[MitchInVA]

I thought I was prepared, thanks to this site and the helpful suggestions in the "Unofficial Guide" and the very useful pscalculator.net.

I had the atomic clock ticking away on my computer. The phone in one hand ready to dial. My credit card waiting on the desk in front of me. I had memorized the buttons to push if I got through, to bypass the taped messages: 1 2 1 1 ...

6:55:00 on the atomic clock. Dialed in, heard the man's voice telling me they are closed and to call back later. Hit 1 anyway; of course nothing happened. Hung up, but happy to have the number in my phone's memory, so I only have to hit 'redial.' Ready to roll!


And then, of course, the UNEXPECTED happened.


6:58:51. Tension building. My finger itched. I hit redial - 'oh no -- too early!' I thought. 'Better hang up - the book said 6:59:50 is the time! Those 19 seconds could ruin everything!' Hesitation ...

And like before, a man's voice began talking.

Thank you for calling Walt Dis...

But wait - is that a different voice than before? Warmer in tone? Yes, definitely different. Could I be through?

I push 1 ... but the voice continues:

We are experiencing very high call volume at this time...

I push 1, again. And 2. And 1211, but nothing is letting me bypass the recording! 1 again, 2 again. Why won't he stop???

Please visit our website ...

What?! NO! It's now 6:59:37! I can't redial now! It's too late! The atomic clock glares at me, screaming with the contrast of bold black numbers on that harsh white background ... I can almost hear them pounding TICK TOCK TICK TOCK, BOOM BOOM BOOM!

And then, the voice stops ...

I hear the wind blowing cold outside. Otherwise, there is silence.

Silence upstairs where the children sleep, perhaps dreaming of breakfast in a castle...

Silence on the screen before me, as the atomic clock tracks the seconds fleeting by...

And silence on the telephone line.

No "Press 1 to continue."
No "Leave a message at the beep."
Not even a "Please hang up and try again later."

Just painful, lonely, silence ...

6:59:47

My mind spirals. My shoulders shrug. In a move of final desperation, I hit the number 1 on my phone, just to see ...

For dining reservations, press

1.

If you have been to WDW before, press 1. If not, press

2!

Hello, my name is

"Good morning! I'd like to make a reservation for ..."



Yep, got it!

:D


__________________________
Epilogue:

"Guess what, darling daughter! This morning I made a reservation for breakfast with Cinderella in her castle!"

But Daddy, I don't think I want to do that ...

:nooo: :nooo: :nooo: :nooo: :nooo: