Want to make your next Disney cruise even more magical? Cruise connoisseurs are joining a fish extender swap group to add a little fairy dust to their vacation at sea.
What are fish extenders? No, they have nothing to do with Nemo or Dory. They’re actually an important accessory in a popular Secret Santa activity on Disney cruises that the whole family can enjoy. Here’s everything you need to know about fish extenders and how to use them.
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What are fish extenders?
If you’ve ever been on a Disney cruise, you may have noticed that some passengers hang bag organizers next to their stateroom doors. These are called fish extenders, named after the metal fish symbol (or other sea creature) that is located outside your stateroom door (often above your stateroom number). The symbol serves as a mailbox for excursion tickets, meal reminders, and an envelope containing your key cards on the first day of your cruise. This is also where cruise guests hang their fish extenders.
What is the purpose of these hanging organizers? They are intended to allow fellow travelers to leave small gifts and trinkets for the people in your stateroom as part of a Secret Santa-like activity. Disney Cruise Line does not coordinate these fish extender exchanges; they are organized independently by cruisers on each cruise.
You’ll see a wide variety of fish extenders on a Disney cruise. The most popular types of fish extenders are reusable canvas shopping bags or custom-designed, multi-tiered pouches that resemble door organizers.
Related: 11 Ways to Save Money on a Disney Cruise
How do you contact people to participate in a gift exchange?
The two most popular places to find Fish Extender groups are community cruising forums and Facebook.
Whichever option you choose, you should first find the cruise you want to take by searching for your ship and the dates. For example, you could search for “Disney Dream, August 12-19, 2025” and, if there is already a group, ask to join.
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Within the groups (sometimes called “roll calls”), smaller groups can be formed for fish extender exchanges. These can be based on a variety of themes, including family exchanges, adult exchanges, or even the type of gift you want to exchange, like magnets or Christmas ornaments. Depending on what type of gift exchange you want to participate in, you can sign up for one or more of the smaller groups. The groups are usually listed by a group manager, so you can see your options before deciding on a themed group.
After you decide which type of Fish Extender group you want to be part of, the group organizer will add you to the list. You may also be asked to fill out a short survey about yourself and your cabinmates – your preferences, favorite Disney characters, favorite holidays, etc.
The larger group is then broken up into smaller, more manageable groups so no one family has to overbuy. Before your cruise, you will receive a short list of cabins for your gift registry. If you completed a Fish Extender group survey, you will also receive the same information about your assigned Fish Extender group members.
Related: The Best Disney Cruise Ships for Everyone—Even Disney Adults
Where can you get fish extensions?
Depending on what type of fish extender you want (a pocket or a multi-tiered pouch), you can buy one or make one yourself. If you want to buy your fish extender, Etsy and Amazon have lots of pretty options.
Additionally, YouTube has numerous tutorials on how to make a fish extender. Some require basic sewing skills, while other tutorials require no sewing at all. Just find the video that seems easiest to you, get everything you need from the craft store, and get started.
What are the best gifts for a fish extender?
Gift ideas involving Disney fish extenders are nearly endless. If you’re crafty, consider homemade gifts like magnets, ornaments, and keychains. Those who prefer to buy gifts can purchase glow sticks, small toys, mugs, and tote bags. Pro tip: Give gifts you’d love to receive yourself.
Need inspiration for gifts using fish extenders? Search for fish extenders on YouTube or TikTok, or browse Etsy for gift ideas. When it’s time to shop, online stores like Amazon and Etsy are great places to start. I also love finding small trinkets for kids in the dollar section at Target, craft stores, or an “everything is a dollar” store.
Make sure your suitcase is big enough to accommodate the gifts you plan to bring (and the ones you’ll receive during your cruise). I’ve seen fish extenders overflowing with treasures, which is great, but gifts can be difficult to store if you don’t leave enough room in your suitcase.
The general rule for a Fish Extender exchange is that you give a gift to each person in your assigned cabin group once during the cruise. So if you have five cabins and four people per cabin, you’ll need to give out 20 individual gifts. Most people deliver all the gifts for a cabin at once.
What budget should you expect for Pisces renewal gifts?
Your budget will depend on the type of group you join. Some Fish Extender groups specify a dollar amount per person. Other groups let each person decide how much they want to spend. I like to keep each gift between $10 and $15, especially when I’m buying for multiple people.
The number of people in your assigned cabin group will depend on the cabin limits set by the operator, but the average group is five to ten rooms. Keep in mind, however, that cabins typically accommodate one to five guests, which can quickly blow your fishing extension budget.
If you have a Fish Extender group with six cabins of four people each, you are purchasing for 24 people. That multiplied by $10 per gift per person gives you a budget of $240.
How to use your fish extender
Once you board the ship, the real fun begins with exchanging Fish Extender gifts.
Hang your fish extender as early as possible on day one. Consider packing your extender in your carry-on luggage so you can hang it shortly after cabins are ready. Most people hang their fish extenders on the metal animal that displays the cabin number, but I’ve also seen people hang fish extenders on their cabin doors using magnetic metal hooks.
When do you deliver Fish Extender gifts?
There is usually no specific time for delivering Fish Extender gifts, but you want to deliver all the gifts for the same cabin at the same time. If you have 10 different cabins to deliver to, it may take a while to get them all. You don’t want to have to return to a cabin you’ve already visited.
You should give out all your gifts on the last night before dinner. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but many passengers pack shortly after dinner so that crew members can collect the bags the night before disembarkation. No one wants to figure out how to pack gifts into a carry-on that’s probably already full of last-minute items like pajamas and toiletries.
What to do with the gifts you received?
Check your fish extender every day so you can keep all the gifts you’ve received in your cabin. This will prevent unwanted carry-ons and allow you to see and enjoy what you’ve received. Create a dedicated space in the cabin for your gifts – a small carry-on suitcase that’s easy to access, or an unused drawer or shelf.
Are exchanging gifts with fish extensions and dusting with the Pixie Dust the same thing?
One topic that comes up frequently in Disney Cruise Line groups is the difference between Fish Extenders and “Pixie Dusting.” Fish Extenders are part of an organized gift exchange. Pixie Dusting is the giving or receiving of a gift that is not organized by a group. Receiving Pixie Dust gifts is purely a surprise and you are not expected to give a gift in return.
Some people still provide bags or pouches of fish extenders as gifts for the fairy dust toss, even if they are not participating in a fish extender exchange.
In the past, I’ve brought small trinkets on board the ship to give as fairy dust gifts. On a recent cruise, I enjoyed handing out friendship bracelets with Disney sayings on them. I also sprinkled fairy dust on Halloween gift bags filled with pencils, spider rings, and ghost erasers for a “Halloween on the High Seas” trip.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Disney Cruise Line Ships and Itineraries
Conclusion
Joining a Fish Extender group and participating in the gift exchanges that come with it can be a great way to add a little more fun to your Disney cruise, but it can be a big investment in time and money. You can purchase Fish Extender gifts or make them yourself, but you should follow the rules of the group you’ve joined. If you’re on a budget but still want to give gifts, consider Pixie Dusting gifts instead. Whatever you choose, sharing gifts with others is a fun way to add a little magic to your cruise.
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