What's the deal with the bounce back?

[eastcarolinafan]

So we're set for our second trip to DW Oct. 12-18 and everything is pretty much in place. All is looking good. So i start my pre-trip code calls to DW-- you know, just to see if they added any more codes to my name. Nope. Nothing new.

So then I have a brilliant idea to ask about bounceback offers. I've only heard of them, never actually seen one in action. You know, you're on your vacation and having such a good time that DW will cut you a 40% break if you set up another trip while still on this one.

I call and the guy listens intently and then says "Sir, I have never heard of anything called a bounceback. This is news to me. Can you hold while I ask about it?"

Why, of course I will hold. There is a possibility of some real savings here. You bet I'll hold for two min ... five min... 8 minut ... 10 minute.... hey, wait, this dude forgot about me.
So after almost 15 minutes I get the hint and hang up. I call back and get a pretty sharp woman who says no, she has never heard of the bounceback but if I wait a sec she will find out more.

I am dubious by now but say ok. I am put on hold and the commercials start. two minutes ... you all know where I am going with this.

After about five minutes, the familiar voice comes on the line "Welcome to Walt Disney World vacations ..." She had sent me all the way back to square one!

So now I turn to you, disboarders. What is a bounceback? Are they for real? And who can tell me what in the heck is going on with customer service at DW?

 

[mmmears]

A "bounceback" is a deal that Disney gives you if you book during certain furture dates while you are currently staying at a Disney resort. Once you check out, you can't book it. And it isn't booked through the normal CRO number -- there's a special number to call that is printed on the offer you'll find in your room. The one we got was not actually called a "bounceback", but I forget the lingo for it. They do exist, although some people have said they did not have the advertisement in their rooms while others did. Hope this helps.

 

[williamson_ja]

From what I have heard (I haven't received one), if you are offered a bounceback, they give you a postcard in your room before you leave that has the offer on it. You have to book the vacation using your postcard while you are still there. Is this correct??

 

[Seahunt]

OP, since you're going in October this is what the Bounceback offered in October of last year (2008) - of course it will probably be different this year, but should give you an idea of how they work.

BTW the BB offered last October was to be able to book Free Dining a year in advance (for 2009):

*** Of course THIS IS NOW EXPIRED***

Get Free Disney Dining Plan when you purchase either of these packages which include accommodations and Theme Park tickets.

Book this package and make a deposit of $200 on or before your check-out date (which must be on or before 10/24/08)

Select Disney Deluxe Resorts
5-Night/6-Day Vacation Package
$118 a day, per person based on a family of 4 in a standard room at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort.
Total Package Price $2811--A Savings of $654
Available for stays most nights 8/23/09 - 10/1/09

Select Disney Villa Resorts
5-Night/6-Day Vacation Package
$87 a day, per person based on a family of 4 in a studio room at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.
Total Package Price $2088
A savings of $1153
Available for stays most nights 8/23/09 - 10/1/09

Book before you check out
Book now by dialing ext 8844 from your Guest Room or call 407-541-5512.
Offer Code DJX.

Ask about packages for other resorts and lengths of stay. Also ask about other packages for stays from October 2-8, 2009. This offer is only available to Guests of select WDW Resort hotels and is nontransferable.

Price based on 2 adult, 1 junior, 1 child. The number of packages available at these rates is limited. Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Excudes gratuities.

 

[mmmears]

From what I have heard (I haven't received one), if you are offered a bounceback, they give you a postcard in your room before you leave that has the offer on it. You have to book the vacation using your postcard while you are still there. Is this correct??

Yes. In our case it was a big flier in the shape of a pocketwatch, but you have to book the trip before you check-out.

 

[swald91]

This isn't in response to bounceback...but more to asking a question & not getting the same answer. All I will say is good luck getting an accurate response to your questions. I have talked to CMs, emailed through club level & chatted in the little pop up box...I even had one that was rather rude. I just think some CMs are more informed about certain things than others-as in my case I think I talked to ones that had no information on the subject!

 

[ZeroToHero]

Sorry to take over from OP, but I had a question on this too - do all levels of people get bouncebacks? As in, Values, Mods, Deluxes, and people staying on cash at Villas? Or do they not give Villa people bouncebacks in the hope they'll book DVC?

I ask because my mother is planning her 25th anniversary trip (to Disney & a Disney cruise) for our family (we all get to go!) and she wanted me to try to get a bounceback to book it, since we're going the same time next year as I am this year.

I was staying at POP, but then upgraded to SSR. If we don't get a bounceback, it's fine, we'll hope for free dining, but I was just curious.
Thanks! (And sorry OP!)

 

[DLW8]

If I recall correctly, I've read posts where if you do not get the postcard/flyer in your room, you can ask at the front desk and may still be eligible for a bounceback offer....

