Hi Joshua, and welcome to planDisney!
Visiting
Walt Disney World Resort with friends can improve the visit because you can experience it all as a group.
Unfortunately, the 30-minute
early theme park entry benefit is exclusively for guests staying at Disney Resort hotels and select other hotels. This benefit only includes those guests that are listed on your resort reservation. If the off-site resort your friends are staying at is listed on the Participating Hotels list, they can also take advantage of these benefits. The participating hotels list hotels such as Holiday Inn Orlando, Waldorf Astoria Orlando, and more.
While your friends cannot
park at your resort to visit the theme parks with you, they are free to visit you at your resort with complimentary standard self-parking while enjoying select dining, shopping, catching up with you, etc. I recommend having your friends park at the theme park you plan to visit and have them meet you there. I hope this helps.
We are here if you have additional questions.
Have a magical time!
Raquel