Hi Laura,
Welcome back to planDisney! I'm happy to help with your question about visiting
Wilderness Lodge.
I love your plan for a visit with your friends. My husband and I are spending a week at Wilderness Lodge in December, and I'm already thinking about an evening nestled in
Territory Lounge with a flatbread, a charcuterie board and a beverage.
As you know,
parking at the resorts generally is reserved for guests of the resort and those with dining reservations there. Admission of other guests' vehicles for shopping, exploring or visiting a lounge or eatery that doesn't take reservations is based on capacity and the discretion of the cast member at the entrance.
Parking is most restricted during the holidays and special events, especially at resorts on the monorail and Skyliner routes, which Wilderness Lodge is not. I would suggest that your guests let the cast member at the entrance know that they are meeting a registered guest, give your name and room number and politely ask if they can enter for a short period. In my experience, that has seldom been a problem.
I'd also suggest you check with Guest Services at the resort the day before your friends plan to visit you to see if they foresee any issue. They should know if there's an event or other reason parking may be even more restricted.
If you decide to look for an alternative meeting place, I can suggest a few that offer similar experiences at
Disney Springs, where parking is free and open to the general public, restricted only by capacity. We like the cozy, rathskeller ambiance of
Enzo's Hideaway, the subtle sense of adventure at
Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar, and the rooftop oasis of
Paddlefish.
I hope that helps, Laura. Please check back with us any time if you have more questions about planning your October visit or Disney vacations in the future.
Enjoy,
Wilma