 

[snykymom]

The reaction you got from the CMs is funny (that they never heard of it) - I had booked a bounceback while I was there. I needed to cancel it, so I called.

Me: "Hi. I have one of those reservations that I booked while I was on site. There was this card in my room . . . "
CM: "Oh, you got a bounceback! I'll be happy to help you."

It may be that the CM was saying that they never heard of you being able to call and ask about the bounceback if you weren't currently on site?

 

[tartemis]

FWIW -- last year we received a bounceback offer in our room, but this year we did not. We stayed at the Grand Floridian both times, so I just assumed that they had stopped offering it (which based on these posts, may not be the case.) Too bad -- this time had they offered it, I would have taken it.

 

[ktlm]

We've always had a bounceback in our room, until the one time we wanted to actually use it. If you don't have one and want it, don't give up. We got sent in a lot of circles, but ultimately a second trip to the front desk on a different day and a different CM, and that CM found a card right away. Between the people on the bounceback reservation line and the disboards, here is what I found out. If you don't have one, check with the housekeeping cart (they are the ones that put it in the rooms so they often have them); if that doesn't work call housekeeping and ask; if that doesn't work go to the front desk; if that doesn't work try again at the front desk a different time of day with a different CM (we got it in the morning, but not the night before); if that doesn't work, sometimes the bounceback and the code are on the resort TV channel; if that doesn't work just dial 8844 and ask to book a bounceback-there is a code, but you may not even need it. It really helps if you get on these boards before you go to make sure there is a bounceback offer and even what it is. I knew there was one out there, so when CMs were telling me there were no bouncebacks at all, I knew that wasn't right.

 

[Kathy Z]

We had an outdated bounceback offer in our room in May. Yes, it looked like a large pocketwatch on heavy paper. I inquired at the front desk to see what the dates would be for a current offer. That CM gave me the wrong number to call but I finally got through to the correct department to book a bounceback. It is correct that you must book the bouceback while you are on a current stay before you check out. We were right down to the wire even after getting permission for a late check out. We had poor mousekeeping in the hallway waiting for us to leave. You get a different % off depending on what you book. In our case we booked a standard view deluxe so we got 30% off. We ran into a blackout week where we could not get any discount. We ended up moving our December trip up a few days and got the bounceback rate for our first 5 days. We are paying regular rate for nights 6 & 7. We could not get our first choice which was WL. They only had the bunk bed rooms available and I did not want one of those. We chose the BWI and now that I've read up on it and done all of our planning I'm very happy with that choice.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When my family and I stayed at the Contemporary in December 2008 we got a bounceback offer sheet in our room, however we didn't take advantage of it. The dates for our vacation next month did not work out and they didn't list any dates for December 2009, because it went up to October 2009.

 

[LAS321]

When you book a Bounceback offer do you have to go the exact weeks you are there this year?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When you book a Bounceback offer do you have to go the exact weeks you are there this year?

If your room has a bouceback offer you can only go on the dates that have been pre-selected, which are highlighted in blue on the bounceback calender.

 

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Codes and Rates board.

 

[eastcarolinafan]

We've always had a bounceback in our room, until the one time we wanted to actually use it. If you don't have one and want it, don't give up. We got sent in a lot of circles, but ultimately a second trip to the front desk on a different day and a different CM, and that CM found a card right away. Between the people on the bounceback reservation line and the disboards, here is what I found out. If you don't have one, check with the housekeeping cart (they are the ones that put it in the rooms so they often have them); if that doesn't work call housekeeping and ask; if that doesn't work go to the front desk; if that doesn't work try again at the front desk a different time of day with a different CM (we got it in the morning, but not the night before); if that doesn't work, sometimes the bounceback and the code are on the resort TV channel; if that doesn't work just dial 8844 and ask to book a bounceback-there is a code, but you may not even need it. It really helps if you get on these boards before you go to make sure there is a bounceback offer and even what it is. I knew there was one out there, so when CMs were telling me there were no bouncebacks at all, I knew that wasn't right.

wow, thank you so much for the info. I like you style. never say die. seriously, thank you. i can be pretty determiined when i am sure there is a payoff, so you let me know to hang in there.

thanks again

 

[mmgrdg]

Ohno--we got back yesterday and forgot to book it before we left!! Has anyone ever been able to get it immediately upon return?

 

[let'sgo]

We're going in Sept, so we'll check for a bounceback then. What are they offering this time on the bouceback?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Ohno--we got back yesterday and forgot to book it before we left!! Has anyone ever been able to get it immediately upon return?

Unfortunately , I don't think so...one of the *rules* of booking a bounceback is that it must be booked BEFORE you check out. I am pretty sure I have heard many times that they are pretty strict about that. It wouldn't hurt to call though....you may get a CM that might do it. The worst they can say is no. Good luck!