June 12, 2017 Disney Wonder 7-night to Alaska

[KrisCox]

Welcome!

 

[mykeytea]

Booked it last night.

Self..Mike
DW Karen
DS's Nick (14) Jack (7) Joe (7)
DD Samantha (7)

Dates are at time of cruise. Yes - they are triplets.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

We are booked! Me (Nancy), DH Brian, DS Nathan (13), DS Joshua (9) and DD Alyssa (6).

 

[KrisCox]

We started booking at 6am West Coast time Thursday morning! So excited for my first Disney cruise!
Me Kris
DH Tim
DS Brendan (he'll be 8 by the time we cruise)


Have either of of you done the cruise meet/ fish extenders before?

 

[CruisingFam4]

Excited for our first Alaska Cruise! Overall DCL #5. Looking forward to our first Fish Extenders participation.
Me (Jason)
DW (Donna)
DDs (Allison 13 and Kaitlyn 11)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

fish extenders before?

Looking forward to our first Fish Extenders participation

It's a little early for setting up a Fish Extender group. Generally 6-8 months out is a good time. Before that you find there are cruisers who, when flush with the "I've booked a Disney cruise" excitement will say "I want to participate". Then, for various reasons, they wind up cancelling the cruise or deciding not to actually participate. Then you wind up with a FE list with holes in it and no way to know for sure who's participating.

By 6 months, or so, out most cruisers have made the mental commitment to take the cruise and are willing to participate in cruise meet activities more fully.

For information (in case someone's interested):
SETTING UP A FE GROUP
There really are no “rules” as to how a FE program runs. Basically someone will step up and say “I’ll maintain the list”. This means they maintain the list of those who wish to participate. The group can decide on what information is necessary to produce FE gifts. A basic list may only have DISname/room number/number of people in the room. A more involved list could be first & last names/ages/room number/ favorite character/ favorite color/allergies/whatever is deemed necessary to know in order to create the gifts. Also a decision can be made as to size of FE group. Some groups break out the list(s) at 10-15 rooms max, so that there are multiple lists (and some people will participate in more than one list). Other groups just make one big list (upwards of 20-30 rooms).

The easiest, most private way to handle the information necessary to prepare the list (many people prefer not to put sensitive information on a public forum), is to use the “Conversation” feature here. There needs to be at least two people to start a conversation. Only the starter of the conversation (usually the organizer) can add additional people into the conversation (as long as they do NOT select “Allow anyone in the conversation to invite others” at the bottom of the reply window). Then when new people express a desire to join, usually by just saying “we want to join the FE”, the organizer can add them by clicking on the “Invite more” button in the “Conversation Participants” window (lower right of conversation page). Only those people participating in the conversation can see what’s posted there, and respond there. I will also note, to participate in conversations, everyone needs to have at least 10 posts. For those who wish to use this option for private conversations that don’t have 10 posts yet, head over to the Test Board to post and up your post count. http://www.disboards.com/forums/test-board.88/

Up to 20 people can participate in any given conversation.

At some point the list will “close”. Typically this happens 30-45 days out from the cruise, so that everyone participating has time to organize/prepare their gifts. Shortly before this time (about 2-3 weeks prior) the organizer will post the list, either directly on the Cruise Meet thread, OR via private conversation, or, possibly, via e-mails. This is to confirm everyone on the list is still participating. It’s important to make a statement about “anyone not confirming by XX date will be dropped” at this time. A little harsh, yes, but often there are people who will post on the cruise meet thread as soon as they reserve the cruise and say “I want to participate”, and are never heard from again.

Once the list closes, the organizer will post the final list. Also, a decision must be made as to whether to allow late additions. Sometimes there is a “pixie dust” list. That is, basically, a latecomers list that gets posted about a week out from the cruise that others may or may not add to their “final” list. Be sure the “pixie dust” list participants realize they may or may not get gifts from others, but are expected to provide gifts for the other FE participants anyway.

The other “biggie” is no other social media sites are allowed to be linked or search directions posted as to how to find that other site here on DISboards. Please read this: http://www.disboards.com/threads/im...uise-meet-and-fish-extender-programs.3353477/

 

[mykeytea]

This will be our 3rd cruise, 2nd Fish Extender (FE) and 1st time to Alaska. Did not do the meet last time - tried, but they were not where we expected and so missed them. The FE was a lot of fun - the kids loved it.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Have either of of you done the cruise meet/ fish extenders before?

We have participated in the FE on all our past cruises, and have gone to meet-ups on a few. Fun stuff! The group meet-up on our last cruise was huge, and our kids got to meet other kids to hang out with during the week (especially my 11-year old for his first time in the Edge). On our last 3 cruises, the FE and meet-ups have primarily been organized on social media pages. As PrincessSchmoo mentioned above, the DIS boards do not allow anyone to post a link to a social media group for a particular cruise or give specific instructions on how to find it. Most of the summer 2017 cruises (including this one) already have group pages started on social media.

I'm looking forward to Alaska!!!

 

[prov3v56]

Just booked tonight! This is our 4th Disney Cruise and first to Alaska.
DH,DW, DS-17 and DD-13.

 

[mamaburrito]

Just booked! First cruise.

Me -Tina
DH - Craig
DS - Wes age 7
DD - Emily age 4

 

[AndymanGA]

Hey y'all. This will be our 5th Disney cruise and first Alaskan. Kids DS almost 9 and DD 5 cant wait for this trip! My sister and her family and my mom will all be joining us.

 

[AndymanGA]

365 days away.

 

[hartyrollins]

We are booked!

Self: Susan
DW: Jen
DS: Tyler (will be 11 at the time of sailing)

This will be our 4th Disney Cruise, our first to Alaska! We will be celebrating me turning 50 (!) and our 20th Anniversary. Interested in participating in the FE group, we are a crafty family and have lots of ideas!

 

[AndymanGA]

305 days and counting

 

[lagoofy]

Super excited for our cruise. This is my fourth Disney cruise and my DK's third. This will be my second time on The Wonder but first time for all of us to Alaska.

We haven't done fe's before so we would love to participate in a group.

Me-Lisa
DS-Dylan 20
DD-Caitlyn 12

 

[Vacay-Mom]

We just booked! It was kids choice (okay, mom's too) this time ~ 2nd cruise, 1st time to Alaska! It's going to be epic.
We would like to join a FE group as well - Family of 5.

 

[horvatron]

Excited for this trip! Our 3rd cruise.

Me: Kelly
DH: Russ
DS: Jackson (9)
DD: Penelope (4)

 

[ssplenda]

This will be our third Disney Cruise and we just learned about FE which we are excited about!

 

[estewart0901]

So excited for this cruise! Will be my husband's FIRST cruise never thought I could get him on a boat!!! 3rd Disney Cruise for me and my daughter and my parents' 2nd Disney cruise

 

[mbjeni]

We are in! Myself, Husband, 3 kiddos (8,6 & 2). Can't wait for fish extenders!