Hi Brian,
If I understand the first part of your question, you are asking if there are any interesting water features to see at Walt Disney World. There are magical fountains throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. When I first traveled with my oldest nephew to Walt Disney World when he was a toddler, that boy made a point to visit every fountain he could find. To an 18-month-old, they were more enticing than any other kind of attraction. Be sure to take your son to see the amazing kinetic fountains in front of the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot. Also, check out the dancing sidewalk fountains at Downtown Disney. Word to the wise, though. Be sure to have an extra change of clothes on hand for your son. If he's anything like my son, your child will be sopping wet after his encounter with these fountains.
As for characters in the parks, just look at the
list of interesting characters you might meet at Walt Disney World. There are meet and greet areas throughout the theme parks. With a three-year-old, I also highly recommend that you call (407) WDW-DINE to book a
character dining experience like the one at The Crystal Palace. These are great opportunities to interact with the characters without having to stand in line for an autograph.
Let us know what time of year you'll be visiting the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and we'll be happy to make suggestions as to what you should pack.
Best wishes,
Jill
PS. If you have specific questions about Disneyland in California, I suggest
you post a question to my friend, Bernie, on the Moms Panel. He visits
Disneyland often and would be well qualified to address your queries.