We also started calling five minutes ahead. We had our home phone and our two cells going. The first day we were one hold foe over two minutes and didn't get anything. On our second day, one cell got thru right at 6:58 and I was speaking to a CM within a few seconds. The funny thing was the DH still dailed the other phones and they were getting the closed message. So I was able to get my ressies. The nicest part was that the day we got the ressies is for my birthday.
After this experience, I believe it is fate, luck and pixie dust!