Bounce back ??

[jaff87]

Can someone please explain exactly what a bounce back is? The last few times we went to WDW, we had a card in our room but I just did not understand it and at the time, did not want to spend precious time talking about a future vacation that I was not sure I would be able to take. We are heading back in August and I would like to be somewhat knowledgeable this time around. Do you have to pay money up front? What if an offer comes out afterwards (I.e. free dining).

 

[scdufek]

When you receive a bounce back offer, you have to book before your last day, before you check out. I believe you have to make a deposit at that time. Usually the bounce back is for a room discount or free dining. If a better offer comes out for the time your scheduled, you can always call Guest Services and try for that promotion instead.

 

[aubriee]

Can someone please explain exactly what a bounce back is? The last few times we went to WDW, we had a card in our room but I just did not understand it and at the time, did not want to spend precious time talking about a future vacation that I was not sure I would be able to take. We are heading back in August and I would like to be somewhat knowledgeable this time around. Do you have to pay money up front? What if an offer comes out afterwards (I.e. free dining).

A bouceback is a discount for a future trip that you can take advantage of only during your current trip. If it's free dining, it will probably be for a trip sometime during the current year. If it's a room discount, it will probably be for a trip during the next year. If you plan on taking advantage of a bounceback though be sure to have more than one set of dates and more than one resort choice in mind though, because the bounceback may or may not cover all your dates at your preferred resort.

As far as money, if it's a pkg with tickets and DDP you will have to pay a $200.00 deposit, with the balance due 45 days out from your trip. If it's a room only, then it will be a one night's deposit, with the balance due at check in.

If an offer comes out afterwards, just call and have them switch your ressie to the new discount. If it's a pkg, less than 45 days out from your trip, and the price goes down, you may have to pay a small fee. Most discounts come out sooner than 45 days out though.

For example, when I was there last Sept the bounce back offer was for free dining. I'm not interested in free dining, so did not even bother with it. However, when I went back Nov/Dec the bounceback had changed to a room discount. Due to reading about it here on the DIS, I knew what the bounceback offer was and went in with a list of dates and resort choices, planning on booking three bouncebacks for 2012. I was able to get the dates I wanted for my May trip, but not the resort, so had to go with my second resort choice. For my Sept trip I was unable to get either the dates or the resort I wanted, so had to move the trip back a week and change resorts. For my Oct/Nov trip I again had to move the trip back two weeks and also had to switch resorts. I knew going in that AP discounts might beat the bounceback deals and if so, I would be switching to that discount later, but I wanted to make sure I got at least some kind of discount. For the May trip, the AP discount was exactly the same as the bounceback I had, so I just kept the bounceback. For my Sept trip, I called just this past Monday, canceled the bounceback, and moved from POFQ over to AKL using the AP discount that came out last week. The Sept trip was already paid in full and because both were room only ressies, the CM was able to just switch the money over to the new ressie for AKL and I just paid the difference. There is still a chance I may keep the bounceback I currently have for my Oct/Nov trip, but there is also a good chance I will switch if a better discount comes out. I go to WDW several times a year and do this for each trip. I book whatever discount I can use when it first comes out, then may cancel and switch to other, better discounts as they come out. I always book the early discounts though, just to make sure I have something. Other than tieing up the money for the deposit for awhile, you really have nothing to lose by booking a bounceback. You can always cancel and get your deposit back (as long as you cancel by 45 days out for a pkg and a week for a room only ressie). I have even booked a bounceback for certain dates and certain resorts, then months later switched dates and resorts. Even though the bounce back offer may have expired, as long as you booked something, you can always go back and switch dates and resorts (as long as those new dates were covered in the original offer and as long as the new resort still has rooms that were left in inventory for that offer). For example, when I called this past Monday to switch to the AP discount at AKL, I asked what the price would be if I switched the bounceback deal I booked last Dec over to AKL. She switched me to guest services, who checked to see if any of those bounce back rooms were still left in inventory, said there were, and told me the price. I chose to go with the AP discount, so she canceled the bounceback deal I had, and switched the money paid over to the new reservation.

 

[jaff87]

Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. So many things to factor in that I never would have thought about. I love these boards!

 

[aubriee]

Thank you for the comprehensive explanation. So many things to factor in that I never would have thought about. I love these boards!

You're welcome. Just remember though that you must book the bounceback deal before you leave WDW. Once you get home you can not then call back and book one. As long as you book something while you're down there, you can always go back and change dates or resorts later, but if you don't book something before you leave then you can't do anything once you get home.

 

[Travelingdad]

Is the bounce back tied to the number of people staying at the time? For example if I stay one night by myself in September can I use this to get discout on a trip in dec or later next year for my whole family? Also, do they ever have discounts on new annual passes as part of this?

 

[vicki_c]

Is the bounce back tied to the number of people staying at the time? For example if I stay one night by myself in September can I use this to get discout on a trip in dec or later next year for my whole family? Also, do they ever have discounts on new annual passes as part of this?

It's not tied to number of people. And no, there are no AP discounts.

 

[Seahunt]

for my whole family?

Depends on what you mean by "my whole family".

Only adult guests currently staying at a WDW resort can book a BB. So since you said you are staying by yourself you can book one BB room for your family. (If your DW was also staying with you at a WDW resort she could book another)

But you won't be able to book extra rooms for other family members, such as other relatives or friends, who are not current guests at time of booking the BB (the BB CMs do check current guest status).

 

[Travelingdad]

Meant wife and kids but good clarification, thanks.