Phoning Disney Direct

[hildasmuriel]

Just had my phone bill and I see that it cost me over £3 in phone bills just to book my next holiday over the phone (well, actually the next but one...but still). It was a really simple booking. This hotel, 2 people, these dates, no travel, no extras, no meals....just straight forward booking. Why does it take so blooming long to book with Disney? It seems like their computers are powered by hamsters - they say "one moment, ma'am and I'll check availablility" and then loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong pause, then more leeeeeeeeeeeeeengthy pauses before they finally give you a quote. {end of seething}

I know, I know, in the big scheme of things £3 is nothing, but I'm just saying.... I think it should be a Freephone number if they are going to be so slooooooooooow.

 

[mulan1]

that is an expensive phone call!

 

[tennisfan]

For future reference, you can try googling some comapins that you dial a prefix before the number and the cost of the calls are cheaper

But that was an expensive call, couldn't it have been booked online?

 

[Cyrano]

But that was an expensive call, couldn't it have been booked online?

I guess the problem with booking on-line is that Disney take the total cost of the holiday off immediately. Rather than when you phone you initially only pay 10% deposit and pay the balance later

 

[tennisfan]

I guess the problem with booking on-line is that Disney take the total cost of the holiday off immediately. Rather than when you phone you initially only pay 10% deposit and pay the balance later

Didn't think of that as I have always booked close to the departure date therefore having to pay for the whole trip in one go.

 

[loobymiss]

Also, if you book online you can't pay by debit card either.

 

[kevankiki]

What number did you call out of interest? If it was a 0870 one, then this would be charged at national rate, and during the day is something like 8p a minute.

I recently got through on 0844 800 8222, which I believe to be a local rate call, so hopefully this would work out cheaper?

 

[hildasmuriel]

I was phoning on the 0870 number - it would be much better on a local rate.
I thought I couldn't book online because I wanted room only and shareholders discount. Is it possible to do that online?
I did actually pay in full as I can't bear the thought of missing the payment deadline if I paid only a deposit.

 

[kevankiki]

You are right, you have to phone them if you're looking for room only prices, with discounts.

You can set it up so that they take payment from the same card on the due date though. Also, if you later decide that you want them to take it from a different card, like I did, then you can phone them up and change it. Plus, they don't charge a fee if you use a credit card, like some travel agents do!

 

[tennisfan]

I think they should look at making it possible to get discounts & room only when booking online as it is so straight forward.

 

[poppie123]

Just checked my phone bill and i made a call to Disney at 9.19am on the 0870 05 030303 number, call duration 15mins 36 sec total cost 0.85p.

Not sure how come the cost of my call was so cheap, i thought it was going to cost me a fortune. !!

 

[kevankiki]

You got me curious too, so I checked my phone bill:

2 calls made to the 0870 number (4th January), 10 mins and 12 mins, 58p and 69p respectively (works out at 5.75p per minute)

A call made to 0844 number, 30 mins, £1.33 (works out at about 4.5p per minute).

I assumed 0844 was a local call rate, but now I am not so sure, BT seem to file it as 'other calls'

 

[stevelamb121]

There is a website called say no to 0870, where you can look up alternative numbers to dial

May help a little if they have another number to dial

 

[kevankiki]

There is a website called say no to 0870, where you can look up alternative numbers to dial

May help a little if they have another number to dial

They don't, I already tried that