As a repeat guest, Disney's going to have to work harder to get me.

[keishashadow]

I love the idea of a loyalty pin code!!
We recently cancelled our April WDW trip, and had thought about booking for August instead but have been holding off. The prices have been increasing, and the randomness of the pin codes just makes us feel that Disney really doesn't care about their loyal, repeat guests!
I realize they are first and foremost a profit-making entity and do not owe us anything, but I think it would be nice to have some sort of loyalty perk or program.
We still love Disney, but have been disappointed lately!

basically what the bounceback is

fyi, my DS is @ WDW now, they sent him an email today, offering him 35% off room only on moderates for most dates up to the end of the year as long as he booked before he left but not calling it a bounceback promotion.

 

[dltnboz3mom]

We just spent a week in Disney in January on FD. If I had not of had the deal, I could not have gone. I have never recieved a PIN and we go every other year. Our entire trip was a disaster. The day we arived, I spent 7 hours in lines trying to get my ressie and tickets straight, due to a computer glitch at POR. I have never beed treated so rudely. I just feel that Disney knows that people will continue to find a way to make the Magic happen so they really don't have to! I want to go back, but I will need a deep discount to lure me back in. And like a previous poster stated, I get 10 emails a week from disney and none of them ever contain a PIN???

 

[sharadoc]

basically what the bounceback is

fyi, my DS is @ WDW now, they sent him an email today, offering him 35% off room only on moderates for most dates up to the end of the year as long as he booked before he left but not calling it a bounceback promotion.

Are there blackout dates on the bounceback? I seem to recall very few blackout dates on BBs, and now it seems like there's more blackout dates based on an old post about the return of the BB.

I think the bounceback and AP rate should never go away. I am stressing over AP rates for June. I have a AAA rate right now, but if we don't get an AP rate, we'll be cancelling our November trip. Which means we won't renew our AP either, which means we won't renew our TIW, which means we won't be going out to dinner and spending money on food and drinks.

I'm okay with not getting a Pin code if I can get either a BB or AP rate - give the pin code to someone else who needs it.

The last straw to me was that AP pins were sent out. How dare they! BB and AP rates should not have blackout dates, restrictions, etc.

I am going to compose a note to Disney with all that info, expressing my displeasure, but I'll wait and see if I can get an AP rate. If I do, then I'll feel a little sheepish sending a complaint, so I'm willing to wait and see at least for a month!

 

[keishashadow]

Are there blackout dates on the bounceback? I seem to recall very few blackout dates on BBs, and now it seems like there's more blackout dates based on an old post about the return of the BB.

I think the bounceback and AP rate should never go away. I am stressing over AP rates for June. I have a AAA rate right now, but if we don't get an AP rate, we'll be cancelling our November trip. Which means we won't renew our AP either, which means we won't renew our TIW, which means we won't be going out to dinner and spending money on food and drinks.

I'm okay with not getting a Pin code if I can get either a BB or AP rate - give the pin code to someone else who needs it.

The last straw to me was that AP pins were sent out. How dare they! BB and AP rates should not have blackout dates, restrictions, etc.

I am going to compose a note to Disney with all that info, expressing my displeasure, but I'll wait and see if I can get an AP rate. If I do, then I'll feel a little sheepish sending a complaint, so I'm willing to wait and see at least for a month!

From the email "i" received for DS this am

For stays most nights:
2/13/11—2/19/11, 2/27/11—3/5/11, 5/8/11—5/27/11, 5/31/11—6/4/11, 8/21/11—10/8/11,
10/23/11—10/29/11, 11/13/11—11/19/11, 11/27/11—12/3/11 and 12/11/11—12/17/11.

I couldn't understand last year when we stayed @ POR in October why the bounceback only went thru the end of 2010 when I just knew it'd be offered again to guests this year. So frustrating for those who visted during the last 2 - 3 months of the year to have such a short window to plan to return imo!

We haven't renewed our AP for several years, as there were never any great rates for our summer travel dates (end of June or end of July) anyway.

I posted a new thread soliciting whether i should buck up some nerve & call & ask to use the code since it came to my email

 

[TinkWink]

Disney is operating just like department stores at the mall. Macy's, JCPenney, Dillards...they all jack up the prices then offer % off to make you THINK you are getting a bargain! I swear, Macy's "one day sale" lasts for 2 weeks these days. And "Truck Month" from car dealerships? It's all psychological. By telling you they're giving you a "good deal", you think it IS in fact a good deal...when the truth is, you can spend that money easily on a vacation elsewhere.

I really don't think Disney is going to cave and lower prices. There are still plenty of "suckers" out there who will go to have a good time...and they may be people who don't plan to go every year, but are instead making a once in a lifetime or decade trip to DW. A LOT of people are under the impression that a DW trip is the most expensive type of vacation. But if you stay at Value (or even offsite in NICE places), eat cheap/healthy, it's not that bad of a deal, really, when you consider it's all day fun!

 

[Tammy296]

and I got tempted to give in to the FD this past week, but I didn't and I did get the pincode. Actually, I'm getting bored with Disney World. I didn't think I would ever say that, but I am. I haven't been in over a year and I'm not missing it. I think I was brainwashed for a while, but I'm waking up to a new feeling about doing other vacations. It's nice to see it again, but I'm realizing there are cheaper vacations out there and for me it's more exciting to go to a new place and do a new adventure. I think I got in a comfort zone with Disney World and that spoiled me for a while. I know the ins and outs of the parks and getting the best deals with dining on the plan and the likes that it was easy to go there; I did planning for Disney World but it was easy compared to going somewhere new. Now, I'm ready to go on and do other trips.

We went to Tennesse last year for the first time (Pigeon Forge) and we are going back this year at least once. I started to feel this way last year about not going to Disney World and I still don't feel like going back; I don't miss it anymore. Anyway, I figured we were half way to Disney World while in Tennessee this year; so, why not go a little further and enjoy Disney again especially since we got the FD code. I pondered and pondered and decided against it. Williamsburg is on my list this year, too.

I think my biggest problem is I feel Disney is cheapening everything too much, but still charging high prices. The parks feel tired looking to me. Service is not as good. Upkeep is just okay. I just don't have it for Disney lately; so, I'm going to give it a rest. Maybe, when the new section is added to MK I'll feel the urge to go again. Maybe, a Disney cruise would be a better idea, now. I'm a diehard Disney World fan (over 30 trips), but I just need more value than what Disney World is giving me lately. FD is not enough anymore and that's probably our best deal; because, we don't do Deluxe resorts very often.

I think what I would like to see is a loyalty pincode which offered the best deal possible like a room discount and free dining. This would be based on the number of times you go and whether you went the year before or whatever criteria. The bounceback discount offer is something like I'm talking about, but moreso. I know it's not going to happen, but I'm beginning to feel this is what's necessary for me to go back.

Good luck to all and I hope there's a free dining offer going public for those who need it. It's just not enough to persuade me anymore.

I'm sorry not many of you got the FD pins and I do apologize for even posting about it in the first place. I don't think I should have and that was my first mistake but I was very curious to see if anyone else had heard about it and what the package deal was. Thinking of our trip last fall made it hard to curtail our excitement about going again. When I called I did ask about the possibility of a GP offering but they said "we doubt it". We'll see...

I read this post above and felt very similar even before posting. We got the recent pin code and I really wasn't all that impressed with it. The full dining is only offered on the Deluxe Resort and Quick dining on moderate and value. Then the timing is just all wrong for us. The prices to go with this FD pin reminded me of 2007 original package prices and without FD then. It's really not a great deal.

Last year we went to Disney twice and noticed that every year we've gone (for a total of 4 yrs) they've cheapened on services, on the food, etc just way too much over the past few years. Airlines began surcharging on luggage as well. Now gas prices are going up. Then more and more restaurants began moving to signature dining this year that weren't SD last year. What will be next?

