Well this really bites and I'm more than a bit upset with WDW!

[eeyoregon]

No no....I have no plan on the land line eeyore! I do have a plan on the cell but because our reception is much clearer on the land line I used that, not thinking about the fact that we didn't have the plan anymore. I blew it but again, I still think WDW should have 800 lines. mho.....

Oh, I get it now!

They certainly need their ADR system to be online!! Come on it's 2008 and they still make you call to reserve a dining venue??

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Thanks for the 800 number. Just used it to add my 10th anniversary note to my ressies. Surprisingy they picked up almost immediately! I normally use my mobile phone (free after 9pm and on weekends) to call WDW but I always wait, sometime upwards to an hour for someone to pick up the phone! (No matter when I call!) It's a real pain! And most of you know how hot a mobile phone gets when it's in use for quite some time!

 

[theparsons]

Me thinks OPs anger is misplaced....you should be mad at your ridiculously high long distance rates...or at whomever chose your long distance plan. i live three times asfar from WDW as OP and even when I have mistakenly used the landline it has never been more than a dollar or two..Nd that was the time I was on the phone for an hour trying to fix a mixup with 20+ ADRs the CM had put in the wrong month!

 

[madalex]

No one has yet suggested the most (to me) obvious reason. It's entirely possible, even probable, with the diversification of Disney, that Disney also owns the phone company there, or at least a significant portion of its stock. Therefore, charging the guest money to make the reservation is just a source of revenue. Having a toll-free number could cost the company twice! Once for the call, once for the loss of phone revenue.

They have their own power company.
They have their own deputized police force.
They have a closed sanitation system (completely independent of Orlando's or any other municipality).
They are an incorporated "city" that can set laws and taxes within its borders.
Why wouldn't they also have their own telephone company?

It is neither possible nor probable that Disney owns the phone company. The OP was being charged by his phone company, not Disney, for making long distance calls. If Disney owned a significant chunk of any of the major phone companies, it would be public knowledge.

 

[mskayjay]

Me thinks OPs anger is misplaced....you should be mad at your ridiculously high long distance rates...or at whomever chose your long distance plan. i live three times asfar from WDW as OP and even when I have mistakenly used the landline it has never been more than a dollar or two..Nd that was the time I was on the phone for an hour trying to fix a mixup with 20+ ADRs the CM had put in the wrong month!

No I'm annoyed that a huge company like Disney doesn't feel their customers should have an 800 to use for calls even AFTER they have confirmed reservations, I'm annoyed at myself for not thinking it through and remembering we took the plan off (but remodeling a kitchen and living like we have been these last few months can do that to you! lol), and I'm frustrated with how long it takes to get through to make reservations in general. Yes, I know.....people will call no matter what and they have no competition so they do as they please. Doesn't make it right in my book.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

I just called the posted 800 number and it works!!!!
I hope that they do not change it anytime soon!
You might want to check with your cell company, most have free long distance or nation wide calling.
Have a great trip!

They will change it, because it is out now, and they will be overrun with phone calls.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

They will change it, because it is out now, and they will be overrun with phone calls.

They'll probably do another one and someone else will leak it out! I know some excellent Disney secrets and by golly I won't ever tell a soul. Call me selfish but I want to keep all the good stuff to myself! If everyone finds out it wont be special anymore!

BTW when I called today I got the same ol same ol recording you always go through when you call 407 W....the only difference was they answered within 20 seconds. When I call from my phone I have to wait sometimes an hour for them to talk to me!

 

[disneybride96]

AT&T will sell you nationwide flat rate long distance for $20/month. For us it is well worth it.

Yeah...really it is your phone/cell company you should be upset with. I can't imagine not having a nationwide long distance plan.

 

[boardom]

I gotta chuckle at people who say WDW should provide an 800-number "because they can afford it." Personally, I think the airline should take me to WDW for free - after all, they're going there anyway!!

Anyway...I have made almost all my WDW calls from work using a onesuite "calling card" (www.onesuite.com) - I had a pretty similar # of calls to the OP and spent about $5.

 

[choirfarm]

Hi OP.. Listen guys she admitted her mistake, but I totally understand how it can happen. I'm glad the 800 number still worked when I did mine. I have cell phone service but like her mine did not work at my house. No reception unless I stand outside on my head... and even then it didn't always work. We had a long distance plan on our phone, but it wasn't used except on rare occasions. Who wants to fork out over 20 dollars a month and never use it. We did that for months and months. When we changed cell phone providers that had reception out here, we dropped our land long distance, so now my rates are like hers. The only way to get the plan is to get the monthly charge so now my rates are like 20 cents a minute or some other ungodly amount. So I HAVE to remember to use my cell. I've actually picked up the phone and then put it down. I can completely understand that she forgot or didn't understand exactly what the charge would be. The phone companies have the monopoly, though as it cost me 30 dollars or something to take off the long distance plan. GRR>> I hate at & t.

