Hey there Robyn
Welcome to planDisney and thank you for your question! I'm thrilled to hear that you're planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth after the start of the year - you're going to have so much fun!
Unfortunately, from my experience, it can be pretty difficult to get
dining reservations for the
Blue Bayou Restaurant as it is one of the most popular places to eat. Having said that, I would still recommend continuing to check to see if any reservations open up as you get closer to the dates of your visit.
Keep in mind as well that even if you aren't able to get dining reservations, you may still have some luck utilizing the Mobile Dine Walk-Up list when you're on-site during your trip! You can access this feature through the restaurant's page in the Disneyland Resort mobile app. This has been what I've used to get a spot at the Blue Bayou Restaurant and a few other popular spots around the parks in recent visits and it's been really helpful!
I am happy to report, however, that the pirates have thankfully not plundered the Blue Bayou Restaurant and they remain committed to their pirate's life in the
Pirates of the Caribbean attraction nearby!
Thanks again for your question, Robyn. I wish you luck in securing your reservation at the Blue Bayou Restaurant and hope you have a wonderful visit to the Disneyland Resort.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg