Everything You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Fish Extenders

Looking for a way to make your next Disney cruise even more magical? Experienced cruisers join a fish extender swap group to add a little fairy dust to their vacation at sea.

What are fish extenders? No, they’re not related to Nemo or Dory. They’re actually a key accessory in a popular Secret Santa activity 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 taken a Disney cruise, you may have noticed that some passengers hang pocket organizers near their stateroom doors. These are called fish extenders, named after the metal fish (or other marine animal) emblem that sits outside the stateroom door (often above the stateroom number). The emblem acts as a mailbox for excursion tickets, meal reminders, and an envelope with your key cards on the first day of your cruise. It’s also where cruisers hang their fish extenders.

What is the purpose of these hanging organizers? It is to allow other passengers to leave small gifts and trinkets for the people in your stateroom as part of a Secret Santa type activity. Disney Cruise Line does not coordinate these fish extender exchanges; they are independently arranged by cruisers on each sailing.

You will see a wide variety of fish extenders on a Disney cruise. The most popular styles of fish extenders are reusable canvas tote bags or custom tiered bags similar to door organizers.

Related: 11 Ways to Save on a Disney Cruise

How do you get in touch with people to participate in a gift exchange?

The two most popular places to find fishing support groups are community cruise forums and Facebook.

Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll want to first find the cruise you’ll be taking by searching for your ship and dates. For example, you might search for “Disney Dream, August 12-19, 2025” and, if there’s a group already on board, ask to join.

Within groups (sometimes called calls), smaller groups can be created for fish extension 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, such as magnets or Christmas ornaments. Depending on the type of gift exchange you want to participate in, you can sign up for one or more smaller groups. Groups are usually listed by a group leader 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 join, the group organizer will add you to the list. You may also be asked to fill out a short survey about yourself and your cabin mates: your tastes, favorite Disney characters, favorite vacations, etc.

The larger group is then divided into smaller, more manageable groups, so no family has to over-buy. Before your cruise, you will receive a short list of cabins for your gift list. If you have completed a survey for the fish extender group, you will also receive the same information about your assigned fish extender group mates.

Related: Best Disney Cruise Ships for Everyone, Even Disney Adults

Where to find fish extenders

Depending on what type of fish extender you want (a bag or a tiered case), you can either buy one or make one. If you want to buy your own fish extender, Etsy and Amazon have lots of cute options.

Additionally, YouTube has many tutorials on how to make a fishbowl. Some require basic sewing skills, while others are no-sew tutorials. Just find the video that seems easiest to you, grab everything you need from your local hardware store, and get to work.

What are the best gifts for a fish extender?

Disney Fish Extension gift ideas are nearly endless. If you’re a creative type, 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 want to receive.

Need some fish extender gift inspiration? Head over to YouTube or TikTok to search for fish extender hauls or browse Etsy for gift ideas. When it comes to shopping, online stores like Amazon and Etsy are great places. I also love finding little kids trinkets in the dollar section of Target, craft stores, or a “dollar everything” type of store.

Make sure your suitcase is big enough to hold the gifts you plan to bring (and those you will receive on your cruise). I have seen fish extenders that are overflowing with treasures, which is awesome. However, gifts may be difficult to pack if you don’t leave enough room in your suitcase.

The general rule for a fish extender exchange is to give one to each person in your assigned stateroom group during the cruise. So if you have five staterooms and four people per stateroom, you will have 20 individual gifts to hand out. Most people give out all the gifts for one stateroom at a time.

What kind of budget should you plan to give a fish extender as a gift?

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 buying for multiple 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 ten rooms. Just know that cabins typically accommodate one to five guests, which can quickly blow your fishing extension budget.

If you have a fishing group that has six cabins with four people each, you are buying for 24 people. This, multiplied by $10 per gift per person, makes your budget $240.

How to use the fish extender

Once you board the ship, the real fun of exchanging gifts with the fish extender begins.

Hang the fish extension as early as possible on the first day. Consider packing the extension in your carry-on so you can hang it up right after the cabins are ready. Most people hang the fish extension on the metal animal that displays their cabin number, but I have also seen people hang the fish extension on their cabin doors with magnetic metal hooks.

When are the gifts containing the fish extenders delivered?

There is usually no specific time for fish extender gifts to be delivered, but you will want to deliver each gift for the same stateroom at the same time. If you have 10 different staterooms to deliver, it may take a while to get to all of them. You don’t want to have to go back to a stateroom you’ve already visited.

You should give out all your gifts before dinner on the last night. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but many passengers pack up shortly after dinner so that crew members can pick up their bags the night before they disembark. No one wants to figure out how to fit gifts into a carry-on that’s probably already full of last-minute items like pajamas and toiletries.

Where do you put the gifts you received?

Check your fish extender daily so you can store the gifts you have received inside the cabin. This prevents any unwanted scrolling and allows you to see and enjoy what you have been given. Create a dedicated space in the cabin for your gifts: a small, easily accessible carry-on or an unused drawer or shelf.

Are fish extender gift exchanges and fairy dust the same thing?

A topic that often comes up 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 the giving or receiving of a gift that is not organized by a group. Receiving gifts of pixie dust is purely a surprise and you are not expected to give a gift in return.

Some people continue to pass around bags or envelopes with fish extenders as pixie dust gifts, even if they are not participating in a fish extender exchange.

In the past, I’ve brought little trinkets on board to give as pixie dust. On a recent cruise, I had fun giving away Disney friendship bracelets. I also dusted Halloween-themed goodie 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

In conclusion

Joining a fish extender group and participating in the gift exchanges that accompany it can be a great way to add a little more fun to your Disney cruise. However, it can be a big commitment of time and money. You can buy or make fish extender gifts, but you should follow the rules of the group you join. If you’re on a budget but still want to give gifts, consider pixie dusting gifts. Either way, sharing gifts with others is a fun way to add a little magic to your cruise.

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