Last year we were able to go twice because of the great deal last Fall that came out. Even though Disney cheapened the food and other services, we still enjoyed it because of IFW, and Xmas shows, extras, etc. We've since gotten bored of going in the Spring/Summer. We will NEVER pay rack rates. There's nothing special offered that we haven't already seen. I just don't see us going this year unless we got a deal for the Fall that fell within our budget. This FD pin for spring/summer doesn't even help us meet that challenge this year. So we have to skip it and wait. While I enjoy a good discounted vacation I'd expect to get my money's worth and not feel slighted in any way.

In 2007 Disney complained because they said they lost $$ from the dining plan that year. Year after year they changed it. Hook, line and sinker? Not me!! We really enjoyed Disney that year and felt SPOILED by the dining plan. It made me fall in with Disney altogether. Now, I really do not believe Disney suffered all that much of a loss in 2007. I could not be fooled into going year and year and paying more/getting less each year. We have our limits. If Disney really was having that much trouble as they did in 2007 with the DP, they wouldn't have given their CEO a raise recently! They've been doing very well in spite of the poor economy it seems.
What makes me angriest is that like many businesses trying to earn $$ they'll literally bend you over.

We're already talking about taking a road trip elsewhere!

 

[4luv2cdisney]

basically what the bounceback is

fyi, my DS is @ WDW now, they sent him an email today, offering him 35% off room only on moderates for most dates up to the end of the year as long as he booked before he left but not calling it a bounceback promotion.

Well, that's fine if they "update" the offer from time to time. Our last 2 trips we went in November and by then the only valid dates were for December. Why put out an offer in January or February for the whole year, but never update it? If it was a true loyalty program, it would be valid for all guests willing to return again in X number of months. So, everyone would get the same opportunity, not just those travelling in the earlier part of the year.

Not to mention, it seems they're not leaving notices in all the rooms right now. So, you'd only know about it if you inquire about it or happen to get the email.

 

[Daisy Duke]

fyi, my DS is @ WDW now, they sent him an email today, offering him 35% off room only on moderates for most dates up to the end of the year as long as he booked before he left but not calling it a bounceback promotion.

I don't check my email on vacation; I wonder what part of the population does. Part of the R&R of my vacation is not being tied to email. I would be peeved if I got home and found this collecting dust in my email inbox. I hope they left him something in his room, too - that's the only way I'd find out about an offer like this if I was on a Disney vacation right now.

 

[keishashadow]

I don't check my email on vacation; I wonder what part of the population does. Part of the R&R of my vacation is not being tied to email. I would be peeved if I got home and found this collecting dust in my email inbox. I hope they left him something in his room, too - that's the only way I'd find out about an offer like this if I was on a Disney vacation right now.

seriously, id feel exactly the same, weird imo i never check my emails when im on vacation

and you'd think they've give you 12 months + 1 on the bouncebacks too (with the usual blackout dates)

too bad we're not running 'the world'

 

[Amy&Dan]

Don't you think then that we are part of the problem? If there were not so many Disers out there posting about how they got this or that discount, would everyone else still feel slighted? Nope. We would all be blissfully unaware.

Also, Disney knows that what they offer is pretty unique. It is not like I can say "Take your full price room and stick it, I can just go somewhere else and get something similar for less". I really can't. As you pointed out, I could just go somewhere else if a clothing store had prices I didn't like. I can't get my Disney fix anywhere else. And they know it, and they also know if I really want a trip to WDW I will probably cave and pay full price. So it just makes good business sense to not give out a lot of discounts. They know many of us will pay full price.

Again, I am going to have to agree and disagree. Yes, Disney knows it has a unique venue. However, I have read about a lot of ppl on this board going to Sea World, Universal, the Beach, Dollywood, DC and you name it instead of Disney. So yes there are ppl who do cancel and ppl who cave. I was on the fence.

