For CRT - you have got to treat this like getting tickets to the biggest concert to ever, and I mean ever, hit your city. You need to be on the phone 2 min before the phone lines open starting to dial,and then redial, and then redial, and then redial until you get through. You need to double team it so you can get through, my DH goes on his cell and I use the home phone. You need to sike yourself out like saying "I can do this, I am better than all those other callers and I'm going to get through!!!" You need to make yourself as crazy as everybody else, maybe even crazier.
Can you tell I have done this before. We have gotten PS for CRT twice and this year will be #3 and I am already pumping myself up. I have my 90 days counted and I am going to kick some serious bootie when I make the call in June!!!!!
Wow, I think I am working up a sweat just thinking about it

In all seriousness though....the first year I tried to get in a failed at my first attempt because I didn't have this attitude. I began to panic because I promised DD that she would absolutly eat in the castle. So the next day I pumped myself up, got on the phone at 5:58am and got through and got the PS's - afterward I was so stressed out I could of used a drink, but it was to early so I choose coffee instead
Good luck - You can do it!!!!
Oh...just a sidenote. I would not count on getting into the castle by asking at the podium. Everytime we have gone, there are familys at the podium with their little girls in tears because they can not get into the castle. In fact, when you make your PS's you will need to pay for it at that time because they have had problems with people buying tickets and then scalping them. So...don't try the podium it will not work for you. I hope this all helps.
