What is "bounceback"?

[EmmasGrammy]

I have read on several threads about people doing bounceback trips. What is this? Is it a special offer only for certain guests, or can anyone schedule a bounceback trip? I am confused.

 

[catne]

a "bounceback" is the nick-name for the type of promotion that Disney offers for guests who are currently in a Disney hotel. Usually a card or flyer in the room offering a special promotional discount to get that guest to book another reservation to stay at Disney before they check out of their hotel. If you're at a Disney hotel & don't see a flyer in your room, ask the maids (they usually have the flyers on their carts) or ask at the front desk.

Currently, the offer in the rooms is for a Free Dining vacation in 2010 -- guests must book a MYW package before they check out for a stay between 8/15/2010-9/30/2010 and they will get Free Dining again.

At other times of the year, the bounceback offer in the room is usually for a good-sized discount off a room rate.

The key on the bounceback promotions is you have to be staying in a Disney hotel when you book the new reservation, and you have to book your next vacation during the time the offer is good for.

The people mentioning bounceback trips now booked these trips last year while they were staying at Disney. Like we were at Disney for Free Dining last September, and we booked a bounceback trip for this September to get Free Dining.

 

[Jestocost]

It's also important to note that bounceback offers aren't necessarily made available to guests at all resorts. So, guests staying in POFQ or all moderates, for example, may get a bounceback offer, but guests staying in other resorts at the same time might NOT get a bounceback offer. It's all determined by marketing math or voodoo or sunspots or something like that.

 

[catne]

It's also important to note that bounceback offers aren't necessarily made available to guests at all resorts. So, guests staying in POFQ or all moderates, for example, may get a bounceback offer, but guests staying in other resorts at the same time might NOT get a bounceback offer. It's all determined by marketing math or voodoo or sunspots or something like that.

You might just check again if this happens to you...usually the offer IS available to all guests, at all the resorts, but the card/flyer may have been taken by the last guest, or accidentally thrown away. If the maids don't notice the card is missing, then the next guest doesn't see the offer. And if that guests hears about the offer later, they assume it was not available at their hotel because they did not see the card. That's why I suggest you ask every time you're at Disney because chances are there is some sort of bounceback offer for Disney guests.

Now some of the offers are different for different levels of hotel...like the bounceback Free Dining offer last year gave a different discount if you book Saratoga Springs or Old Key West (they actually offered a room discount AND Free dining at those two resorts. All other resorts it was Free Dining only, no room discount.) And the flyers in the rooms are cleverly marketed to make it appear that you cannot "book down"...the flyer for Free dining in the Value resorts showed Values & Moderates on the offer. But if you were staying in a Moderate or a Deluxe, your flyer only showed Mods, Deluxes and Villas...making it look like the offer was not available at the Value resorts. Which of course it was...and you could book a Value for bounceback even if you were currently staying in a Deluxe. Just clever marketing, but it did make it look like only some resorts were eligible.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Thanks for the quick responses, but I have a question (actually a few).

1.) If we do book a bounceback trip would we need to pay it in full or just put down a deposit?
2.) Would we have to lock into a specific date or just a certain time period?
3.) Do we have to lock in at a certain resort or just so the resort was in the same catagory or higher catagory?

We are staying on property in just five weeks from now (YEAH!!!) and I fully intend to inquire about this option, I am just not quite sure if we are able to request our vacations from our jobs a whole year out.

4.) Could we narrow down our reservation date and place once we are home provided we made a deposit or paid in full (which ever was required)

Sorry for all the questions, but I always know I can get the correct information from my DIS buddies. Thank again!

 

[ktlm]

Thanks for the quick responses, but I have a question (actually a few).

1.) If we do book a bounceback trip would we need to pay it in full or just put down a deposit?
2.) Would we have to lock into a specific date or just a certain time period?
3.) Do we have to lock in at a certain resort or just so the resort was in the same catagory or higher catagory?

We are staying on property in just five weeks from now (YEAH!!!) and I fully intend to inquire about this option, I am just not quite sure if we are able to request our vacations from our jobs a whole year out.

4.) Could we narrow down our reservation date and place once we are home provided we made a deposit or paid in full (which ever was required)

Sorry for all the questions, but I always know I can get the correct information from my DIS buddies. Thank again!

1. It is the standard $200 deposit
2-4. You must lock into certain dates. The bounceback card will usually show all of the weeks for the year that the bounceback is offered. (For example, when we were there in May 2009, the bounceback card had a calendar that showed by highlighting every week in 2009 the offer was available through December 31). You can pick anytime the bounceback is available. You can pick any resort that is available with the bounceback which is usually most of them. It does not have to be in the same or higher category. The discount rate is usually different based on the category. They only set aside a certain number of rooms for the bounceback so not everything may be available, and the room type you want may not be available. If the 2010 bounceback is out when you go, it probably will not be a problem for you as you will be getting in on it close to when it first comes out. When we were looking at it in May- it was still limited to the 2009 dates, and some of the room types were booked. I did not change dates, but was told that as long as you booked bounceback before you have checked out of the resort, you can later call and change your dates to any other time the bouncback is valid and that you can also change hotels. In fact it was suggested that as I did not get my 1st choice of hotel/room combination that I call because because a lot of people book the bounceback and then cancel later. The CM said that people just want to get locked into the discount even though they haven't decided to actually take another trip yet.

Also, just because you don't have a card in your room does not mean it is not available like the other poster stated. The first time we did not have a card in the room was the one time we wanted to use it. If you want it don't give up. If the maid cart doesn't have one, call housekeeping. Housekeeping puts them in the room, so they usually have them. If that doesn't work try the front desk (maybe more than once as the 1st CM we tried told us they didn't have any cards and there must not be a bounceback- wrong. We got a card on the 2nd try the next day). Also, the resort information channel often posts the code on the television. Also, someone else can confirm the phone extension for bounceback from your room (88 maybe?). Even if you don't have a card and code, you may still be able to book if you dial the extenstion. I don't think I would have even needed the code.

 

[dipity]

Be sure to check the price of bounceback vs whatever is offered (later) to the general public. In some cases it was cheaper to switch last year's bounceback to the public offering this year.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Great information!!! Thanks for the replies. We will definately look into this on our upcoming trip!!

 

[Seahunt]

We are staying on property in just five weeks from now (YEAH!!!) and I fully intend to inquire about this option, I am just not quite sure if we are able to request our vacations from our jobs a whole year out.

To help you see what to look for, the FD BB flyer in your room should look like this one recently posted by TiffanyD. If you don't see one in your room, call extension 8844 from your WDW resort room phone and ask about code KIL. As the other posters said, it's to be able to book Free Dining a year ahead for next years dates 8/15-9/30/10, you have to book BEFORE you check out, put down $200 and pay the balance next year.

No scanner... best I can do

Thanks again to TiffanyD for posting this info!

Have a great trip!