Fish extenders on a Disney Cruise can be such an added bonus to your voyage! These little pockets are hung outside your door and you can share little gifts with other guests. If you join your specific cruise Facebook page, you can even sign up for a gift exchange group, which I highly recommend. On both of my Disney cruises this added a little extra magic to the week. Here are some of my favorites…
Fish Extenders
First, you need to start with a fish extender. You can search the web for your choice, or even craft your own! For my first cruise, I got a more simple theme and ended up stapling names I printed and laminated. It doesn’t have to be super fancy, but can be if you want to put more magic into yours! Here are a few simple ones that may help you getting started.
Nautical Extender [Pictured to the Left]
I loved the nautical colors and thought I might be able to use this a few different ways throughout the year. I’ve used this on both cruises and absolutely loved it!
A favorite for the OG Mickey lovers! You can’t go wrong with the Mickey Mouse fish extender
If you’ve got a family of four, this extender has a pocket for everyone from CORE FOUR – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy.
Ahoy, Captain! and Other Extenders
These fun options inspire more of a sailing theme and can be a fun for those that are excited to sail the open seas.
On the first night of my first Disney cruise I was gifted these twinkle lights that now come with me on each Disney cruise. It’s such an extra bonus, especially if a cruiser has a room at the end of a hallway. The extra glow not only looks super cute, but can also encourage pixie dusting with others.
Group Themes
When you join the specific sailing’s Facebook Group, you should see the opportunity to join various FE groups – adults only, families, etc. When the groups are organized oftentimes you’ll have a group. On my Disney Wonder cruise, I was sorted into the Spiderman Group. So, during the sailing I used Spiderman bags and stickers for camaraderie and easy identification. Here are a few recommendations of thematic gifting to add a bit of fun to the group.
Stickers can be easy to write a message on the back, decorate bags, tags, or more. They’re also fun to pass around to other guests and crew members.
Taking it old school! I personally feel FE groups, especially the adult ones, are a chance to have a little nostalgic fun. I mean Disney adults are some of the most childlike people you can meet!
Wristbands can be an inexpensive gift that can be shared with your FE group members or around the ship. These come in so many different characters you’re sure to find some to share.
Probably my favorite purchase of all the themed gifts because I ended up using these each night that I gave items away. It was easy to tie a gift tag on and it fit all the items I gave away. It’s also fun to drop in others’ fish extender pouches around the ship.
I received a few of these on my first Disney cruise and thought they were fun (and inexpensive) to include in my party bags. They have so many different characters to choose from and there are so many crafty adults on the ship! Plus, they’re a hit with the kiddos too.
Disney Fun for All Ages
If you’re not interested in joining a FE gift exchange, you can still have a fun time delivering Disney magic to other cruisers. That’s commonly called PIXIE DUSTING! Pixie dusting is a fun way to spread smiles, cheer, and joy to random strangers also enjoying their Disney cruise. Here are some of my favorites to leave at my door, deliver randomly around the ship, or just hand out to new friends I make throughout the voyage.
During my first Disney cruise, I received tons of stickers throughout the week! They’re perfect for my travel journal. An inexpensive surprise to hand out or receive. There are tons of themes to choose from!
On one or more of the Sea Days, there will be an add-on event of a Princess Royal Tea where many of the young girls will be dressed as their favorite princesses. Though it’s only for kids, I love bringing a pack of princess stickers to pass around and share. It’s also a fun conversation starter for any age, “Who’s your favorite Disney princess?”
DISNEY SENSATIONAL SIX STICKERS
If you are a fan of the OG Mickey and Pals gang, then this sticker set may be your best choice. It’s got some classic Mickey and Minnie choices that are sure to be a hit with any Mouseketeer.
I received a Donald sticker sheet on my first Disney cruise and loved putting him in my journal. It really did create such a fun page. These classic characters are fun to share in the character fish extenders around the ship!
I love sharing parts of my childhood when I’m in the Disney bubble. These slap bracelets are so fun, and perfect for all ages.
Mystery unboxings are really popular these days and if you are the ultimate Disney pixie duster, then you may consider a couple of Cutie Cuffs. These could also be for your family members as a bit of a splurge. I love how these can attach to your backpacks, luggage, and even your family fish extender.
I was gifted a couple of these on my last cruise and think they’re so cute. They’re also very durable for the younger ones who may be a bit more rough with their toys at the table! That also means they’ll be safe in your suitcase when bringing them on and off the ship.
Bubbles are such a hit on the ship! I love to leave a daily surprise in my middle fish extender pocket and the bubbles always get taken so quickly! And, let’s be honest, bubbles are just a common ingredient of a Disney vacation these days!
