Is There Still A 800 Number For Booking ?

[goofyintoronto]

I'm wondering just how many people still pay long distance any more. Can't be very many, I'd think. Even my 70+ yo parents have cell phones that call long distance for no charge.

As someone posted, us Canadians still have to pay long distance to call USA. Many plans/carriers in Canada have Canada-wide calling/free calling...but not all!

Being in Canada I don't have unlimited U.S. calling so use a calling card for Disney calls. Cost effective for those 45 minute wait times

Calling cards are great for long distance! I can get one at any variety store/corner store for $5, and it lasts a long long time! I remember last year i called disney and was on hold for about half hour....the cost on my phone bill? $50!!!!!! Truth! I didnt have a calling card at the time unfortunately.

There is a 1-866 number for magical express.

See, thats what I dont understand...why would they have a toll free # for magical express but not for actually booking a trip?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

See, thats what I dont understand...why would they have a toll free # for magical express but not for actually booking a trip?

Because they don't want to pay for all those 45minute calls. Trust me, WDW knows how long the average caller stays on hold, plus the survey at the end.

As long as they aren't paying, they care how long your call takes.

Back when I called the 800 number, waits were shorter.

 

[KittyKitty]

See, thats what I dont understand...why would they have a toll free # for magical express but not for actually booking a trip?

There is no way to book DME online except during the initial reservation online ....at least I can't find it..

 

[AngiTN]

There is no way to book DME online except during the initial reservation online ....at least I can't find it..

Yes there is
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/

Word of advice, it doesn't work in Chrome (at least it hasn't on my past trips)

 

[KittyKitty]

Yes there is
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/airport-transportation-reservation/

Yes!! Thanks

 

[AngiTN]

That stinks about International callers. I actually thought they did have a toll free number to call.

 

[Minniemoo15]

I use this number:

1 (888) 870-9173

It's for tickets and special events, but works great for anything I've needed. If the CM can't answer my request they transfer my call to the right department.

 

[keishashadow]

I'm wondering just how many people still pay long distance any more. Can't be very many, I'd think. Even my 70+ yo parents have cell phones that call long distance for no charge.


LOL.. Your idea of what it costs for a week at Disney and mine are very different. Besides, you have way more than the cost of dues to buying DVC. We've priced it out and no way is it cheaper for us to buy DVC

Different strokes...

it all depends on what time of year, what day of week, type of unit, how many points you bought & how you paid for them (cash or finance), etc. Many spread sheets out there that people have posted that illustrate how DVC worked for them.

We do split trips, if longer than 5 nights as we love staying onsite @ Universal and cruising out of the area, all depends on the amount of time & vacation budget. This track didn't start with purchase of DVC.

bought my first contract (resale) years ago for a little more than what a week @ the poly would've cost us. Cancelled it, stayed @ a value and now thrilled to be able to stay deluxe just for the monthly dues that are automatically deducted from my checking account. Last I looked my yearly dues in total were in the area of 2, maybe 2+ nights of what a studio would cost & we have beefing getting a sweet AP discount for as long as I've been a member.

Btw, if you factor in how much the price of Disney hotels increase each year, I couldn't earn interest to match it on my money.

Have since added on same way both thru DVC direct and resale, little dribs and drabs...all cash...which I scrimped and saved cutting out other entertainment expenses.

Honestly, the very best perk of owning DVC is knowing that my work-a-holic DH got into the habit of committing to a vacation since 'we have to use the points" & he has grown to love WDW as much, if not more, than me.

RE the DVC 800 #, it is appreciated and convenient, but there are times when I do find myself calling the regular Disney #. Spent what seemed like hours booking stuff for F&W lol.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I'm wondering just how many people still pay long distance any more. Can't be very many, I'd think. Even my 70+ yo parents have cell phones that call long distance for no charge.


LOL.. Your idea of what it costs for a week at Disney and mine are very different. Besides, you have way more than the cost of dues to buying DVC. We've priced it out and no way is it cheaper for us to buy DVC

Same here. We go every year for 10 days and almost bought in 2006. But when we priced it out, we couldn't get it to work even close. We just for fun added up what we've spent since and realized that it would have been a HUGE mistake had we bought DVC back then. But then again we discovered that we like moderates better than deluxe. But even had we stayed deluxe, we would not have come out close because we've always got great promos. I remember that being the guys key selling point, that promos weren't guaranteed and DVC was. 10 years later, free dining is still there, and I just stayed at the POLY for less per night than we paid for CBR last year. Discounts are out there-really good ones if you look.

 

[Lothlórien]

I'm wondering just how many people still pay long distance any more. Can't be very many, I'd think. Even my 70+ yo parents have cell phones that call long distance for no charge.


LOL.. Your idea of what it costs for a week at Disney and mine are very different. Besides, you have way more than the cost of dues to buying DVC. We've priced it out and no way is it cheaper for us to buy DVC

LOL and you obviously didn't understand how it works. You cannot calculate food, tickets or airfare in the cost of a hotel as that is something you have to pay for either way. What I paid for my contract (to stay Deluxe) for 48 years is far less than what it costs for me to call CRO and book. 2.5 DVC trips compared to cash stays, to be exact, was the break-even point. And yes, once your contract is paid off, annual dues are all you owe to maintain. If that isnt the case, Disney sure is missing out on extra money from us, because that is all we have paid for years. I pay less than $1000 a year on dues. Good luck staying at a value for a week on that.....much less a Deluxe.

 

[AngiTN]

LOL and you obviously didn't understand how it works. You cannot calculate food, tickets or airfare in the cost of a hotel as that is something you have to pay for either way. What I paid for my contract (to stay Deluxe) for 48 years is far less than what it costs for me to call CRO and book. 2.5 DVC trips compared to cash stays, to be exact, was the break-even point. And yes, once your contract is paid off, annual dues are all you owe to maintain. If that isnt the case, Disney sure is missing out on extra money from us, because that is all we have paid for years. I pay less than $1000 a year on dues. Good luck staying at a value for a week on that.....much less a Deluxe.

And that is why DVC isn't good for some people. You can't just ignore the cost it takes to buy the contract. It must be factored in.
I understand exactly how it works. Of course you only compare room costs.
Great it's good for you. Just because it works for you doesn't mean it works for all and just because it doesn't work for me doesn't mean it doesn't work for anyone. I'm sure it does. DVC is great for those that want it. I have nothing against it at all.
Fact is, it doesn't save everyone money.
And I've never stayed more than a single night following a late arrival in a Value resort.
Still cheaper to not buy DVC for us.
Key being, for us.

 

[bigmac5]

This is the number I use all the time. I am from Canada. 1-888-939-7376. I used it the other day to talk to a CM about the Canadian discount. and a couple days before that for an airline screw-up I made.