Christine

 

[rantnnravin]

Hi OP.. Listen guys she admitted her mistake, but I totally understand how it can happen. I'm glad the 800 number still worked when I did mine. I have cell phone service but like her mine did not work at my house. No reception unless I stand outside on my head... and even then it didn't always work. We had a long distance plan on our phone, but it wasn't used except on rare occasions. Who wants to fork out over 20 dollars a month and never use it. We did that for months and months. When we changed cell phone providers that had reception out here, we dropped our land long distance, so now my rates are like hers. The only way to get the plan is to get the monthly charge so now my rates are like 20 cents a minute or some other ungodly amount. So I HAVE to remember to use my cell. I've actually picked up the phone and then put it down. I can completely understand that she forgot or didn't understand exactly what the charge would be. The phone companies have the monopoly, though as it cost me 30 dollars or something to take off the long distance plan. GRR>> I hate at & t.

Christine

Exactly. Look at it this way, OP, you paid them for the months you didn't have LD leading up to this series of calls. So, you spent what you saved and for the same purpose. It's a wash.

 

[mskayjay]

Exactly. Look at it this way, OP, you paid them for the months you didn't have LD leading up to this series of calls. So, you spent what you saved and for the same purpose. It's a wash.

Quote:
Originally Posted by choirfarm
Hi OP.. Listen guys she admitted her mistake, but I totally understand how it can happen. I'm glad the 800 number still worked when I did mine. I have cell phone service but like her mine did not work at my house. No reception unless I stand outside on my head... and even then it didn't always work. We had a long distance plan on our phone, but it wasn't used except on rare occasions. Who wants to fork out over 20 dollars a month and never use it. We did that for months and months. When we changed cell phone providers that had reception out here, we dropped our land long distance, so now my rates are like hers. The only way to get the plan is to get the monthly charge so now my rates are like 20 cents a minute or some other ungodly amount. So I HAVE to remember to use my cell. I've actually picked up the phone and then put it down. I can completely understand that she forgot or didn't understand exactly what the charge would be. The phone companies have the monopoly, though as it cost me 30 dollars or something to take off the long distance plan. GRR>> I hate at & t.

Christine


Thank you both! Christine you get exactly what I did! lol But I still want that 800 number dang it! Appreciate your calm responses.

Hey rant, how's life on the Island? I was born and raised a bit east of where you are and really miss it. I live north of Syracuse now and to say it is a bit of a "change" is understating it!

 

[rantnnravin]

Quote:


Hey rant, how's life on the Island? I was born and raised a bit east of where you are and really miss it. I live north of Syracuse now and to say it is a bit of a "change" is understating it!

could be better... could be florida
how far east?
I'm Wm Floyd class of 86

 

[Step]

I use skype. Unlimited US & Canada $2.95/month

skype.com

I just plug a microphone from the dollar store and a pair of head phones and I'm ready to make my calls. Did all my reservations that way. Didn't cost me an extra cent above $2.95 / mth

 

[PatriciaH]

It is neither possible nor probable that Disney owns the phone company. The OP was being charged by his phone company, not Disney, for making long distance calls. If Disney owned a significant chunk of any of the major phone companies, it would be public knowledge.

Actually Disney did have their own phone company Vista United/Smart City for years. They sold it not too long ago but we are stuck with them here in Celebration. We got Vonage instead.

http://www.smartcity.com/about/about_history3.asp

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Guess it was possible and probable as earlier suggested!

 

[mskayjay]

could be better... could be florida
how far east?
I'm Wm Floyd class of 86

Southampton Class of '79 Miss it terrible. Came up here to go to university and married a local. "Little" bit different than the Island! lol

 

[SleepyatDVC]

No no....I have no plan on the land line eeyore! I do have a plan on the cell but because our reception is much clearer on the land line I used that, not thinking about the fact that we didn't have the plan anymore. I blew it but again, I still think WDW should have 800 lines. mho.....

I have cut off my long distance plans on both my home and my work numbers. Everyone had a cell phone and we never used the landlines - much less the landlines for LD calls.

But I hear you about the reception issues. For important calls or long wait times, I do prefer to use a landline.

FYI, not just for Disney (if the 800 goes bye-bye again), but for those with no LD plans because you hardly make any LD calls or because you have a cell phone, check out onesuite.com.

You have to prepay for the minutes but $20 lasts for MONTHS and we can pre-program several numbers (my #, parents, office, etc.) so that you can all share the same minutes. It's very convenient and CHEAP for those ocassional LD calls not made from our cells.

HTH.

 

[Beca]

Verizon charges us $5.00 a month for unlimited long distance anywhere in the US and Canada.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

No I'm annoyed that a huge company like Disney doesn't feel their customers should have an 800 to use for calls even AFTER they have confirmed reservations.

1) This is the best reason for no 1-800 line.
2) People use 1-800 to SELL product.
3) Calling after you "bought" a ressie is just added cost.
4) With no benefit to Disney.
5) Each line could cost $60,000-$80,000 per year, times 100-200 lines.
6) Why make everyone share these costs?
7) If I make a ressie with just one call, should I pay for you added calls?