Best Fish Extender gift received?

[kdlahue]

Any idea approximately how many Fe gifts on average someone will have to purchase for a 3 day cruise? Considering joining an FE group but are first cruisers and just trying to make sure I don't bite off more than I can chew lol

 

[racingfandj]

Any idea approximately how many Fe gifts on average someone will have to purchase for a 3 day cruise? Considering joining an FE group but are first cruisers and just trying to make sure I don't bite off more than I can chew lol

We're in a group on a 3-day cruise in January. Our meet thread didn't even get started until about 60 days out from the cruise date, which seems very unusual from the other 4 cruises I've been on (more like a year out).

This group at 60 days out has 12 cabins already and new people joining pretty regularly. We've set a cutoff at 2 1/2 weeks out so we can all prepare. In those 12 cabins are 38 people (18 adults, 20 kids).

You could always ask or recommend to the group that they have a cabin limit and cut it off at 10 cabins per group to control it. Then if people want to do more than 10, they just join more than 1 group. Hope that helps.

 

[kdlahue]

Thank you so much!!! I will definitely recommend the limit!

 

[dara00]

question - do people write on their gifts who they are for? Like if I put in a little liquor bottle for example, it could be for the man or the woman or either..or a gift for one of the kids... do you write to whoever on it?

 

[racingfandj]

question - do people write on their gifts who they are for? Like if I put in a little liquor bottle for example, it could be for the man or the woman or either..or a gift for one of the kids... do you write to whoever on it?

Most FEs that I have seen have individual pockets labeled with a pocket for each person in the cabin. You would put a person specific gift in their pocket. At least that's how we've done it and had done for us. The kids have received personalized gifts both times we've participated.

 

[mom3girls2000]

question - do people write on their gifts who they are for? Like if I put in a little liquor bottle for example, it could be for the man or the woman or either..or a gift for one of the kids... do you write to whoever on it?

Honestly, we've seen everything. Most times we cruise without kids, so a mini-liquor bottle might be shared despite being labeled just for one of us. Now that our *baby* is 21yo, even she may want a taste .

We've also done everything - sometimes each person got a gift and those were labeled if they were age/gender specific. Other times, we did one gift for just the kids (like a grab bag) and a different gift for just the adults.

Usually, a gift directly to someone will go in the labeled FE pocket, but sometimes, like with our family, the parents share a pocket and each kid gets their own pocket.

And to maybe answer your next question, sometimes people make gift tags, other times they just write on the gift or wrapping directly.

Really, though - every possible configuration has already been done . That's the beauty of the FE - the only real rule is that if you're going to receive, you ought to also be giving.

 

[Purplejewel]

My family participated for the first time in a FE Exchange in November and the kids really enjoyed it. We got some very nice gifts, some of which must have taken quite a bit of time to make. My favorite was an etched keychain personalized with the names of everyone in my family along with the cruise name and sail dates. We received a few cruise specific door magnets which we loved. I have several of them on my file cabinet at work now to remember the cruise. Several of the FE participants gave us magnetic bottle caps that had disney emblems on the caps. We plan on using them to decorate our Stateroom doors on our next cruise. We received quite a bit of candy but my kids were so full all the time from all the food on the cruise that we did not even touch any of it and ended up bringing alot of it home with us or leaving it for our Stateroom Attendants to enjoy. We got a small Disney Fantasy Christmas Tree ornament that we have hanging on our Christmas tree at home right now. My youngest daughter received a draw string beach bag with her name on it and she loved that. My DH and I did not receive any small bottles of alchol but that would have been a gift we would have enjoyed - maybe on our next cruise

Although my kids volunteered to assist me with deliverying our FE Gifts, it always seemed like they were involved in activities so I took it upon myself to deliver all of our FE Gifts myself. I got alot of exercise delivering them which I needed because of all the food I was consuming on the cruise. I would like to mention that 2 of the Staterooms on my FE list did not have a FE holder of any kind hanging outside their Staterooms and I was unable to deliver their gifts because my gift was breakable and I did not want to just leave it on the floor outside of their Staterooms. I cannot think of any reason why someone participating in a FE Exchange would not have a FE holder. I delivered my FE gifts on Day #4 so they should have had their FE holder in position by then. I went back by their rooms on Day #5 but still no holder in sight. I even left a message on their Stateroom phones explaining that I was trying to deliver their gifts but there was nothing for me to leave the gift in and if they called me, I would happily arrange somewhere to meet them to give them their gifts. I never received any call backs. Has anyone encountered this type of thing before when participating in a FE Exchange.

I brought more FE gifts than I needed so during the cruise I randomly selected small children, asked their parents permission to give them a gift because I had extras and enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces when they opened the gifts. I plan on doing that again because I enjoyed doing it so much. Spreading a little Pixie Dust was fun

 

[ludari]

I've only participated in the fish extender gift exchange once but I would have to say the best gift I received was the actual FE itself.

 

[lorenni]

My family participated for the first time in a FE Exchange in November and the kids really enjoyed it. We got some very nice gifts, some of which must have taken quite a bit of time to make. My favorite was an etched keychain personalized with the names of everyone in my family along with the cruise name and sail dates. We received a few cruise specific door magnets which we loved. I have several of them on my file cabinet at work now to remember the cruise. Several of the FE participants gave us magnetic bottle caps that had disney emblems on the caps. We plan on using them to decorate our Stateroom doors on our next cruise. We received quite a bit of candy but my kids were so full all the time from all the food on the cruise that we did not even touch any of it and ended up bringing alot of it home with us or leaving it for our Stateroom Attendants to enjoy. We got a small Disney Fantasy Christmas Tree ornament that we have hanging on our Christmas tree at home right now. My youngest daughter received a draw string beach bag with her name on it and she loved that. My DH and I did not receive any small bottles of alchol but that would have been a gift we would have enjoyed - maybe on our next cruise Although my kids volunteered to assist me with deliverying our FE Gifts, it always seemed like they were involved in activities so I took it upon myself to deliver all of our FE Gifts myself. I got alot of exercise delivering them which I needed because of all the food I was consuming on the cruise. I would like to mention that 2 of the Staterooms on my FE list did not have a FE holder of any kind hanging outside their Staterooms and I was unable to deliver their gifts because my gift was breakable and I did not want to just leave it on the floor outside of their Staterooms. I cannot think of any reason why someone participating in a FE Exchange would not have a FE holder. I delivered my FE gifts on Day #4 so they should have had their FE holder in position by then. I went back by their rooms on Day #5 but still no holder in sight. I even left a message on their Stateroom phones explaining that I was trying to deliver their gifts but there was nothing for me to leave the gift in and if they called me, I would happily arrange somewhere to meet them to give them their gifts. I never received any call backs. Has anyone encountered this type of thing before when participating in a FE Exchange. I brought more FE gifts than I needed so during the cruise I randomly selected small children, asked their parents permission to give them a gift because I had extras and enjoyed seeing the smiles on their faces when they opened the gifts. I plan on doing that again because I enjoyed doing it so much. Spreading a little Pixie Dust was fun

They had probably switched state rooms and were not in the rooms on your list.

Last year we received a number of gifts meant for our immediate neighbors who had moved rooms - and this was despite the fact that the organizer had posted room changes on her door. I made more than one trip to bring the gifts to the correct room. Annoying.

 

[ladyleslie]

We received a ship's directory (which included all areas of the ship - floor and position on ships fwd /mid /aft) that looked like a luggage tag and was easily attachable to the room key neck chain...

My daughter who was having independent ship access during day hours (she just moved up in age into the Edge) for the first time claimed this immediately upon seeing it...

She never got lost and met up with us at all the assigned meet ups easily...

 

[RapunzelFloyd]

Hi, I am totally new to this and I am in charge of the June 15 dream cruise (so no looking if you are on that cruise) by default but I think I am handling it ok

I have never been on a cruise let alone done the FE and this is a big surprise for my hubby's 30th birthday, so I thought it would be special for him to be part of the FE. It will be like getting presents for his bday all week.

Anyways I am rambling

My idea is to do recycled crayons in silicone molds: Mickey and pirate skulls for the boys along with a handmade coloring book of disney pirate stuff & for the girls Mickey and snowflake crayons. I want to do Olaf enjoying the Summer coloring books for the girls.

Does this sound good and how old are kids when they no longer want to color?
I don't want anyone to feel too old for their gift.

For 11+ on the girls, I thought nail polish with some disney decals might be fun

For the room, I thought photo mats and markers or disney dream christmas ornaments

Some Mickey ear Texas magnets and a Magnet with our itinerary, maybe a San Antonio postcard

For the women, Mickey and seashell soaps with various beachy scents
For the Men, a keychain with some "dream" related quote and our cruise and date on the back.

How does this sound? Also any ideas for teenage boys?

Thanks.

 

[HDavis197]

Looking forward to my FE experience

 

[mydisneyanytime]

My favorite gifts on my last cruise were: an embroidered dish towel with the Dream on it, a plastic small bottle with a small funnel to put sand from Castaway Cay in, and a small ornament that had a tiny bottle to put sand in. The bottle I received started a tradition and we now bring back a small amount of sand a place it in a small glass bottle that we label. Unfortunately, I lost the small ornament - it fell off of what I had it attached to. It was a sad day!

