Amount Spent per cabin on FE gifts - The DIS Discussion Forums

OrcaPorkka · 02-04-2013, 12:14 AM

Hi there! I would love to know what is the rough amount spent on FE gifts. I am posting a poll and I think it can be answered anonymously.

This is our first Disney cruise and I just want to make sure I am doing right by all the fun people I am going to meet up with!

Susiesark · 02-04-2013, 12:19 AM

I try (usually not successful) to spend around $1 per person. It all adds up, especially when you're giving to 50-75 cabins, and most with a few kids.

disneyfan19712006 · 02-04-2013, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrcaPorkka

Hi there! I would love to know what is the rough amount spent on FE gifts. I am posting a poll and I think it can be answered anonymously.

This is our first Disney cruise and I just want to make sure I am doing right by all the fun people I am going to meet up with!

I usually spend $5.00 to $7.00 per cabin. That's just me. I have gotten some homemade gifts that I know we're not expensive but were so special. It is a personal choice don't spend more than you can afford.

jdb in AZ · 02-04-2013, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susiesark

I try (usually not successful) to spend around $1 per person. It all adds up, especially when you're giving to 50-75 cabins, and most with a few kids.

That's a lot of cabins! Did everyone in your group do that many cabins, or did you join more than one group?

How long did it take to deliver your gifts?

lbgraves · 02-04-2013, 08:34 AM

We have cruised with over 100 staterooms so have kept the cost down. When we do those I purchase an item in bulk then personalize it for the cruise by hand -- so while the cost may not be much individualy there is a lot of time put into it painting, personalizing and finishing. I also shop year round for kid FE gifts scouting out clearance and using coupons/discounts as much as possible. One time I found Disney silly bands in the clearance aisle in Wal-Mart that rang up as .10 a bag!!!! Probably a pricing error, but I bought all they had.

Regarding the question about larger FE groups, the group was simply one and everyone exchanged with everyone else. I think there were 130 staterooms on the 2008 EBPC cruise. We had 15 days to deliver. I think it may have taken my DD and I 2 hours total to deliver to everyone. Last year on the MV there were 86 rooms and it took 1 1/2 hours, but we were also learning our way around the hallways on the new ship. It takes less time when you are delivering the same thing to everyone using a list and how many people are in each room, and if you have labled different gifts for each room/person. This year I am doing the same gift so it won't matter who gets which one and it won't take nearly as long. It's the smallest group we have participated in with just 37 families.

RedxPanda · 02-04-2013, 10:04 AM

I try to aim for no more than $10 for a family of 4, but I have only participated in relatively small FE groups.

Blanche_Neige · 02-04-2013, 10:42 AM

I say it varies with the total amount of participation in the FE.

mickeyhereicome · 02-04-2013, 10:49 AM

I really like this post idea. I have been wondering this for a while now. Will be checking often to see results. I was thinking $10 a cabin, our cruise has less than 15 cabins right now though. I dont think if there were 50 cabins I would spend $10.

OrcaPorkka · 02-04-2013, 11:04 AM

I really appreciate everyone's willingness to answer. I agree that it would definitely depend on how many cabins were participating.

lbgraves · 02-04-2013, 11:13 AM

Just adding that there have also been Secret Mickey exchanges on some of our cruises with the large FE groups. This was just one gift purchased for the person you were assigned by the coordinator. The average for that was around $10.

OrcaPorkka · 02-04-2013, 06:17 PM

That Secret Mickey idea sounds neat too! I don't think my FE group is doing anything like that...

kalikat420 · 02-04-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbgraves

Just adding that there have also been Secret Mickey exchanges on some of our cruises with the large FE groups. This was just one gift purchased for the person you were assigned by the coordinator. The average for that was around $10.

Love this idea! Will consider suggesting it to my FE group...once I finally pick a cruise!

JackieO · 02-04-2013, 07:34 PM

We were on a very tight budget but I wanted to participate. I think there were about 20 cabins in our group so $10 per cabin just wasn't something I could do. We worked together as a family to make gifts and I think we spend around $2.00/cabin.

jiminyC_fan · 02-04-2013, 07:43 PM

The original thought behind the FE was for fun. It has since turned into a major cost to so many people. I wish it would go back to simplicity. It saddens me to read some posts that say they can't afford to participate.

bahacca · 02-04-2013, 08:41 PM

Our group thus far is pretty small. If it were 50 cabins, I'd spend a LOT less per cabin. I am doing it for FUN with the full realization that some people may only be able to afford simple, "cheaper" gifts, but that doesn't mean the thought behind the gifts was any less. I'm 34 and still stand by "It's the thought that counts!" when it comes to gifts.

View Poll Results: How much do you spend per cabin on FE gifts?
$1-$3	16	17.39%
$4-$6	33	35.87%
$7-$10	32	34.78%
$11-$14	6	6.52%
$15 and up	5	5.43%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

02-04-2013, 12:14 AM	#1
OrcaPorkka Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 33	Amount Spent per cabin on FE gifts Hi there! I would love to know what is the rough amount spent on FE gifts. I am posting a poll and I think it can be answered anonymously. This is our first Disney cruise and I just want to make sure I am doing right by all the fun people I am going to meet up with!