If they are receivers of their own good business and crafty "we don't have to offer discounts, they'll come anyway", why are their park revenues down? Why are they still offering discounts for 2011 when they already had discounts for 2011 that were offered last year? Why is there availablity at every resort but CSR for my dates? Which are now in less than 3 months and are during a peak summertime season.

And by doing things the way they do, they have to have CRO cm's on the phone checking for these b.s. pins instead of booking trips. You have people who book, cancel, rebook, cancel, downgrade, upgrade you name it. I can't even imagine how Disney tracks their prospective profits given the way peopel are alway having to rebook under different packages/rooms to accomodate their ( as in Disney's) wacked out discount system.

I may be part of the problem. But I didn't create the problem and I can't be the one to fix it. Disney will have to do that. And if that manager I spoke with last Friday is right, they will have to because their employees are sick of it. Not with us (which isn't to say they don't get frustated with all the calls) but with Disney who sets the tone for how they have to do their jobs.

And while the disboards isn't inclusive to all guests who visit Disney, its just one of many boards. Disney has probably more repeat visitors than most tourist desinations and given the price of a Disney vacation that is one heck of a lot of repeat visitors. Who are now well versed on Disney's system and they want the discounts they have gotten in the past, that they see friends, family and fellow message boarders get and in this economy, there isn't enough Disney love and pixie dust to keep some people from giving up and going someplace else. I still say that the bottom line is that many people simply cannot afford to go anymore without a decent discount. Disney trips have gone up, my income has gone down. I am not alone. I love it and I want to go every year, esp the next few years since my son is just two years away from leaving home to join the military. But if I can't afford to go, I can't afford to go. End of story. Thankfully there are other tourist destinations that I can still afford to go to and it will be with a heavy heart until I get there and remember "oh yeah, there's other fun places to go".

And lastly, there is more than one way to Disney. Its called offsite and believe me, its got me very tempted. If I hadn't been meeting friends and family at WDW this visit, I would have booked offsite months ago and happily stayed off the resorts board and just focused on being excited for my trip! Disney is unique as a whole, but they don't have a monopoly on accomodations and it will take more than Magical Express and Dining Plans (that are no longer that cost efficient if you have to pay for them).

They created something so wonderful, people want to go back. And in the process of creating what every business desires (repeat customers) they created knowledgeable guests who know exactly how much they are charging now vs. years ago.

 

[DSLRuser]

We used to go 2x a year. Recently, that has fallen off to 1x a year.

We have taken a trip to Hawaii (without the kids), and other 1 day car trips.

Problem is, every time we are ready to do something else, we keep cumming back to Disney, because for us, Disney is always much much cheaper for a family of 4 to vacation.

This june, we were set to go to Jamaica, 2 adults, 2 kids, all inclusive was going to be about $4,500 when all said and done.

Instead, we are replacing some flooring in our home this march, and doing a week Disney in a split stay POFQ and Beach Club.

We can do a week in Disney for $3,000 every time. As far as Disney needing to entice us.... we can find the discounts and going so often, we are so beyond the normal crowd. Rides don't do it for us. The attention to detail and the fact that no matter when we go, something is different and we just take our time to smell the roses.

 

[kungaloosh22]

Don't you think then that we are part of the problem? If there were not so many Disers out there posting about how they got this or that discount, would everyone else still feel slighted? Nope. We would all be blissfully unaware.

The "but we're part of the problem" thing almost sounds like you think it's partially our responsibility to help Disney increase their prices. Not my point of view at all.

Yes, if people didn't talk about their "special discounts" others wouldn't feel so slighted. But that's the transparent world we live in today! It's the reality of the internet age. The toothpaste is already out of the tube, and it's going to keep oozing out, so good luck trying to shove it back in.