FE participation is fun. I enjoyed and kept more of the adult gifts then my kids did the kids ones. They got a lot of candy and they are extremely picky about what types of candy that they eat. However, we did give it away to our stateroom hostess as well and she seemed pleased so it worked out for everyone!

We sail again in June but our cruise is very quiet right now. Just a few families who want to do kids only. I am happy to do that but enjoyed the adult exchange too!

 

[RapunzelFloyd]

My favorite gifts on my last cruise were: an embroidered dish towel with the Dream on it, a plastic small bottle with a small funnel to put sand from Castaway Cay in, and a small ornament that had a tiny bottle to put sand in. The bottle I received started a tradition and we now bring back a small amount of sand a place it in a small glass bottle that we label. Unfortunately, I lost the small ornament - it fell off of what I had it attached to. It was a sad day!

I am in charge of one of the June cruises, but we are doing adults and kids, seeing as I want to do it primarily since it is a surprise birthday for my hubby and I want him to get presents but also cause I love to give and think it will be great to give my creativity an outlet

In regards to your FE gifts, did you prefer the bottle or the ornament ? I really like this idea (we collect sand from where ever we have traveled.)

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

What I loved about the FE is not the stuff but the people you meet. We had dropped out of the FE because we lost an immediate family member approx. 2 weeks before the cruise. We were going to cancel but at the last moment went. We had no gifts as we dropped out. A bunch of the group new our sadness and made a FE for us and filled it daily. That is my most memorable life experience. We were so sad and they lifted our spirits so high. A few rooms caught us delivering gave us hugs. What a special group of people on this site. We decided to go to each port and purchase a key chain from the island to give to each room. $5 each and a memory of the trip. From what I can tell people really liked them.

 

[wendyoconnor]

We just did our first FE and I was amazed at the variety of items we received. I was really surprised at what people did for our then 5.5 month old daughter, I wasn't expecting anything for her. We received food, pins, candy, magnets, promotional items, items that reflected the giver's home state or town.

Some of my favorites include:
The crocheted baby blanket for my DD and the knitted bag for myself (I'm a knitter/crocheter too)
Real Cadburys from England!!!
Moon Pies
Board books for DD
Onsies for DD
A list of the hidden Mickeys
Magnets

 

[Spunkyminky]

What I loved about the FE is not the stuff but the people you meet. We had dropped out of the FE because we lost an immediate family member approx. 2 weeks before the cruise. We were going to cancel but at the last moment went. We had no gifts as we dropped out. A bunch of the group new our sadness and made a FE for us and filled it daily. That is my most memorable life experience. We were so sad and they lifted our spirits so high. A few rooms caught us delivering gave us hugs. What a special group of people on this site. We decided to go to each port and purchase a key chain from the island to give to each room. $5 each and a memory of the trip. From what I can tell people really liked them.

That is so sweet of them! I'm so sorry your family suffered a loss right before your vacation.
My cruise is in Feb and so far, it looks like we have lots of great families in our FE group. We're already having lots of fun on Facebook. Really looking forward to meeting families from different cities/countries and enjoy our vacation.

 

[RapunzelFloyd]

What I loved about the FE is not the stuff but the people you meet. We had dropped out of the FE because we lost an immediate family member approx. 2 weeks before the cruise. We were going to cancel but at the last moment went. We had no gifts as we dropped out. A bunch of the group new our sadness and made a FE for us and filled it daily. That is my most memorable life experience. We were so sad and they lifted our spirits so high. A few rooms caught us delivering gave us hugs. What a special group of people on this site. We decided to go to each port and purchase a key chain from the island to give to each room. $5 each and a memory of the trip. From what I can tell people really liked them.

That is really sweet, I am sorry for your lose, but so glad you had people on the cruise to lift your spirits.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

I am so totally new to this! A question - we've only ever sailed Royal Caribbean before, and, from what I understood, we couldn't bring on alcohol. Do I have to hide 25 bottles of booze in a tampon box?

 

[dbarker]

I am so totally new to this! A question - we've only ever sailed Royal Caribbean before, and, from what I understood, we couldn't bring on alcohol. Do I have to hide 25 bottles of booze in a tampon box?

Answer: No.

Disney allows beverages to be brought onboard (alcoholic and non-alcoholic). However, it MUST be in a carryon bag.

What I have read that some people do that are flying, is put the booze in one small checked bag for the flight, without the DCL tags. Pick that one bag out from the rest upon arrival. Carry that one bag onboard the ship.