Small Perks Disappearing

[RobDoc]

Yeah, the discounts have always been a great source for confusion. The only store discount for DVC members has been TDS- but WOD is not/has never been part of the TDS chain. There have been discounts at the DD stores thru AMEX and especially thru "Magic Kingdom Club" in the past - but those have also been discontinued or cut back (MKC is not even in existence any longer). DVC has never had any discounts at most DD stores. There are a few, limited, scattered discounts at places like Ghirardelli's and a couple of others - but most have never had DVC discounts.

As several have noted, the best method is to have all of your possibilities in hand and just ask the clerk/server which will provide the best discount for you. Some that don't accept the DVC have still extended it when asked- so it never hurts to ask.

Enjoy!

 

[bpmorley]

As several have noted, the best method is to have all of your possibilities in hand and just ask the clerk/server which will provide the best discount for you. Some that don't accept the DVC have still extended it when asked- so it never hurts to ask.

Enjoy!

That's exactly what we did. We had our wedding dinner at Fultons. There were 11 of us and it was around $900. Whichever card the waiter took made the meal come out to less that $700.

 

[Anjelica]

The AP discount is a Great Perk. In May, we were in a restaurant at Fort Wilderness. We didn't want that meal to be our Table Service meal, it was lunch and pretty inexpensive for Disney. I put all the cards on the table and asked the waiter, Which one will get me the best discount? We were new members, we had the AP, Disney Visa, Membership card, Disney Dining card for the 20% discount at certain locations. Truthfully, I can't remember which one he picked but I knew that I had to have a discount in that pile of cards.

Never thought of this but makes sense (laying the cards out). Kind of like poker.....

 

[RobDoc]

Never thought of this but makes sense (laying the cards out). Kind of like poker.....

Yeah- just go "All In" and see what happens!

 

[Delaware Mike]

While we don't have to dial 10 disgits here, in TX, my home phone has been billed this "local long distance" fee even just dailing the 7 digits like a regular local call. I asked the phone company (SBC/ATT) just how we are supposed to know if newer exchanges not listed in the phone book are local or long distance...there reply was there is no way...too bad.
[/i]"

...uh...wrong.

I've worked in the Telecommunications industry for a Local Exchange Carrier for over 20 years, and I know the local phone company (in your case, SBC) must distinguish between local calls, local toll and long distance. Local company operations are regulated, and the local carriers file tariffs with the local Public Service Commissions outlining every charge they levy against customers and how those charges apply. This applies to Buena Vista Telephone as well...the local provider at WDW.

Now, concerning the charges for "on-property" calls to DVC folks at WDW...

Disney has their own telecommunications network/system for all of their call centers, resort phone services (for both backstage/CMs and guests), phone service throughout the theme parks and water parks, et cetera. Inexpensive technology has existed for YEARS, to connect telecommunications systems to each other, as well as to the local carriers. And with the influx of Convergence technology (i. e., Voice over IP) voice service and its interconnection gets even cheaper. Disney's buying power is incredibly high, so they buy and maintain these systems (including the interconnecting circuits from Buena Vista and the long distance carriers) at incredibly cheap prices.

Disney's systems (like everyone else) route calls based on the complete number dialed or maybe only the first six digits (like 407-xxx). Based upon what's dialed, calls are routed to specific circuits...which can also be private in nature. In other words, Disney can have (and if they don't they should hire me to show them how to do this <lol>) circuits connected to the phone system at OKW to, say, route calls to the phone system for ADRs. These circuits are flat-rated (no per minute charges), can handle a large number of calls, and are extremely inexpensive. Oh, and these circuits are needed to support their "business" as well, so they won't be installing them for only guest use.

Disney might claim it takes money to maintain and power these systems, yet they need to do it anyway to support their business...and they pay inexpensive rates too. The amount of usage by DVC members calling another Disney group is negligible compared to CM "business" usage.

So, why Disney would charge its DVC members for a call to another Disney company within WDW is beyond me. The cost is next to nothing so the $0.25/$0.50/$0.75 they charge DVC members/guests/whomever is almost all profit.

 

[Chuck S]

You can quote regs all you like. I have dialed a 7 digit number within our area code and was billed long distance. I wrote to our PUC and SBC (now ATT) with a copy of the bill. The response I got was "local long distance" just as I stated.

I was still able to dial the 7 digits YESTERDAY, it went through just as a local call. We'll see if I get billed long distance again. It is a new exchange in New Braunfels. New Braunfels has always been long distance, but we've have never been able to dial it without 1-830-xxx-xxxx before. This new exchange WE CAN.

 

[Delaware Mike]

You can quote regs all you like. I have dialed a 7 digit number within our area code and was billed long distance. I wrote to our PUC and SBC (now ATT) with a copy of the bill. The response I got was "local long distance" just as I stated.

I was still able to dial the 7 digits YESTERDAY, it went through just as a local call. We'll see if I get billed long distance again. It is a new exchange in New Braunfels. New Braunfels has always been long distance, but we've have never been able to dial it without 1-830-xxx-xxxx before. This new exchange WE CAN.

Sorry Chuck....I guess I should have said you were "wronged".

I stand by the balance of the information I posted.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Mike is right about how those things work. It is always hard for me to understand calling areas in Florida, because here in the MPLs/St.Paut metro area, we can call across 3 area codes and still have it be a local/no additional charge call. I'm sure there are other areas in the country like that, but central Florida isn't one of them.

 

[CarolMN]

Mike is right about how those things work. It is always hard for me to understand calling areas in Florida, because here in the MPLs/St.Paut metro area, we can call across 3 area codes and still have it be a local/no additional charge call. I'm sure there are other areas in the country like that, but central Florida isn't one of them.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul has the largest local call / free calling area in the country. We had to go to 10 digit calling (3 area codes) because there weren't going to be enough numbers in one area code to handle all the demand. Going to more than one area code did not change what was considered long distance here. There are some numbers in the "newer" area codes that are still considered long distance and are charged accordingly.

Best wishes -

 

[drakethib]

Basically we carry our DVC cards, AP's and our Disney Visa. Almost every place down there takes at least one of these for a discount.

Yep.

we do the same.

works well.

 

[drakethib]

You can quote regs all you like. I have dialed a 7 digit number within our area code and was billed long distance. I wrote to our PUC and SBC (now ATT) with a copy of the bill. The response I got was "local long distance" just as I stated.

I was still able to dial the 7 digits YESTERDAY, it went through just as a local call. We'll see if I get billed long distance again. It is a new exchange in New Braunfels. New Braunfels has always been long distance, but we've have never been able to dial it without 1-830-xxx-xxxx before. This new exchange WE CAN.

Hey Chuck.

Port Arthur to Beaumont (about 12 miles or so)

LONG DISTANCE

Texas has a crazy phone system. Thank the Lord for Vonage !!!

Woo Hoo Woo Hoo Hoo !!!

 

[unixadm]

I don't think I've picked up a hotel phone in years. I have a cell phone with plenty of included minutes. I just use my cell phone. No worries about unexpected charges on my phone bill. Other than at Disney, where I charge all of our purchases and meals on our room, I don't even have any extra charges...just the room charges.

I agree that it would be nice if Disney made local calls free to all guests...hey, even the cheapest of hotels outside of the park advertise free local calls....but it really doesn't bother me that they don't....I just don't give them the extra money.