Yes, Disney cruises are more expensive than other cruise lines. But, that doesn’t mean everyone on the ship has the ability to afford the $35/pair Mickey ears that we love and cherish so much. On my latest trip I gifted a young neighbor cruiser with an inexpensive set of ears and the thank you note she wrote was so incredibly sweet. So, now, I will forever carry ears with me on the cruise ships to gift.
DISNEY PRINCESS STICKER SHEETS
I love handing these out during the Royal Tea event days. So many littles are dressed up and we all love to compliment them. I also love sharing these sticker sheets so they have a little extra memento.
Since when did key chains become so expensive? I was looking at some in my local Disney Outlet and a regular priced one was almost $30! Instead, I like gifting these smaller versions on the cruise ships. Again, not everyone gets to shop freely at the onboard gift store, so I like being able to share some items that feel a bit more like something a kiddo could find in there.
Nobody things to pack pens until you find yourself in a situation where you need one badly! So, every Disney cruise I make sure to stock up on these. And can I tell you how happy I was to receive one in my adult FE group this year! The word is spreading! You just can’t go wrong with pens that have a Disney theme.
Disney Pal Dessert Door Magnets
The range of decorated doors on a Disney cruise is vast. There are some doors that have the best designs and others that are more simplistic. On my last cruise I was gifted a dessert magnet and thought a fun way to spread the Disney love. Fellow cruisers can use on their door during the cruise and then their fridge when they get home. It’s a win-win!
If Disney princesses are some of your favorite characters, then I suggest these bows that represent the famous ladies. I think they’d be fun customizing for your own princesses in the cabin with a Cricut.
So, I actually bought this whole set for the Snow White scrunchie for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party LOL but I loved giving these out on my last Disney cruise. They’re fun accessories to share especially matching up with some cruisers’ door themes.
Marvel Fans
Even more special on the new Disney ships with Marvel-themed spaces, these stickers are a hit for many fans. I even like using them in my daily journal.
I love leaving these sticker sheets in the fish extenders that have the different characters on the door. It’s also a fun little activity for kiddos.
Fun and Practical Disney Adult Must-Haves
FE groups and giveaways aren’t just for kiddos! Us Disney adults like to have fun too! And these days, you’ll find a lot more adults-only groups cruising the Disney ships – couples, sisters, besties. It’s a thing! So, here are few gifts that adults especially might enjoy.
You guys, I received one of these on my first Disney cruise and thought it was just a cute accessory. I ended up tying it around my trip journal. LOL so when I went looking for gifts to surprise my FE group, I laughed out loud, they’re bottle openers! I love that! Especially when you’re in port, or if you bring on wine bottles, it’s such a fun accessory to have with you when traveling. FUN and practical!
Putting this in the adults section, because sometimes giving little candies to kiddos can be problematic. But, again with the nostalgia! Pez is a part of my childhood that I love sharing with others. This vendor themed boxes too, including Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story, Lion King, and more!
I promise I’m not absolutely clueless, but I also received one of these on my first cruise and could not figure out what it was. But now, I use this key ring to attach key items to my lanyard, like my fan during the scorching hot days at the park and I’m currently using it to attach my neck pillow bag to my suitcase before my flight! An inexpensive treat, but I recommend adding a little note or picture so that everyone knows what they are lol. But because they’re so tiny, I recommend leaving it for the adults on board, just in case.
I love school supplies! As an elementary teacher, I love a good themed paper clip. And it always make others so joyful when they see them too. So, I like clipping these on the fish extenders as fun surprises. I know the parents (adults) can use them later. Practical, right?! Make sure you look up to see the matching pens too.
Cruise rooms can be quite small and if you have multiple people in your rooms (or members of your FE group are paired up) then you might consider adding in a little pocket size odor control. I usually receive at least one in each of my gift exchances and it’s helpful every time.
I made a recent mistake on my last cruise, bringing brand new shoes that really made me suffer. Thankfully one of my FE group members put these in their gift share. I was so very grateful.
Space is such a commodity in a cruise bathroom, especially when shared with family. These Mickey toothbrush holders are fun and practical for saving a bit of counter space.
In a world full of air tags, luggage tags are an underrated accessory, especially on cruises where I prefer to check my bags. These can make fun gift items to put in your FE group exchanges. This vendor also has Winnie and the Pooh sets, Star Wars, Marvel, and more.
Disney has some amazing ornaments but they’re also on the pricier side. I’ve received many through FE group exchanges and love them all equally. These can be quite simple, but with a Cricut you could easily personalize with the ship name and cruise date. It’s a fun reminder each year when you get out the Christmas tree.
