Organizing Fish Extender

scrapycruiser · Oct 18, 2009

I have agreed to organize our groups' FE. Could someone tell me what I need to do. I will get everyone's cabin #'s ,# adults, # children.

I have participated but never organized one. Thanks for the help ! :grouphug:

tjbaggott · Oct 18, 2009

This is my first time organizing it too. Use the following link to see how I posted the info on our cruise meets board: (scroll to post 216 here)
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1812316&page=15

Then this link will show you the next step I did and just updated and reposted this page each time a new family joined: (and scroll to post 245 here) http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1812316&page=17

I gave a deadline to join and indicated we had to close it down 2 or 3 weeks from sailing. This meant no last minute shopping for FE gifts. I will pm you a copy of our master list to show you how I organized that up. Closer to the close out date, I asked people to pm their stateroom numbers and family names for the master list. As soon as I had all that info, I pm'd the master list to everyone so they could do their shopping, or hand made items and label them. I also stipulated that everyone gifts as they choose to (ie: per person, or per cabin, or adults only, or children only ect...) I myself am giving one gift for adult couples to share, and then one gift per child.

It's been fun really!

scrapycruiser · Oct 18, 2009

THANKS for the help !! I'm looking forward to it, too !! :banana:

I will follow your lead !!

ErieCruiser08 · Oct 19, 2009

ScrapyCruiser--Hello again! We're on your sailing in Feb and I want to thank you again for organizing the f/e exchange.
When we sailed last Jan. on the Magic, the lady who organized it did a very good job. If you want, you could look back the the threads from that sailing. Its under 2009 Magic sailings 7-night western, Jan 24, 2009.
One lady even mapped out the ship and the easiest and quickest way to deliver our gifts. For ex: start by taking midship elevators to deck 1, turn left and you will see "so & so's" cabin #. Then turn around and head to the aft of the ship and take those elevators to deck 2.
By her doing this, it took us no time at all to deliver our goods. SHe must have been very familiar with the ship--either that or had lots of time on her hands to figure it out. But it was very nice for us!
:cutie:

scrapycruiser · Oct 19, 2009

Thanks for the link to your last cruise.I'll take a look at it. I'm sure it'll be a help to me. Maps ? I have no sense of direction, but maybe this will be something my husband can help with. :rolleyes1

Great idea !

I'll give it my best. Just thought I'd step up since no one else had. It'll be alot of FUN !! :yay:

kcashner · Oct 19, 2009

One thing you will want to do it to print out the lists and bring some along to the Dis meeting. Many people will probably have changed cabin numbers, and you'll be able to upgrade those on the list. IF you are planning to arrive at the terminal early, you might make yourself a "meeting spot" in advance (Like I'll be at the end near the bathroom wearing XYZ). Suggest that anyone who upgrades at the terminal before boarding starts check in with you so you can note the new cabin before the commotion of the Dis-meet. ALSO...if you are bringing a dry erase board for your cabin, bring it to the meet with any cabin changes you have not changed on the lists written on it.

We had one cruise where the organizer passed out maps of the various decks with the participating cabins indicated--I found this to be more trouble than it was worth. There are signs by each elevator indicating where cabins are, and many of the FE cabins had changed...the maps were just more paper.

I'd suggest cutting off the list at least 3 weeks before sailing. Some people will do WDW the week before the cruise, so this time isn't any too generous.

scrapycruiser · Oct 19, 2009

kcashner..MANY THANKS !! Great advice !! I am printing all these suggestions. You're a big help ! :cloud9:

disneyfreak1 · Oct 19, 2009

kcashner said:
One thing you will want to do it to print out the lists and bring some along to the Dis meeting. Many people will probably have changed cabin numbers, and you'll be able to upgrade those on the list. IF you are planning to arrive at the terminal early, you might make yourself a "meeting spot" in advance (Like I'll be at the end near the bathroom wearing XYZ). Suggest that anyone who upgrades at the terminal before boarding starts check in with you so you can note the new cabin before the commotion of the Dis-meet. ALSO...if you are bringing a dry erase board for your cabin, bring it to the meet with any cabin changes you have not changed on the lists written on it.

We had one cruise where the organizer passed out maps of the various decks with the participating cabins indicated--I found this to be more trouble than it was worth. There are signs by each elevator indicating where cabins are, and many of the FE cabins had changed...the maps were just more paper.

I'd suggest cutting off the list at least 3 weeks before sailing. Some people will do WDW the week before the cruise, so this time isn't any too generous.

I have to agree about the map. Not only was it more paper, but the print was too small to read. Or maybe I'm just getting too old to do without my reading glasses! :rotfl:

Jusacuz · Oct 19, 2009

I've organized one and don't have much to add. The only suggestion I'd add is something someone in ours suggested. That was to assign people days to pass out gifts. This may not work for everyone, obviously, but it was nice for ours. We didn't have a lot of people and having 3 or 4 gifts each day was nicer than all at once. It kept the fun going until the end of the cruise.

I like having deck plans with the rooms marked. When I did ours, I made sure it was a separate document from the spreadsheet with the other info, so each person could decide if they wanted them or not. They help me, but I can understand that others might find them useless.

kcashner · Oct 19, 2009

I'll differ with Jessica on assigning days. I want to deliver my gifts when I have time, not when the schedule says I have to make time. Depending on the number of rooms involved, it can take a long time! (I was surprised the first time). On the first cruise, I had 3 smaller gifts for the kids and did 3 deliveries..never again!