Anyway, I don't expect Disney to offer more discounts, I only expect them to make sense with who they give the discounts to. First-come, first-serve seems perfectly reasonable. AP holders or Disney Visa holders seems reasonable and fair (even though I'm neither). Bounceback discounts seem reasonable to me (rewarding frequent guests), even though I may never go frequently enough to use them. But I could qualify for those things if I really wanted them. By contrast, random "you, you, and you, but absolutely NOT you for no other reason than 'because we said so!'" leads to bitter feelings.

For part of our next trip, we're staying at Universal. I originally booked full price and planned to get their "Stay more, save more" discount later. Those rates were released and I missed them -- but I'm not at all mad at Universal about that. Not even a tiny bit miffed. I had my chance as much as anyone else, and I missed it. Oh well! At least I don't feel slighted because my neighbor was offered a price that I somehow cannot possibly get.

Also, Disney knows that what they offer is pretty unique. It is not like I can say "Take your full price room and stick it, I can just go somewhere else and get something similar for less".

That's exactly what I'm doing for at least part of our next trip. We recently cut our next stay at the Poly in half, and added time elsewhere (and we're still saving money despite the added nights). We're still going, but now giving some of our hotel/restaurant money to Sheraton and some of our park, food, and hotel money to Universal and Busch enterprises. The Poly is now less than 1/3 of our hotel nights. And I'm looking as much forward to the other hotels, restaurants, and parks as I am to Disney--in some ways more so! From our perspective, Disney shot themselves in the foot with us. They lost some goodwill and we're now venturing out and seeing other great stuff right beneath our noses but previously ignored. YMMV of course.

So it just makes good business sense to not give out a lot of discounts. They know many of us will pay full price.

Again, my personal gripe isn't so much the total number of discounts (I get that it's a business), it's the utter randomness of how they dole the discounts out.

 

[Disney Spaz]

My gripe is the whole process. Disney makes it so much harder on CM's and guests then I think is necessary. The time and amount of peole on hold hoping for a pin or those who have pins but never know it cause the pin card or email never shows up. Then add the whole 180 day dining thing in and FD is not so great because you are well within your 180 days and nothing is left available for dining.

Two examples of problems here are;
1. I book FD under 180 days and I want O'Hana's or L'Celliar and ofcourse it is not available so I call back over and over hoping for a cancelation. Forcing others to sit on hold because you are waiting for me to check these restaruants again today. That cannot be cost effective.

2. Now we are going in May and want to go back in Oct but no discounts released yet so I book the end of Sept with the GP code but I really want Oct and AP rates so I can add QSDP. So I hold a room and call back repeatedly hoping for a pin for FD and cancel getting the AP's in May or hope for AP rates. Or I just say forget it and cancel the whole trip which means no MNSSHP for us or the $3500 Disney would have gotten from my family.

In either case how does both Disney and the guest not loose out?

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I don't check my email on vacation; I wonder what part of the population does. Part of the R&R of my vacation is not being tied to email. I would be peeved if I got home and found this collecting dust in my email inbox. I hope they left him something in his room, too - that's the only way I'd find out about an offer like this if I was on a Disney vacation right now.

Especially since Disney tries to charge me for internet! I would probably check my email after the kiddos went to bed, but I'll be leaving the computer home because I'm not paying for internet that I'll probably only use for a few minutes every day, if every day. They can't want people to book the bouncebacks very badly if they are only sending them by email. There goes part of my savings because I had to pay for the internet in order to get the email.

 

[nrpofp]

Especially since Disney tries to charge me for internet! I would probably check my email after the kiddos went to bed, but I'll be leaving the computer home because I'm not paying for internet that I'll probably only use for a few minutes every day, if every day. They can't want people to book the bouncebacks very badly if they are only sending them by email. There goes part of my savings because I had to pay for the internet in order to get the email.

I think a good percentage of people have email access on their phone. That is probably why the do it that way.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I wouldn't say a good percentage. Granted we're headed in that direction for sure. Most people I know do not. My dad is the only one in our family who does and only because his work requires it.

