Hello there, Vincent!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with your question about one of my family's favorite character dining experiences at Disney World. The twinkling, enchanted forest atmosphere alone is enough to want to return again and again. Your visit will be here in a jiffy, so let's get right into what you need to know.
You are more than welcome to visit any Disney World Resort hotel without staying there or having a dining reservation; however, driving there may not be the best way to do it. When you pull up to the Wilderness Lodge's security gate, you will be asked if you have a reservation. Tell them that your intention is to join the walk-up list for
Story Book Dining at Artist Point. From there, you are totally at the security guard's discretion for being allowed to self-park. You could also be given a time limit for how long you can park your vehicle there.
The surest ways to get there is by using a rideshare (like the
Minnie Van by Lyft) or taking complimentary transportation from
Caribbean Beach to a theme park and then to
Wilderness Lodge. Caribbean Beach is my go-to Disney World hotel and I love having access to both the
Disney Skyliner and buses. Perhaps take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then transfer to a water taxi bound for Wilderness Lodge.
AN EXTRA GEM: You can join a walk-up list via the
My Disney Experience app, but you have to be close enough to the entrance to get a spot in line. As you get closer to the restaurant, keep checking the app to see if you can get the ball rolling virtually. Also, keep checking for actual reservations all the way up to your desired dining time--seating times open up all the time because of last-minute cancellations.
I'm sending a sprinkle of pixie dust your way, Vincent. I think that you're going to have an amazing time dining with the Queen, and of course, Snow White. If you have additional questions, please
reach out to us here at planDisney. Like Dopey--I'm all ears!
Magic always,
LeAndra