When you sail on a Disney Cruise Line ship you experience magical moments from the time you board!
Along with all the cruise line treats there is a cruiser-initiated pixie dust tradition called Fish Extenders.
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What Are Fish Extenders?
I’ll start by explaining where “Fish” comes from. They are small metal fish ornaments on the wall next to your cabin door. They are used as a type of mailbox where onboard reservations or other ship communications are left by the room steward.
A Fish Extender (FE) is a hanging gift bag with pockets for each cabin member. Cruisers sign up before the cruise to deliver small gifts to other cabins. The signup is usually done through a Facebook group or a Disney group board.
Someone sailing on the cruise will organize the FE exchange. The rules can vary by group. We have participated many times and it is always a lot of fun, especially when we had small children or take our grandchildren. (The kids also help with the delivery). Along with the gifts, the FE group is a great opportunity to make new friends with fellow cruisers.
How Do I Participate In A FE Group?
Even if we aren’t planning to participate in the FE gifting, we always search Facebook for a group for any cruise we book. We have taken a lot of Disney cruises and can often answer questions within the group and we also learn from others! Just search Facebook for your cruise ship name and sail date like “Disney Fantasy September 11, 2021” or even just “Disney Fantasy” and you should find at least one group. The groups are usually created over a year ahead of the sail date. If you don’t find a group, create one!
If there is a FE planned, the group admin(s) will usually post a shareable spreadsheet for signups and also the group rules. The rules are up to the FE admin. Basically, there can be family groups, adults-only groups, singles groups, magnet exchange groups, ornament groups, etc. When you sign up, there will be entries on the spreadsheet for things like name, age, gender, favorite Disney character, cabin #, any allergies, and more – anything to help decide the best gift for the individual. You can give every person in the cabin a gift or one gift per cabin.
Many times, you can find a group with the number of cabins that suit you. I like a group of 10 cabins. Again, this is up to the group. The exchange groups usually close a month to 45 days before the sailing date. This gives everyone time to get their gifts ready. When deciding on gifts, remember you will need to pack them for the trip.
For a new cruiser, the cruise groups are also a great place to learn tips and tricks of sailing.
Your Fish Extenders
After joining a group, you need to plan for your FE bag. You will see many kinds of bags from simple to very fancy. Don’t be intimidated by what kind of hanging bag you pick. Ours is homemade, but I have seen ones made with large zippered pencil cases and custom ones on Etsy. They are also available on Amazon. Part of the FE experience is to have fun so don’t stress over your FE bag 😊
Your Fish Extender Exchange Gifts
Using the gender, age, and other particulars from the group spreadsheet, decide what to purchase or make for the people on your list. This is something else not to stress over. We have given and received a large variety of items such as decorated canvas bags, tumblers, magnets, and jewelry. Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures of the gifts we received and only a few pictures of gifts we gave ☹. You can search Pinterest for zillions of ideas. Just keep in mind that doing the exchange is simple fun and should not stretch your budget. Every participating cabin makes the personal decision on how much to spend – there is no set amount, and everyone appreciates whatever they receive.
I am kinda crafty so I try to make as many of my gifts as I can. Here’s a few I really had fun making! I took the first letter of the children’s name and their favorite character and created a hanging decoration. I bought the wooden letters at Walmart and painted them with craft paint to match the colors of the characters. Then I used a variety of materials to decorate them including stickers, Disney duct tape, washi tape, ribbons, and other random craft items I had on hand.
I’ve also made Disney themed bookmarks out of scrapbook paper, laminating sheets, and Disney color ribbons. The Disney duct tape also made cool keyrings. I used a Mickey head scrapbook punch and put Mickey colored cutouts in clear ornaments with colored ribbons as hangers. I have made a bunch of other things – it just takes some basic craft materials and a little Pinterest inspired imagination.
You can also find gifts such as hand sanitizer, small flashlights ( I bought a set of small flashlights and added vinyl Mickey heads), playing cards, and all kinds of treats at Target, the Dollar Tree, Walgreens, or your favorite variety shop. One time we received black sleep eye shades with a Mickey-shaped button in the middle. So cute!
Just remember to check the list of items that DCL prohibits from bringing onboard. Check here for a list of things to leave at home.
Disney Fish Extender Tips
Remember that fish extender groups are totally cruiser organized and not associated with the Disney Cruise Line. Participation is completely optional.
When packing for our cruises, I put the gifts in large zip bags (assuming they fit 😊). I then put the cabin number on the bag and also which section the cabin is located (aft, middle or forward). This really helps when distributing your gifts. You can possibly be on each deck and each section depending on the cabin numbers you have.
We usually hand out gifts on the first or second night, but that is also up to you. Just remember to hang your fish extender as soon as you unpack it and be prepared for your pixie dust!
What in the world are Disney Cruise Line Fish Extenders? and what you need to know about them. #Disney #FishExtender #Cruise #DCL Share on XCheck out my article on making cabin door decorations.
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