If they gave me a good bounceback, they might get me. But not through email only. Or at the very least, if they are only going through email the book by needs to be at least a few days to a week after the end of your stay.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney's not that interested in repeat guests. They want the once in a lifetime splurge travelers, and the large groups. If you want a real loyalty program, sign up with Starwood Preferred Guest and stay at the Swan/Dolphin.

If you must travel in spring break or high summer, when everyone else travels, you probably won't see as many discounts, or as high a percentage discount offered. I understand even if you do get the new free dining PIN it's QS dining at values AND mods. If you want regular dining free you have to go to a deluxe.

I have Vacation Club and at this point they couldn't pay me to do the dining plan, so I haven't paid much attention to room costs until I ran out of points this year and wanted to go to some events. The annual pass discounts are not bad, but they do run out of discounted value resort rooms quickly.

Disney is not the only hotel complex that charges for internet. Most hotels I've been to charge a fee for internet. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas wanted $15 a day. Now, they include that in an extra $20 a day resort fee (which Disney still doesn't have).

 

[baler31]

Disney's not that interested in repeat guests. They want the once in a lifetime splurge travelers, and the large groups. If you want a real loyalty program, sign up with Starwood Preferred Guest and stay at the Swan/Dolphin.

If you must travel in spring break or high summer, when everyone else travels, you probably won't see as many discounts, or as high a percentage discount offered. I understand even if you do get the new free dining PIN it's QS dining at values AND mods. If you want regular dining free you have to go to a deluxe.

I have Vacation Club and at this point they couldn't pay me to do the dining plan, so I haven't paid much attention to room costs until I ran out of points this year and wanted to go to some events. The annual pass discounts are not bad, but they do run out of discounted value resort rooms quickly.

Disney is not the only hotel complex that charges for internet. Most hotels I've been to charge a fee for internet. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas wanted $15 a day. Now, they include that in an extra $20 a day resort fee (which Disney still doesn't have).

I must agree with this, it is more and more obvious that Disney either believes AP holders, repeat visitors etc. will continue to come or they simply don't care (does not fit their business model).

We have AP's: never do the dining plan, stay on property (deluxe) more than not, buy few souvie's. Maybe we are just not profitable enough for them

As for internet most deluxe type properties still charge for internet, it is only free at budget hotels like Hampton, Courtyard, Comfort etc.

 

[nrpofp]

Disney's not that interested in repeat guests. They want the once in a lifetime splurge travelers, and the large groups. If you want a real loyalty program, sign up with Starwood Preferred Guest and stay at the Swan/Dolphin.

If you must travel in spring break or high summer, when everyone else travels, you probably won't see as many discounts, or as high a percentage discount offered. I understand even if you do get the new free dining PIN it's QS dining at values AND mods. If you want regular dining free you have to go to a deluxe.

I have Vacation Club and at this point they couldn't pay me to do the dining plan, so I haven't paid much attention to room costs until I ran out of points this year and wanted to go to some events. The annual pass discounts are not bad, but they do run out of discounted value resort rooms quickly.

Disney is not the only hotel complex that charges for internet. Most hotels I've been to charge a fee for internet. The MGM Grand in Las Vegas wanted $15 a day. Now, they include that in an extra $20 a day resort fee (which Disney still doesn't have).

This makes no sense to me. Every business wants repeat customers. There are people that go to disney every year stay in deluxe club level rooms get the dxdp, spend a bunch of money. There money is no less valuable then the person that does it once in a lifetime. Of course they want to attract first time visitors, and I am sure they want them to come back again and again. I agree they need to do a better job of keeping there repeat customers or their revenue will continue to decline.

 

[nrpofp]

I wouldn't say a good percentage. Granted we're headed in that direction for sure. Most people I know do not. My dad is the only one in our family who does and only because his work requires it.

If they gave me a good bounceback, they might get me. But not through email only. Or at the very least, if they are only going through email the book by needs to be at least a few days to a week after the end of your stay.

I don't know one person that does not get email on their phone. I agree they should extend it a few for those that can't check there emails on vacation.