as the park was starting to empty, and leaving the following lunchtime just as it was getting busy, we avoided the crowds.

As we made our way back to the car, my daughter did her best to talk me into selling the house and moving here permanently.

“This is the best, best, best place ever,” she said seriously. I’m not sure I could put up with the décor for more than 24 hours but I tod her I would definitely think about it.

GETTING THERE

Azteca at Chessington World of Adventures (0871 360 2639/chessington.com) offers one night from £199 (five sharing), B&B. Price includes two days’ park entry. Giraffe feeding experience £10pp.

Early Bird day tickets for the park from £25pp when booked online

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More rides and attractions

THE BIRDS

Score major points by taking your game-loving children to Angry Birds Land at Thorpe Park (0871 663 1673/thorpepark.com), Surrey. At its heart is the 100ft drop ride Detonator: climb the steel tower and strap in for a 45mph plunge.

For something less stomach-churning, watch Red Bird and the Bad Piggies fly around you during a 4D cinema showing, or go head-to-head on themed dodgems.

The park has endless white-knuckle rides such as winged rollercoaster The Swarm, which you can now brave backwards, and Colossus with 10 vertical loops. Stay overnight at the new Thorpe Shark Hotel for early-morning access to the rides.

Day tickets cost £25.99 per adult, £23.99 per child when booked online. One night at Thorpe Shark Hotel from £79 (family of four sharing), B&B, including two-day park tickets.

NINA, PAT AND LOLA

Little ones will love CBeebies Land at Alton Towers (0871 222 3330/altontowers.com) in Staffordshire. Make custard pies in Justin’s House, ride Iggle Piggle’s dream boat and get stuck into exciting experiments in Nina’s Lab.

Characters from the popular children’s TV channel come to life through rides, below, shows and interactive worlds. Older children will not miss out either as they can head to 14-loop rollercoaster The Smiler, ride the Congo River Rapids, tackle waterfalls in a bathtub at the Flume or take a lifeguard course at the Water Park.

Day tickets from £36 per adult, £32 per child online. One night at Alton Towers Hotel or Splash Landings Hotel from £136 (family of four sharing), B&B, including second day park tickets.

HERE, KITTY

Europe’s first Hello Kitty attraction opened in May at Drusillas (01323 874100/drusillas.co.uk) in Sussex. The themed garden includes teacup, above, hopper and car rides and a Hello Kitty House where children can meet the famous feline. There is an incredible range of animals; monkeys, iguanas, lemurs, penguins and meerkats at the park surrounded by the South Downs.

Children can help to feed and care for them as they become zookeeper for a day (from £120pp). Thomas the Tank Engine also lives here so youngsters can board at Tidmouth Hault for a steam ride around the grounds and even meet the Fat Controller.

Day tickets cost from £14pp (under-2s free) when booked online. Shore View Hotel (01323 302200/shoreviewhotel.co.uk) in Eastbourne offers rooms from £120 (family of four sharing), room only.

PRETTY FLAMINGO

Despite its name, the beautiful long-legged pink birds are far from all that you will find at Flamingo Land (0871 911 8000/ flamingoland.co.uk) in North Yorkshire. The pretty park is home to 140 species of reptiles, mammals and birds.

There is also a large theme park where you can simulate fl ight on Hero, in which riders are transported horizontally and face down.

Dino-Stone Park is great for younger children. There is also the pedal-powered hand glider Cyclosoar, low-level rollercoaster Twistosaurus and new sandpit where they can dig for skeletons.

Stay overnight in the cottages, cabins or campsite and you can enjoy the pools, nine-hole golf course and evening entertainment.

Day ticket costs from £29pp (under-4s free) when booking online. Three nights in a premium lodge from £308 (family of four sharing), room only, including park entrance tickets.