2024 Guide To The Disney Cruise Fish Extender Exchange

Table Of Content

• Fish Extender Gift Ideas
• How to participate in a fish extender gift exchange on your ship
• Fish Extender Gift Ideas: What to give for fish extender gifts
• The Ultimate Guide to Disney Cruise Fish Extenders + Lots of Ideas and FREE Printables
• Create Your Own Disney Cruise Fish Extender Group
• Fish Extenders: How to Create Your Own Magic on a Disney Cruise
• Where Do I Purchase a Fish Extender?

The coordinator of your fish extender group will give a list of the passengers and their staterooms you’ll be exchanging with. Once you’re onboard, you can drop off the fish extenders at the staterooms of everyone in your exchange. Many people like to create homemade gifts, while others prefer to purchase ready made items. A quick Google or Etsy search can quickly turn into hours of fun looking for  ideas. Usually, a ballpark amount spent is a few dollars to $15 per person. Most cruisers prefer smaller items as they must be packed to take home.

Fish Extender Gift Ideas

It’s called a “fish extender” because it’s hung on the signature fishes that are outside each stateroom on Disney ships. Consider cute ideas such as gift bags filled with pirate-themed goodies or beach accessories for Castaway Cay. Fish extenders (FEs) are attached to the metal fish-shaped hooks found outside stateroom doors. As the mom of a seventeen-year-old son and eighteen-year-old daughter, she has spent much time traveling with kids, and has taken many cruises over the years.

How to participate in a fish extender gift exchange on your ship

Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays. There are other ways that people like to liven up their stateroom too, including cabin door decorations – where permitted, anyway. It certainly can liven up an otherwise pretty basic corridor. Once you’re in the group, the owner will confirm your place and send you a list of the staterooms you need to deliver a gift to.

Fish Extender Gift Ideas: What to give for fish extender gifts

I’ve also encountered where we came home with more gifts than we had traveled with. We then had to find room in our luggage to fit all of our beautiful presents. You may also run into additional issues depending on the size and if it is breakable. Remember I mentioned that one of my favorite received gifts was the savings bank for future cruises?

The Ultimate Guide to Disney Cruise Fish Extenders + Lots of Ideas and FREE Printables

Keep in mind when you sign up to participate in a Fish Extender, you are committed. Others are preparing gifts for you, so you need to make sure to prepare gifts for them. You must sign up ahead of time and planning is a definite requirement. What could be more fun than creating your own magic on your next Disney cruise?

You use these to exchange gifts with other people on the cruise taking part in a fish extender gift exchange. The fish extender tradition embodies this spirit and encourages guests to connect and create special memories through gift exchanges. A Disney Cruise Fish Extender is essentially a gift exchange program that allows passengers to connect and exchange small, thoughtful gifts with fellow cruisers while onboard.

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To be clear, the fish extender gift exchange is an unofficial exchange organized by fellow cruisers just like you. The tradition of fish extenders on a Disney Cruise is unique to Disney Cruise Line ships, meaning you won’t find it on any other cruise line. As you board the Disney Wish, Disney Magic, Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, or Disney Wonder, keep a lookout for the fish-shaped hooks outside cabin doors. What’s the difference between a Fish Extender Group and “being pixie dusted? ”  If you sign up for a FE group, you will receive a number of cabins to bring gifts for. You are also always welcome to “pixie dust” other cruisers who may not be in your FE group but have FEs hanging off their fish hooks.

Where Do I Purchase a Fish Extender?

Plus, now we have enough Disney-themed magnets to fill up a refrigerator panel. Not everyone will have the budget for extravagant gifts and the little gifts are to add a little extra magic to your fellow cruisers’ experience. In addition to the social benefits, the Fish Extender program is a great way to make your Disney Cruise Line vacation even more memorable. Guests who participate in the program often look back on their experience with fond memories of the fun and excitement they shared with their fellow cruisers. The fish extender tradition isn’t operated by Disney, but it is allowed. Volunteers arrange everything, and it can be a lot of fun, but don’t let it stress you out.

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Just ask to join, then do a quick search of the group for Fish Extender. For my upcoming cruise in 4 months, there is already an adult only, kids only, and a family fe group set up. Just do a Google search for your cruise and see what you can find. If you plan to go on multiple Disney cruises, I’d highly recommend getting a customized fish extender from Etsy. They’re a more expensive option, but many awesome sellers offer personalized options with your names and favorite Disney characters.

The important thing is to have the right number of pockets for the number of people participating. Ours has three pockets – one for my husband and me, one for my daughter, and one for my son. You’ll want to label each pocket so the gift giver knows where to put the individual items. This nursery organizer is is a great starting point for the crafting-deficient. Add a few ribbons and Mickey silhouettes and bam, you have yourself one beautiful Fish extender.

You can sometimes find these on popular messenger boards such as Cruise Critic or DISBoards, or on Facebook groups. Once you find a group and sign up, you’ll be given a list of everyone taking part. On occasion, some sailings will offer other types of exchanges, including ornament exchanges (usually around the holiday season) and cruise door magnet exchanges. The best way to find a fish extender exchange is online, on Facebook. Search Facebook for a group dedicated to your specific sailing. Within that group, there is usually someone who coordinates fish extender exchanges.

This list includes the stateroom numbers of your group members. Please note, most FE groups are limited to smaller groups, so you won’t be stuck in a large group and be expected to give out hundreds of gifts. On Disney Ships, next to each stateroom door and under your cabin number is a fish shaped decorative element that serves a practical purpose as a message holder.

If you are wondering how to make a fish extender, you’ll find lots of tutorials online. As you can see from the photo of the fish above, there isn’t the biggest space to hang your fish extender. It’s probably best to make it about 9 inches at the widest point (usually the hanger) and about 3-4 feet long. I’ve seen elaborate fish extenders that are sewn and embroidered, as well as some that are handmade with cardboard and glue. We received everything from dollar store candy and trinkets to DIY projects that obviously took people a bit of time.

While the Fish Extender Gift Exchange can add a sprinkle of extra magic for some, it might not be the best fit for everyone. Participating in a fish extender program is a great way to make friends with another family or share magical experiences with others. An FE gift is for an organized gift exchange set-up in your cruise group. Pixie Dust is something that you gift anyone, no need to join an FE exchange or cruise group. Examples of Pixie Dusting are an extra magnet on someone’s door, a crayon kit for the table next to you, or some glow sticks to hand out on Pirate Night.