I think the best thing you can do it look at the maps before hand, get an idea of the general layout of the park, and then LOOK UP. There are several notable landmarks in each park that make navigating easier. If you familiarize yourself with the various lands, what landmark is around them, and what rides are in them, it is much easier to navigate. Once you have a feel of where each land is, the maps are useful in pinning down the location of a specific attraction. At MK, there are a handful of things that you can't miss (the mountains, the castle, etc) that can definitely help. HS has Tower of Terror. Animal Kingdom has Everest. Epcot has the ball. Use them.
I also second the person who said give the maps to the kids. We cruise and I often get completely confused about where I am going, but my 9 year old knows the entire ship by the end of the first day.