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Participants hang a pocketed organizer (the “fish extender”) from their fish hook and fill it with small gifts for other participating cruisers. Not sure you want to worry about all of that planning or looking to participate without the commitment? Pixie Dusting is when you don’t have a specific cabin assigned to exchange with. You prepare as many (or as few) gifts as you want and then drop them in hanging Fish Extenders that you pass along your travels. Some fish extender gifts are aimed at different age groups and some are for adults.
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Remember, this is meant to hang off the Fish and not the door (also because Disney no longer allows door-hanging items), simply replace the hooks with sturdy rope or ribbon. No, not everyone on a Disney cruise joins a Fish Extender group. It is entirely optional and up to each individual family to decide if they would like to participate.
How does the Fish Extender program work?
There are countless fish extender group options available, and we’ll help you find the right one for you. With our tips and tricks, you’ll be able to organize a successful fish extender exchange and make lasting memories with new friends. However, you might actually have a seahorse instead of a fish if your stateroom is starboard side. Fish Extender is a gift exchange between fellow cruisers on a Disney Cruise.
Disney Cruise Line Planning Tips and Tools - The DIS
Disney Cruise Line Planning Tips and Tools.
Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:38:20 GMT [source]
Disney Cruise Fish Extender Ideas You Can Gift
There are many tutorials available online that can guide you through the process. If you don’t already have something you can use as a Fish Extender hanger, you can easily make one yourself or purchase one online. Remember, the key to a successful fish extender group is communication and planning. For example, Disney Wonder 8th December 2023 and within this large group, there is typically a person who will sort cruisers into smaller groups.
The name “Fish Extender” comes from the fish-shaped or seahorse-shaped message holders located outside stateroom doors on Disney Cruise Line ships. When you embark on a Disney Cruise, you’ll notice that each cabin door has a metal fish-shaped hook (or another shape, like on the Disney Wish). These hooks are more than just decorations; they are the foundation of the beloved tradition of Disney Cruise Fish Extenders. A fish extender is a hanging organizer that attaches to the metal hook and extends it, providing additional pockets or pouches for guests to exchange small gifts and surprises. Joining a fish extender group is a fun way to connect with fellow cruisers and add an extra layer of excitement to your journey.
I enjoy sharing everything I have learned and hope that it will help others plan their own vacations. However, it is recommended that you spend between $5-$10 per gift. This is a great way to share a little piece of your culture and make your gift even more meaningful. And it can be something as simple as a keychain, a local coin, bottle openers or a postcard.
The first two ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, started with seahorse on all staterooms. The Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy replaced the seahorse with a fish, and fish extender sounds better than seahorse extender, hence the name. The Disney Wish (and we assume the new Disney Treasure as well) went a bit crazy and uses owls, snails, Cinderella’s pumpkin coach, a crown and suns. While it may seem like a simple detail, it’s an iconic and functional part of the Disney Cruise experience. Lastly, participating fosters a sense of community and warmth among cruisers. It’s a wonderful feeling to walk down the hallway and see the colorful fish extenders hanging outside each door, filled with surprises waiting to be discovered.
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We went the DIY route and were able to keep our gift cost to $1-2 per person. You also have the option to gift something to each individual in your exchange group OR you can give one gift to the entire cabin. Once everyone is placed in groups, specific information will be passed out to all group members; name, age and gender of each participating family member and stateroom number. Some groups like to give a little gift each night of the cruise, and others simply say 1 gift per cruise. Be sure to have your Fish Extender and gifts ready for that first night. ’ kit to use on board with the all-you-can-eat ice cream bar.
Remember, it’s not about the cost of the gift but rather the thought put into it that matters. It’s an additional cost to consider before signing up, to make sure it is in your budget to participate. If you’re skilled with a sewing machine, many families like to sew their own fish extender holders.
Fish Extenders can be homemade, as I have mentioned, or they can also be purchased online which are known to carry many different variations with different price points. For plain pouches, guests can bedazzle them up or down as they wish by personalizing them. Fish Extenders can have a separate pouch for each person participating or one for the entire group. Most recently, I noticed that Disney Cruise Line have begun to sell their own “Fish Extender” pouch without calling them specifically what they are. Doing your research beforehand ensures you make the most of your experience and have nothing but positive experiences with Fish Extender gifting. You can totally join in on the gift-giving magic without feeling obligated.
From selecting just the right gifts to personalizing your own fish extender, we’ll guide you through it all. Not only will your Facebook group have information on Fish Extenders for your cruise, but you’ll get the chance to meet new people before you even set sail. They can be really magical if you’re travelling with kids – they’ll love the surprise of receiving a gift when it does appear. To make a fish extender of your own, you’ll need some flat cloth to serve as the backing, and some other material to use as pockets. Stitch the pockets onto the flat hanger, and then attach string to the top so that you can hang it over the fish. Most people give their gifts out early on the cruise—often on a sea day.
I also placed a closing date, usually a month and a half before the cruise, to provide ample time for participants to purchase or make their Fish Extender gifts. Unless your FE group has specific rules for delivery, you’ll be able to choose how and when you deliver your gifts. Before sailing away, check the Facebook group while you still have wireless access to see if any staterooms have changed. Because these aren’t run by the Disney Cruise Line, signup options can vary. Typically, if you are on Facebook, you can search for your cruise ship name and sailing dates. Often, there are unofficial groups specifically for your sailing run by your fellow passengers.
Stay informed of the latest discounts and special offers by subscribing to Magical Notifications. A weekly discount newsletter offered by our friends at TheMouseForLess.com. Disney fans generally start a new Facebook group for each sailing once dates have been announced. Anyone can start these groups and most search FB before creating their own so that only one group exists per sailing (no sense in having multiple). From there, the admin or a super switched on participant will suggest starting a document to get Fish extender families organized and set up. To join a Fish Extender group, you can usually find a group on social media platforms such as Facebook or through online forums.
If you are good with embroidery then this is a lovely way to make a custom fish extender that is unique to you and your family. The last step before your cruise is to buy the gifts that you’re going to deliver to others taking part. If you are on a shorter sailing, you may want to just do one bag per stateroom, with one delivery. For longer sailings, it can be fun to do multiple deliveries. I wish I had taken a picture of the duct tape one I saw because it was really cute.
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