Hiya Elisabeth!
Welcome to planDisney! Walt Disney World Resort in January traditionally tends to be a great time to visit the Parks because the crowds on average are lower and the weather is cool. However, over the years I have found that the secret is out and it's not as empty as one would assume. The
EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is probably going to be in full swing during your visit yet you will just miss
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, running January 3 to 7, 2024.
As you may already know, guests can start making
dining reservations 60 days before the desired dining date. If you are staying onsite at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel then you not only can book 60 days from when you check-in but up 10 days into your trip. This gives guests staying on-site an advantage in securing some hard-to-get reservations. I have seen that no matter what time of year certain highly coveted restaurants such as
Cinderella's Royal Table and
Space 220 Restaurant tend to book quickly. Your 60-day reservation window begins on November 16, 2023. Even if you are not sure about your plans I would consider making a reservation or two for the meals you want to ensure you get them. Most dining reservations have a cancellation policy where you must cancel at least 2 hours before the reservation to avoid any fees. This gives you time to make changes as needed over the next few months until you arrive without penalty. Always read the
cancellation fine print as there are a few reservations that do not allow for modifications or have an earlier cancellation period.
I love taking a break in my day with midday dining reservations while in the Parks and find that the lunch menu is almost identical to the dinner menu at most restaurants in the Parks. I just glanced at the menus for
Be Our Guest Restaurant,
Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, and
The Plaza Restaurant which are located in Magic Kingdom Park, and found their Lunch and Dinner entrees to be the same. All menus are available online for you to peruse so you can make the best decisions for your family. Find what interests you and will be enjoyed by your whole family!
I mentioned earlier that you are arriving during the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Details have not come out for this event yet but I would keep an eye out on the
Disney Parks Blog for their foodie guide. There are so many Food Studios that it can get overwhelming to decide what to eat. The foodie guide is perfect for pre-planning and I hope you get a chance to explore all the dishes. No reservations are needed and festival food is available most of the day during EPCOT operating hours.
I hope this was helpful and if you have any more questions please feel free to come back and let us know! We are glad to help!
Happy Planning!
-Nimmy