You really can’t go wrong with chip clips! You can always use them on the cruise and then again at home. I love sharing some of these so everyone has the reminder of their fun cruise throughout the year. This vendor has Winnie the Pooh and Stitch sets too!
I received some villain-themed cards during my last cruise and am definitely stealing this idea for gifting on Days at Sea! This brand has so many amazing themes too – the Beauty & the Beast set and Alice set are so beautiful. Great for solitaire, Go Fish, or any other games you can think of!
Pirate Night
Pirate Night is a fun night on the ship! Some people go all out in their outfits! Though I haven’t gone all-out quite yet, I do love my pirate night extender gifts. Just a little something to add to the fun and excitement for FIREWORKS AT SEA!
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to spread some cheer and excitement is with some pirate stickers. I love leaving these in the fish extenders earlier in the morning on the way to breakfast to start the day with some anticipation of fun at night!
Wearables are fun for kids and adults alike. I love giving these out with my group and in random fish extenders and then seeing them on people around the ship. They’re durable and on theme!
As a millennial, is there anything more fun and childlike than a slap bracelet? I just need an excuse to buy them! And pirate night is the perfect opportunity. I love sharing these around the ship for kids young and older.
I love leaving a little something in the center section of our fish extender and bubbles were the biggest of hits! I mean, who doesn’t love bubbles? It brings a bit of that Disney park magic too without the swarm of bubbles from the wands LOL!
These are the pirate magnets I purchased for our first cruise and continue to use each year. I love changing the door magnets the morning of the big day! They’d also be fun gifts to share with your FE group or other cruisers. What a fun surprise it is to see gifted magnets on your door!
Land, hoe! Another fun, inexpensive gift to share during Pirate Night. You can even tie one around your belt with your sword or hook.
Bags & Tags
I am an advocate of sharing your name (and room number, if you feel comfortable) when you leave pixie dusting or a FE gift in someone else’s extender. I love knowing who was kind enough to leave me a small treasure. I don’t always have time to prep my gifts, though. So, this last trip I made tags on Canva at first, then brought some supplies so that I could package and label my gifts as the week passed. You also want to consider your packing game. For this last cruise, I had to fly to San Diego before boarding the ship, and I didn’t want to have my items bagged and tagged in my suitcase getting torn or bent. Here are a few small tools I took with me to help prep my giveaways.
I bought this for my cruise last month and loved it. It was compact, but allowed me to quickly punch a hole in my gift tags and attaching with some ribbon or string. And right now, the pink one is on sale!
I like packing my surprises in little party bags so that I can add a fun message on a gift tag. Be sure to check your dimensions of gifts versus your bags if you are purchasing bigger items. You just can’t go wrong with Mickey, though!
Or try these Mickey and Minnie bags to mix things up or separate a couple of gifts. There are so many different types to choose from with this vendor, including Sully and Stitch themes.
If your gifts might be a bit heavier, then your best bet may be with paper bags. These handles can also be helpful if you want to hang on the fish or the door handle too.
On my last cruise I was gifted a cloth drawstring bag and used it throughout the rest of the week! Your bag can even be part of your gift. These 10” x 12” polyester bags also come in Toy Story theme and Spiderman. I think they’d be extra fun customizing with a Cricut too.
Now, since you’re sailing the high seas, you may want to incorporate a BIT of Little Mermaid into your gifting! It’s only natural. This vendor also has Frozen bags to match the Frozen Broadway-style show that plays on the Disney Wonder, Fantasy, and Destiny! We love a themed day of gifting, okay! They also have Lion King which you sadly don’t find a lot of items for.
I received one of these pouches on my first Disney cruise and I absolutely loved it! It’s the perfect pen holder for my daily bag. I received one of these on my most recent cruise too, and am so excited. I just love these. Add some of the above necessities or some Disney pins to trade. It’s one of my favorite FE gift “bags” to receive!
If plastic is not your preference, these canvas bags are super cute and are a pretty good deal! Again, fill them with a couple of practical little pieces like the above band-aids or odor protectors and it’s truly the perfect little gift to those in your FE group or random cruisers.
General Cruise Fun
Hiding and sharing ducks around cruise ships is a popular pastime for all ages. On my first cruise I received quite a few of these fun guys that now sit on my trinket shelf. Just a little added fun!
I also received a few of these in my fish extender that I was able to put on my journals and cruise bag. They’re fun and leave a lovely message. Or you can try this funny adult version, too!
Though I prefer to use my Magic Band on the cruise, you may prefer to use your Key to the World Card for purchases, opening your door, and getting on/off the ship. Because the Disney lanyards are a bit expensive, I like gifting these generic cruise lanyards that guests can reuse on any ship!
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