Mouse O'Clock Travel
  • Home
  • Our Blogs
    • Park Talk
    • Good Eats
    • Resort Write Ups
    • Cruise Chatter
    • Holidays
  • WHY USE US?
  • Who we are
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • Our Blogs
    • Park Talk
    • Good Eats
    • Resort Write Ups
    • Cruise Chatter
    • Holidays
  • WHY USE US?
  • Who we are
  • Contact us

Cruise Chatter

Fish Extenders?

2/10/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you've joined a Disney Cruise group you may have heard about "FE's" or Fish Extenders.  Fish Extenders are a "mutual gift exchange" that cruisers can participate in.  It's a really neat way to add some fun and even make some friends on your Disney Cruise. 

Next to the door of your cruise cabin there is a fish (or starfish) that is used to leave notes and itinerary for passengers.  The Fish Extender is something you hang on the fish that has a series of pockets for other guests to leave gifts in.  But first you need to know how to get involved in all the gift giving fun!  This is a voluntary program not controlled by Disney.
Once you've booked your DIsney Cruise you need to look for your cruises' Facebook group.  Every sailing has a cruise page/group that you can join.  It's a great way to meet some of the people you will be sailing with.  Some groups will organize meet and greets and other such events, but you can look for sign-ups for FE groups.  People will try and sign-up as early as they can to get a spot in one of these groups, with a deadline of 6-8 weeks before the cruise.  This gives everyone time to finalize a list of who will be included in your FE group.

Groups are usually comprised of 10 cabins/staterooms.  People will be buying gifts for the other cabins in their FE group.  Most people spend between $10-$15 a cabin.  The idea is to have fun and surprise people with little gifts throughout your trip.  You could give a gift for the whole cabin or gifts for the individuals in the room.  The only rule is to have fun.
 If you are crafty, like us, you can make gifts to distribute.  With a little paint and buttons we were able to decorate these wooden anchors into mementos of their voyage on the Disney Dream. 

You can be really frugal and buy small gifts along the way before your cruise.   Gifts can be Disney themed but don't have to be.  We've received sets of chapsticks, blankets, ornaments, and some yummy treats on some voyages.  Other's have given gifts of items you may have forgotten in your packing like a first aid kit or some laundry detergent to use for a quick load of laundry.

​Angie likes to keep an eye out for nice Disney items that go on clearance to save for her next FE group.  Or she looks for good deals on items to personalize, like these gift cubes she made one year.
Picture
Picture
Picture
It really is up to you to decide what you want to give, the only rule is have fun!  Also don't forget to include everyone on the FE, either through group gifts or individuals.  No one wants to feel left out.  There are family FE groups, ornament groups, adult only groups, and others beyond those.  You just have to see what is available on your sailing.  Just keep in mind you'll have to pack your gifts to bring with you.

You'll also need to buy your fish extender.  Amazon has plenty of options to use.  Many people like to personalize and decorate their FEs.  Here are a couple of ones to look for, but you can do your own search for "hanging pocket storage".  Like these:
Picture
Picture
With some arts and crafts skills you can make some pretty awesome Fish Extenders like the ones we made.  Or you can shop around on Etsy, there are plenty of people selling and personalizing FIsh Extenders.  Just make sure to order yours with enough time before your voyage.  These were a few that we made.
Picture
Picture
Your FE group will usually ask you for some details to help inspire people for their gifts.  They'll usually ask for the age and gender of each cruiser, as well as things like who your favorite character is.  It can be loads of fun going around and dropping off presents for others.  It makes the whole cruise feel like Christmas, every time we went back to our room the kids would scramble to see if anyone had dropped off anything for us.

Fish Extenders are just another way to add magic to an already magical vacation.  You're aren't required to participate, but if you choose to, it can be a lot of fun.

Feel free to ask us for any travel advice or tips for your next vacation.  We'll help get you setup for a great trip!  When it's time to plan for DIsney:  It's Mouse O'Clock!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Angie & Gabe Garcia-Lavin make up the Mouse O'Clock Travel team. Married for more than a decade, they share a love of each other and a love of Disney that runs deep. ​

    Archives

    May 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    September 2023
    March 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture

​Contact Angie & Gabe to book your next Disney adventure with Mouse O'Clock Travel.
Contact Us