April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[Deb T.]

Sure, I'll join the fish extender exchange. What do I need to do?

Thanks for joining the FE Exchange!

Here is the list of participants so far:
Ness2289 & DD12
Deb T. & DH
Tigger1313 & DGD17
Golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6


Here's my best explanation of how a "Fish Extender Gift Exchange" works:

Beside every cabin door is a large silver fish with an indentation in the back for cruise personnel to leave information, invitations, etc. (Teenagers receive invitations to Teen Club activities and we've also received "rebooking onboard" price quotes tucked in our fish.)

DISboarders have taken the silver fish one step further... by creating hanging pockets (much like cloth letter holders) to hang from the fish - thus the name, "Fish Extender". The Fish Extenders (FEs) can be made of practically anything (cloth, plastic, paper gift bags, etc.), as long as they have at least one pocket that can hold surprises. My FE is just a plain old canvas bag on which I've added a tropical scene, the names of the Disney ships, and our names. I'd love to have a "real" FE like some of the creative DISers have sewn, but I've never taken the time to attempt to make one.

Then, each "Cruise Meets" thread (such as this 4-17-11 one) organizes a little gift exchange during the cruise. People sign up by giving their cabin number, names of everyone in their cabin, and ages of the kids so that everyone will know how many goodies to bring and where to deliver them. Some people give one gift per family, some people give a little gift to each person. It's totally up to the giver to decide what to give and when to give it during the cruise.

There are several threads on the main cruise boards that discuss ideas for FE gifts. Some gifts are from Dollar Stores, some are handmade, and some are bought in bulk from websites that sell trinkets like the Oriental Trading Company. Often, they are stickers, candy, glow sticks, lanyards, etc., with themes such as pirates, beach, cruise, tropical, hometown, holiday, etc. The main idea is just to have fun finding little goodies in your FE throughout the cruise. Kids LOVE running back to their cabin to see if anything's been left in their FE. As an adult, I have to admit that I love it, too!!!

Anyone who would like to join in on the fun on our cruise, just let me know. You can either post your information here in this thread or send me a private message by clicking on my name in the upper left hand corner of this post and then clicking "send a private message to Deb T.". I will only post DIS names and gender/ages of children on the public forum. However, I will send private messages with names and cabin numbers to all participants to keep everyone up-to-date. Since some people travel earlier in the week prior to cruising, we will close the list on 4-1-11 in order to give everyone time to purchase/prepare gifts and pack them. You'll also need to print the final list of participants and pack it with your gifts so you'll know where to deliver them once you're onboard the ship.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, this thread has tons of info and ideas about FE Gift Exchanges: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

I speak from personal experience that it really is a LOT of fun to participate!

 

[pershing]

Geez! I hope they're working on the inside, 'cause the outside doesn't really show much 'meaningful progress' if you know what I mean.

I mean, we're coming up to June now and the inaugural is January 26th.

I'm kinda glad I didn't book the Inaugural Cruise, I'm such a worry-wart. I'd be beside myself!

 

[pershing]

Yeah! I have after the cruise stay all solved.

I ended up renting AKV Value Studio for after the cruise even though we'll be doing Harry Potter. Universal Hotels and surrounding hotels are jumping in price and since DVC parking is free, I might as well stay on Disney and commute to Universal. That way we can return to the magic after a day at the other park.

Surprisingly, I thought I would get the pre-cruise stay done first. But it's been difficult to rent the 14th and 15th at Beach Club Villas! Probably, because it's just 2 nights. I know it won't be available by the time 7 months out rolls along. Oh well!

We are staying at the Port Radisson the night before. I just remembered that I'm a Goldpluspoints member and realized I had points to use. I got Radisson for $77 +5000 points sleep number bed. They didn't offer parking, I don't know if it's a member benefit. Wishful thinking.

What have you guys done for breakfast at the port? Is the Radisson a good place? IHOP? What's cheap and good and will fill up 3 boys?

