arnold%audiofax.com@mathcs.emory.edu (Arnold Robbins) (03/07/91)
My wife and I spent several (wonderful!) days at Walt Disney World last week. While there, I happened to notice the pay phones in Disney World and Epcot. The local phone company is Vista-United Telecom, which I believe is actually just Disney's private phone system. All the pay phones have pictures of a smiling Mickey Mouse on them. Rates and dialing instructions were clearly marked. It was also clear that long distance was carried by AT&T and they gave an 800 number to call for rate information. Of great interest was that there was a note to the effect of "You are entitled to use the long distance carrier of your choice. For more information, write to the FCC at ..." and some post office box in Washington D.C. While undoubtedly every pay phone at Disney and Epcot are COCOTs in the strict sense, I doubt very highly that they pull any kind of stunt or block any kind of long distance carrier. The only call I made on one was to Delta's frequent flyer 800 number to check on our flight. The phone was dial-tone first; I didn't even deposit a quarter to make the 800 call. Of course, at our hotel, things were different. A mandatory $1.50 per day charge for unlimited local calls, long distance at the billed rate (for US Sprint) plus around 40%, no access to our MCI 950-xxxx number. The 800 number did work, and we weren't billed for it, so calling our folks didn't cost us anything extra. I wasn't suprised to find the 950-xxxx number blocked. I just found it interesting; Disney is apparently a small independent telco, just like many others. Arnold Robbins AudioFAX, Inc. | Laundry increases 2000 Powers Ferry Road, #200 / Marietta, GA. 30067 | exponentially in the INTERNET: arnold@audiofax.com Phone: +1 404 933 7612 | number of children. UUCP: emory!audfax!arnold Fax-box: +1 404 618 4581 | -- Miriam Robbins
ho@hoss.unl.edu (Tiny Bubbles...) (03/08/91)
In <telecom11.183.10@eecs.nwu.edu> arnold%audiofax.com@mathcs. emory.edu (Arnold Robbins) writes: [Disney World has lots of benign COCOT's.] > The only call I made on one was to Delta's frequent > flyer 800 number to check on our flight. The phone was dial-tone > first; I didn't even deposit a quarter to make the 800 call. OF COURSE IT WORKED. DELTA AIRLINES IS THE OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF DISNEY WORLD AND DISNEYLAND. Try calling United and the phone would have asked for five bucks in pennies. <toothy grin> As for the 950 numbers: A lot of places still don't seem to accept them (the University of Nebraska's Centrex included). It ain't right, but it's the sad truth. Michael Ho, University of Nebraska Internet: ho@hoss.unl.edu Disclaimer: Views expressed within are purely personal and should not be applied to any university agency.
john@uunet.uu.net (John Temples) (03/08/91)
In article <telecom11.183.10@eecs.nwu.edu> arnold@audiofax.com writes: > While undoubtedly every pay phone at Disney and Epcot are COCOTs in > the strict sense, I doubt very highly that they pull any kind of stunt > or block any kind of long distance carrier. I recently went out to the Disney/MGM studios to meet a friend who works there for lunch. I went to the pay phone closest to his office, deposited my quarter, and dialed his number. The LCD display requested I deposit an additional $2.40 -- to call a number on the same exchange located a few hundred feet away! I hung up, called the operator, and told her what happened. She put my call through without question. I have no idea if they normally charge $2.65 for local calls, or that was just a fluke. John W. Temples -- john@jwt.UUCP (uunet!jwt!john)