Link directories are generally full of outbound links and you know that the more outbount links a site or a page has - the less is its effect on the linked sites. So instead of focusing blasting through thousands of low quality pages in directories, I would suggest ot focus only on the quality ones and manually enter a unique description and title.
I have Authority websites, and I do Directory submission manually to relevant niche directories. Actually to top 10 directories to my niche with different description to all of them. I got good results from it, not only directories even to other places. Do them manually and do care about what you put and what you post. Do not be lazy. Do it properly with different pages to different description. Google never said they do not like all the online Directories, if we post on directories we get negative result, so it is well worth on publishing on top quality Directories to get some presence online. Thank you take care
Submitting links in directories still work, but you should do it on quality websites with better rankings.