All About That Fish Extender | Disney Cruise Line Tips

Heather is visiting again this week with more about planning a Disney Cruise Line trip for a large group.?

I’m going on my FIRST Disney Cruise in 2 weeks and I can’t WAIT!?

We decided to skip the Fish Extender experience (3 moms with 11 kids at home between us- we just didn’t have time to get it together this trip!) but I know this is one of the highlights of most cruises.

My #BRF Amy at Moms Magical Miles wrote a post about her Fish Extenders you might want to check out.? Amy is the DUCT TAPE QUEEN and fashioned some super cute FE at home for her crew.? Check them out!

Guest Post by Heather Keck

A what? That?s right?a FISH EXTENDER. Participating in a Fish Extender exchange means you join a group and you give and get gifts from others in the group.

Let me explain.

When you?re on a Disney cruise, next to your cabin door is a little guy that looks like this:

A FISH.

Okay, so then, you make (or buy) something that hangs off of the fish?called the FISH EXTENDER.

It looks like this:

I found out about participating in the ship fish extender exchange when I was planning my first Disney cruise in 2009.

I happened upon it while doing the tiny bits of research that I tend to do. (I don?t have a sarcasm font, so feel free to read ?tiny bits? in your most sarcastic voice.)

I believe I found out about the group from the cruise line forums on www.disboards.com.

You can still do research there and find out all sorts of information on whether or not your cruise has a fish extender group already created and how to join. With the increasing popularity of social media, you can of course find fish extender groups on Facebook, as well. Do a search for ?Fish Extender? and you will find the groups. Many of them are closed and you merely need to ask to join.

Once you find a group for your cruise, join! The groups do tend to close to new members 6-8 weeks or so before the cruise, so this is time-sensitive. Plus, the sooner you join a group, the sooner you get to virtually meet and get to know those folks whom you will be cruising.

To make or to buy your FE? That is the question.

Well, it wasn?t really a question for me, because I can?t sew.

Not. At. All. I own a sewing machine. I?ve watched you tube videos on how to use it. That?s where it ends.

So, I bought mine.

Again, there is no shortage of ways to find out where to buy a fish extender. Etsy and Ebay are two easy ones. I purchased mine from Ebay and I was able to customize it. In fact, I made/purchased mine double-sided because I wanted to be cool and different than everyone else and because I knew there was a pirate night and because, PIRATES. Here?s the other side:

Not only did I leave the lid up, but I take blurry pictures, too! *sigh*

“But Heather, what if I am crafty and unlike you, can use a sewing machine and want to make my own”, you ask?

Well, you?re in luck! In the last few years there?s been this new and amazing website you may or may not have heard of.

It?s the Queen of all time-suckery, Pinterest.

These days it?s so easy to type in a few words and find a million different ways to do things.

In fact, I have pinned over 4,500 pins. I have done approximately 4 projects from those pins. *Double sigh*. Yet, every day, I check in and look for more things to do in all of my spare time. I almost typed that with a complete straight face. Hahaha. ?Spare time?. But, I digress.

I would apologize for my ADD, but if you?ve read this far, you have undoubtedly figured me out.

Pinterest has many many ways to make your fish extenders! AND —— there are ?NO SEW? OPTIONS! You heard that right. Finding ways to make your own is as simple as typing into a search bar. Make sure you make a pocket for each of the cruisers in your room!

You have the fish extender. You?ve joined the group. Now what?

Well, it?s all up to you from here!

When the groups are set, you will know how many people are in the group and how many cabins. That will help you narrow down what you want to do for gifts. Some folks give just one cabin gift. Some give gifts for each individual. Some give multiple gifts to each individual. There is a wide range of gifts and some border on the amazing!

I?ve seen jewelry, wine glasses, water bottles and more all “Disney-fied” and personalized. I?ve also seen things as fun as sundae kits ? with spoons and hot fudge and sprinkles to pour over the self-serve ice cream you can get on board.

On our last trip, we tried to bring a little something from home to give out to everyone. I made recipe cards for Buckeye candies and a few other fun items. Our group even named our cruise ?Wonder, Waves, and Wishes? so a lot of items were personalized with the name of our cruise on it.

We were given a day and time to deliver our gifts so that they were all spread out throughout the cruise.? You will have to give up some info about yourself to participate, so be aware of that. People will want to know everyone?s names as well as their favorite characters, favorite colors, etc. You obviously have to give out your room number. ? If you have any concerns about sharing such personal information about your children, you may want to reconsider your participation.

In all, we really enjoyed our last fish extender group and we are very excited to participate again next February. I have already made soooo many lists of ideas and purchased little bits of items to practice for my next exchange.

What ideas do you have for a fun fish extender gift?