Looking for a way to make your next Disney cruise even more magical? Cruisers in the know join a fish extender exchange group to add a bit of pixie dust to their vacation at sea.
What are fish extenders? No, they’re not related to Nemo or Dory. They are actually a key accessory in a Secret Santa-style activity popular on Disney cruises that can be fun for the whole family. 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 might have noticed that some passengers hang pocket organizers adjacent to their cabin doors. These are called fish extenders, named after the metal fish emblem (or other sea animal) located outside your cabin door (often above your cabin number). The emblem acts as a mailbox for excursion tickets, dining reminders and an envelope with your keycards on the first day of your cruise. It’s also where cruisers hang their fish extenders.
What’s the purpose of these hanging organizers? It’s to allow fellow passengers to leave little gifts and trinkets for the people in your cabin as part of a Secret Santa-type of activity. Disney Cruise Line does not coordinate these fish extender exchanges; they’re organized independently by cruisers on each sailing.
You will see a wide variety of fish extenders on a Disney cruise. The most popular fish extender styles are reusable canvas shopping bags or custom tiered pouches that are similar to door organizers.
Related: 11 ways to save money on a Disney cruise
How do you connect with people to participate in a gift exchange?
The two most popular places to find fish extender groups are on community cruise boards and through Facebook.
No matter which option you choose, you’ll first want to find the cruise you’re going on by searching for your ship and dates. For example, you might search “Disney Dream, Aug. 12-19, 2025,” and if a group already exists, ask to join.
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Within the groups (sometimes called roll calls), smaller groups can be created 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 holiday ornaments. Depending on what type of gift exchange you want to participate in, you can register for one or more of the smaller groups. The groups are usually listed out by a group manager so you can see what your options are before committing to a themed group.
After you decide what type of fish extender group you want to be part of, the group’s organizer will add you to the list. You might also be asked to fill out a brief survey about yourself and your cabin mates — your likes, favorite Disney characters, favorite holidays, etc.
The larger group is then divided into smaller, more manageable groups so no one family has to buy too much. Before your cruise, you’ll get a short list of cabins for your gift list. If you completed a survey for the fish extender group, you’ll also get the same information about your assigned fish extender group mates.
Related: Best Disney cruise ships for everyone — even Disney adults
Where to get fish extenders
Depending on the type of fish extender you want (a bag or a tiered pouch), you can buy or make one. If you want to buy your fish extender, Etsy and Amazon offer many cute options.
Additionally, YouTube offers plenty of tutorials on how to make a fish extender. Some require basic sewing knowledge, while others are no-sew tutorials. Just find the video that looks the easiest to you, get everything you need from the craft store and get to work.
What are the best gifts for a fish extender?
Disney fish extender gift ideas are almost endless. If you’re crafty, consider homemade gifts like magnets, ornaments and key chains. Those who prefer to buy gifts can purchase glow sticks, small toys, cups and tote bags. Pro tip: Give gifts you would want to receive.
Need inspiration for fish extender gifts? Head to YouTube or TikTok for fish extender hauls or search gift ideas on Etsy. When it’s time to shop, online stores like Amazon and Etsy are great spots. I also like to find little trinkets for kids at the dollar section in Target, craft stores or an “everything is a dollar” type of store.
Make sure your suitcase is big enough to fit the gifts you plan to take (and the ones you’ll receive during your cruise). I’ve seen fish extenders overflowing with treasures, which is great. However, gifts may be hard to pack if you don’t leave enough room in your suitcase.
The general rule for a fish extender exchange is to give one time to each person in your assigned cabin group during the cruise. So if you have five cabins and four people per cabin, you’ll have 20 individual gifts that you’ll need to give out. Most people deliver all of the gifts for one cabin at a time.
What type of budget should you anticipate with fish extender gifts?
Your budget will depend on the type of group you join. Some fish extender groups will provide 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 several people.
The number of people in your assigned cabin group will depend on the cabin limits set by the organizer, but the average group is five to 10 rooms. Just know that cabins usually house one to five guests, which can make your fish extender budget blow up quickly.
If you have a fish extender group that has six cabins with four people each, you’re buying for 24 people. That multiplied by $10 per gift per person makes your budget $240.
How to use your fish extender
Once you board the ship, the real fun of the fish extender gift exchange begins.
Hang your fish extender as early as possible on the first day. Consider packing your extender in your carry-on bag so you can hang it shortly after the cabins are ready. Most people hang their fish extenders from the metal animal that displays the cabin number, but I’ve also seen people hang fish extenders on their cabin doors with metal magnetic hooks.
When do you deliver fish extender gifts?
Typically, no particular time is set for delivering fish extender gifts, but you’ll want to deliver each gift for the same cabin at the same time. If you have 10 different cabins to deliver to, it might take a while to get to everyone. You don’t want to have to double back to a cabin you’ve already visited.
You should distribute all of your gifts before dinner on the last night. This isn’t a hard rule, but many passengers pack shortly after dinner so crew members can collect the bags the night before disembarkation. No one wants to figure out how to fit gifts in a carry-on bag that’s likely already full of last-minute items like pajamas and toiletries.
Where do you put the gifts you’ve received?
Check your fish extender each day so you can store any gifts you’ve received inside your cabin. This prevents any unwanted swiping and allows you to see and enjoy what you’ve been given. Create a dedicated space in the cabin for your gifts — a small carry-on suitcase that can be easily accessed or an unused drawer or shelf.
Are fish extender gift exchanges and pixie dusting the same thing?
One topic that comes up a lot in Disney Cruise Line groups is the difference between fish extenders and “pixie dusting.” Fish extenders are part of organized gift exchanges. Pixie dusting is giving or receiving a gift not organized by a group. Receiving pixie dust gifts is purely a surprise, and you are not expected to give a gift in exchange.
Some people still put out bags or fish extender pouches for pixie dusting gifts, even if they are not participating in a fish extender exchange.
In the past, I’ve taken little trinkets onto the ship with me to give as pixie dust gifts. On a recent sailing, I enjoyed giving out friendship bracelets with Disney sayings on them. I’ve also pixie dusted with Halloween-themed gift bags filled with pencils, spider rings and ghost erasers for a “Halloween on the High Seas” itinerary.
Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries
Bottom line
Joining a fish extender group and participating in the gift exchanges that go with it can be a great way to add a bit more fun to your Disney cruise. However, it can be a big time and money commitment. You can purchase or make fish extender gifts, but you should follow the rules of the group that you’ve joined. If you’re on a budget but still want to give gifts, consider pixie dusting gifts instead. Either way you go, sharing gifts with others is a fun way to add a bit of magic to your cruise.
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