We found it was nice to be surprised--you never knew when something would be there when you came back.

You may want to make a "all gifts will be delivered by" date/time. People will want to start packing up their luggage, and part of that might be taking down their FEs. Noon on the last day, or midnight the second to last night is reasonable.

Jusacuz · Oct 19, 2009

kcashner said:
I'll differ with Jessica on assigning days. I want to deliver my gifts when I have time, not when the schedule says I have to make time. Depending on the number of rooms involved, it can take a long time! (I was surprised the first time). On the first cruise, I had 3 smaller gifts for the kids and did 3 deliveries..never again!

We found it was nice to be surprised--you never knew when something would be there when you came back.

You may want to make a "all gifts will be delivered by" date/time. People will want to start packing up their luggage, and part of that might be taking down their FEs. Noon on the last day, or midnight the second to last night is reasonable.

We only had about 13 people and it was a group decision to assign days. People could pick what day they wanted and they certainly weren't forced to stick to that day if something else came up.

I think the real point is to make sure to communicate a lot within your own group to find out the preferences of the majority. It is all supposed to be fun, so each group will have different ideas of what works best. :goodvibes

kcashner · Oct 19, 2009

Jusacuz said:
I think the real point is to make sure to communicate a lot within your own group to find out the preferences of the majority. It is all supposed to be fun, so each group will have different ideas of what works best.

Totally agree :goodvibes

And I'm sure doing it with 13 rooms is a lot different than with 3 times that many.

Another idea that works if it gets to be too many rooms (some cruises have had over 100 participating) is to divide the list. It can get both time consuming and very expensive if the group is too big. :scared1:

tinkmom2 · Oct 19, 2009

This is my second FE exchange but the first I am in charge of. I have my list organized buy cabin numbers first, the Diser's name, who's in the cabin(dd, dh, dw etc..) a contact email and if there are any allergies. Our cut off time is about 3 weeks before the cruise.

ltzol · Oct 19, 2009

I just want to say a general "thank you" to all of you who take the time to organize the FE's. As a newbie, I truly appreciate the time and effort you all put into this!

disneylove69 · Oct 22, 2009

Definately set a final date. We had people a few weeks prior wanting to get in so there was an "extra" list. These people were added and those with extras could drop off. Definately bring a few extra lists as people will forget and changes made. I also bought a small wipe off board at the dollar store and put on the door for any changes. We did not have drop off time but I did do mine the first night.

petersonclan06 · Mar 30, 2015

we are wondering if the fish extender still takes place. never took a disney cruise before. heard about this and wanted to play along. read some very nasty remarks about it, with folks saying they didnt want 'homemade crap'....why would they dare get involved? just to whine? i thought this would be awesome for us as fisrt times on DCL. no one has come forward to organize on ours. what can i do to help that along? thank you

PrincessShmoo · Mar 30, 2015

petersonclan06 said:
we are wondering if the fish extender still takes place. never took a disney cruise before. heard about this and wanted to play along. read some very nasty remarks about it, with folks saying they didnt want 'homemade crap'....why would they dare get involved? just to whine? i thought this would be awesome for us as fisrt times on DCL. no one has come forward to organize on ours. what can i do to help that along? thank you

Fish Extender gift exchanges are handled on your cruise meet thread. If no one has stepped up to say "I'll organize it", maybe you could. It would involved maintaining the list and seeing that everyone involved gets a copy of it.

You could start one and say "the first XX rooms that sign up". Or just let everyone who want to sign up by XX date. It would be your call (as the organizer).

We did FEs on 3 cruises and I did pixie dusting on a couple of others. I enjoyed it. Yes, there are those who feel that they didn't get as good as they gave, but they were the minority.

Gabriela Valentin · Mar 30, 2015

Hi, we are 2 families sailing Disney for the first time on 4/13 on the Dream and cant wait we have 4 kiddos who are so excited for their special Disney vacation. I have 2 girls 11 and 6 they love all the princesses and anything Disney and our friends have a girl 4 and a boy 2. Do they need to register themselves? This fish extenders look like fun how do we participate?

lanejudy · Mar 30, 2015

Gabriela Valentin said:
Hi, we are 2 families sailing Disney for the first time on 4/13 on the Dream and cant wait we have 4 kiddos who are so excited for their special Disney vacation. I have 2 girls 11 and 6 they love all the princesses and anything Disney and our friends have a girl 4 and a boy 2. Do they need to register themselves? This fish extenders look like fun how do we participate?

Are you sailing the April 13, 2015 Dream 3-night cruise? This is the Cruise Meet thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-dream-april-13-2015.3224072/
You can ask there about joining the FE -- since it is now just 2 weeks to your sail date so the FE may have closed so people have time to purchase/make the gifts. If it is too late, maybe you and your friend's family can just fill your own or each other's FEs for the kids.

Enjoy your cruise!

petersonclan06 · Mar 30, 2015

PrincessShmoo said:
Fish Extender gift exchanges are handled on your cruise meet thread. If no one has stepped up to say "I'll organize it", maybe you could. It would involved maintaining the list and seeing that everyone involved gets a copy of it.

You could start one and say "the first XX rooms that sign up". Or just let everyone who want to sign up by XX date. It would be your call (as the organizer).

We did FEs on 3 cruises and I did pixie dusting on a couple of others. I enjoyed it. Yes, there are those who feel that they didn't get as good as they gave, but they were the minority.

thank you so much!!!!! you made me a bit at ease. i will start a list!

Organizing Fish Extender

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