02-04-2013, 12:19 AM	#2
Susiesark DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 15 minutes from Disneyland Posts: 1,037	I try (usually not successful) to spend around $1 per person. It all adds up, especially when you're giving to 50-75 cabins, and most with a few kids. __________________

02-04-2013, 08:34 AM	#5
lbgraves Little Cinderella's Mommy The bad news is...they are driving me nuts!!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44,820	We have cruised with over 100 staterooms so have kept the cost down. When we do those I purchase an item in bulk then personalize it for the cruise by hand -- so while the cost may not be much individualy there is a lot of time put into it painting, personalizing and finishing. I also shop year round for kid FE gifts scouting out clearance and using coupons/discounts as much as possible. One time I found Disney silly bands in the clearance aisle in Wal-Mart that rang up as .10 a bag!!!! Probably a pricing error, but I bought all they had. Regarding the question about larger FE groups, the group was simply one and everyone exchanged with everyone else. I think there were 130 staterooms on the 2008 EBPC cruise. We had 15 days to deliver. I think it may have taken my DD and I 2 hours total to deliver to everyone. Last year on the MV there were 86 rooms and it took 1 1/2 hours, but we were also learning our way around the hallways on the new ship. It takes less time when you are delivering the same thing to everyone using a list and how many people are in each room, and if you have labled different gifts for each room/person. This year I am doing the same gift so it won't matter who gets which one and it won't take nearly as long. It's the smallest group we have participated in with just 37 families. __________________ Lisa Magic: E 11/15/2003, W 12/4/2004, E 12/10/2005, W 12/9/2006, EBPC 8/2008, W 1/8/2011 Wonder: 3N 1/11/2010, Alaska 7/26/11 Fantasy: MV 3/31/2012, E 3/23/2013

02-04-2013, 10:04 AM	#6
RedxPanda DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 1 hr to WDW :: 30 mins to PC Posts: 537	I try to aim for no more than $10 for a family of 4, but I have only participated in relatively small FE groups. __________________ Kristina - CM Summer of '01 - Main Street, MK \|\| Marc \|\| Sofie (1.5) Past Sailings/Recent Trips CCL Triumph - 7N E. Caribbean - 12/2006 \|\| NCL POA - 7N Hawaii - 3/2010 \|\| CBR - 3N/4D 4 Park Marathon - 5/2010 Disney Magic - 4N Bahamas - 5/2012 - Trip Report Disney Wonder - 5N W. Caribbean - 1/28/2013 - CC Review Booked Sailings Dummy Date on Disney Dream

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02-04-2013, 10:42 AM	#7
Blanche_Neige DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Qc Posts: 1,707	I say it varies with the total amount of participation in the FE. __________________ Me DH DS (13) DS (11) DS (11) Feb 1986 - Off site, Jan 2007 - ASMovies, Jan 2008, 2009, 2010 - ASMusic Sept 2010- ASMovies & Disney Wonder (1st cruise) March 2011- All Star Sports + 1st trip to US offsite Oct 2011 - Dream + POP + MNSSHP March 2012 - US offsite + DTD shopping spree (I need my fix ) Feb 2013 - Disneyland off site 1st time! March 2014 - DCL Dream

02-04-2013, 10:49 AM	#8
mickeyhereicome Mouseketeer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 108	I really like this post idea. I have been wondering this for a while now. Will be checking often to see results. I was thinking $10 a cabin, our cruise has less than 15 cabins right now though. I dont think if there were 50 cabins I would spend $10.

02-04-2013, 11:04 AM	#9
OrcaPorkka Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 33	I really appreciate everyone's willingness to answer. I agree that it would definitely depend on how many cabins were participating.

02-04-2013, 11:13 AM	#10
lbgraves Little Cinderella's Mommy The bad news is...they are driving me nuts!!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 44,820	Just adding that there have also been Secret Mickey exchanges on some of our cruises with the large FE groups. This was just one gift purchased for the person you were assigned by the coordinator. The average for that was around $10. __________________ Lisa Magic: E 11/15/2003, W 12/4/2004, E 12/10/2005, W 12/9/2006, EBPC 8/2008, W 1/8/2011 Wonder: 3N 1/11/2010, Alaska 7/26/11 Fantasy: MV 3/31/2012, E 3/23/2013

02-04-2013, 06:17 PM	#11
OrcaPorkka Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 33	That Secret Mickey idea sounds neat too! I don't think my FE group is doing anything like that...

02-04-2013, 07:34 PM	#13
JackieO Mouseketeer Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 103	We were on a very tight budget but I wanted to participate. I think there were about 20 cabins in our group so $10 per cabin just wasn't something I could do. We worked together as a family to make gifts and I think we spend around $2.00/cabin.

02-04-2013, 07:43 PM	#14
jiminyC_fan Missing Captain Mickey! always let your conscience be your guide Gotta love popcorn! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 15,138	The original thought behind the FE was for fun. It has since turned into a major cost to so many people. I wish it would go back to simplicity. It saddens me to read some posts that say they can't afford to participate. __________________

02-04-2013, 08:41 PM	#15
bahacca Mouseketeer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: 15 minutes East of Disneyland Posts: 408	Our group thus far is pretty small. If it were 50 cabins, I'd spend a LOT less per cabin. I am doing it for FUN with the full realization that some people may only be able to afford simple, "cheaper" gifts, but that doesn't mean the thought behind the gifts was any less. I'm 34 and still stand by "It's the thought that counts!" when it comes to gifts.

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