Hiya Larry,
Welcome back to planDisney. Oh boy! Not too much longer and you will be on your way to
Walt Disney World Resort. You should find lower crowd levels in January, since most kids have returned to school, and the 50th Anniversary celebration will still be in full swing, so you have picked a fantastic time to visit.
I think we were all thrilled when
Fantasmic! made its return a few weeks ago. I am anxiously counting the days to our upcoming visit as it has been far too long since I have enjoyed this nighttime extravaganza. The Fantasmic! Dining Package is always my preferred way to enjoy this event as we can schedule a delicious meal at one of five Disney's Hollywood Studios' restaurants, plus we get VIP seating for the show that evening. So typically
advanced dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance, however with the recent return of this event and dining package, the reservation window has been a little different, and I do know that initially they were only taking reservations through the end of December.
I did just try and make a Fantasmic! Dining Package reservation for January, and while the dates are appearing on the calendar for the 60 day window, I was not able to find available seating times for any of the dates I selected. Everything I see and have been told by the Cast Members indicates the packages will still be available, however I do not have any information on whether the packages are already booked or simply have not been opened up yet. Therefore, I have two suggestions. You can either continue to check for
availability on
My Disney Experience Account, or what I would do, is
reach out to a Cast Member and see if they have access to openings not yet shown online, or have information on whether the packages are taken or when they may become available.
I know that is not the answer you had hoped for and I wish I could share a more detailed response, but that is the information currently available. Don't forget, the good news is you can still enjoy this amazing show without a dining package, you will just want to make sure that you are in line in time to access the available seating. If I can help with any additional questions, I hope you will stop back and
see me.
Wishing you a magical vacation!
Margaret