I've never been to Disney World (only Disneyland), but I am enjoying reading this thread. I have a two year daughter, so we're planning ahead. Would a 3 yr old be too young for DW?
Also, is there only one character in all of DW? Example, if Mickey is at the Chef Mickey Breakfast, is he then not at the Park greeting visitors? Of are there multiples of each character to accomodate the demand to see them?
Each kid is different. Mine was there 4 or 5 times before he was three and he remembered it well and enjoyed it. Some people say that kids will not enjoy it for the money. We love the place, so that's where I come from.As for the characters, there are multiples all over the place. Mickey isn't always there to greet people when the parks open though. But if you go to Magic Kingdom, for example, Mickey will be at the character places he is at, and at Mickey's Toontown Fair house taking pictures all day, and probably in another place or two.
You won't have any trouble finding any of the characters you want to see. If you want to make sure you get to see them and you don't do any character meals, then Mickey's Toontown Fair is where there are always picture rooms with characters - and while some of them vary each day, Mickey and Minny are always there in their homes.
In Epcot there is a picture place right in the front right of the park after you pass Spaceship Earth. That is usually Mickey, Minny, Chip and Dale, Pluto and Goofy. Donald will make an appearance as well from time to time. Pooh and Tigger are in the England Pavilion a lot at a Kidcot picture stand, and Mary Poppins is usually there as well.
In Animal Kingdom there is a picture place as well that varies characters, but Mickey or the Pooh friends are the standards.
In the Studios I know of one specific place where Phantasia Mickey is always there taking pictures and most people don't know it's there, so sometimes it's empty. It's near JoJo's trailer, and while most people stop to see JoJo and Goliath, many don't see Mickey. I've gone there and had no one but me, my son and Mickey and his handler there for 10 minutes, and Mickey played with him the whole time.
I've never seen the characters in Downtown Disney that I can remember. And I've only done each water park once, and not recently, so I don't know how often they are there.
...Princess storybook in Norway: Did breakfast. Decent meal, a couple of princess's were hot 
, but the best part was walking through the closed Epcot (for our first view ever of the park) before they opened.
My 6 year old nephew, Jason, who celebrated his birthday in the park, suffice it to say, loved it.