 

[goofy4tink]

If I remember correctly, the last time we were in port, we ate at the Ihop.
I'm seriously considering heading to US/IoA the day we arrive in Florida...the 14th. Then we can do US/IoA for the rest of that day and on Friday. Then, we'll move over to Cocoa Beach on Friday night until Sun when we board the ship.
I love the FG Festival time at Epcot, so I booked BW, standard studio for the 3 nights after the cruise!!!

 

[pershing]

I'm seriously considering heading to US/IoA the day we arrive in Florida...the 14th. Then we can do US/IoA for the rest of that day and on Friday. Then, we'll move over to Cocoa Beach on Friday night until Sun when we board the ship.

Yeah, I was listening to the podcast as Dave Parfit was saying the aisles in the HP stores are small and not "crowd proof". But I have those 7 day tickets and don't know if they expire 7 days after you start using them. If they don't then, yeah, I'm seriously thinking about the 15th doing HP before the Easter crowds descend. Especially since HP has no fast pass and is expected to have over 5 hour waits at peak times.

I'm determined to pack 2 suitcases: one for parks only, one for cruise only and just take one suitcase in and keep the other in the car. I tried to do that last time, but I ran out of socks, underwear, and bathingsuits (dry ones that is).

 

[jilljill]

We're still trying to figure out when we are heading down/back and if we are flying or driving. Fortunately we don't have to worry about figuring out where to stay since we have a house down there, one less thing to worry about.

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

SO EXCITED !!

Tried to get Studio Std View at BLT for Thursday and Friday after cruise. We have BLT and even at 11 months out ended up on waitlist.

Just happened to call DVC to see if we had gotten lucky. Cast member pulled my resies up and said "Yes, you got them Monday."

The Disney fairies must have been watching. I am so psyched to not have to spend extra to get a car and just live by the monorail.

THANK YOU DISNEY GODS!!

http://www.***********************/tickers/a9r63p9ul093wcb8.png

 

[curlybop]

Hello everyone! I have been faithfully reading along, though not posting much. We had a scare for a bit with DH's work schedule and almost thought we would have to cancel.....but thankfully it all worked out. So we are still planning on this sailing.

I feel unprepared though. LOL! With our first Disney cruise I read everything I could find about the ship....now we just have a few drawings and a couple of photos. It's definitely exciting, but I plan to get nothing done in February but read trip reports for the Dream.

We are trying to decide what to do the days before & after the cruise. As of now we hope to fly out late that Friday or early Saturday. Probably spend the day before in DTD. The days after are still up in the air. We are still thinking about it, since it is a holiday weekend, I don't know if it would really be worth it to try to have a park day or not. Decisions, decisions.......

 

[Z'sDisneyMom]

Hi Everyone

Haven't had time to DIS lately. I've been so busy that I even missed the 11 month window to book our post cruise AKV stay
Luckily I was still able to grab the room I wanted.

It's good to see that our meet is still growing by leaps and bounds...

Hope everyone is enjoying planning as much as I am. Is 11 months out to early to start thinking about fish extender gifts?

 

[Deb T.]

Is 11 months out to early to start thinking about fish extender gifts?

Absolutely not! I already have the adult gifts! I know what I'm giving the kids, too!

 

[golfnsuch]

Is 11 months out to early to start thinking about fish extender gifts?

Nope, never too early to start on FE stuff! I've been a busy bee and having a blast doing so for almost a month!

 

[Tigger1313]

Nope, never too early to start on FE stuff! I've been a busy bee and having a blast doing so for almost a month!

I have started as well, and I just finished my FE about an hour ago. It turned out real cute, but my fingers hurt from all the hand sewing. The bonding tape did not work as well as I thought it would so I hand stitched all the seams. I also got two nights at AKV for thursday and friday night after the cruise
I can't wait

 

[goofy4tink]

Absolutely not! I already have the adult gifts! I know what I'm giving the kids, too!

Weeellll, I've been 'thinking' about them..does that count??
My FE is done..made one a few years ago, so that's ready to go. Now I need to start thinking, and working on, my gifts.

 

[Mom2BCCC]

SO EXCITED !!

Tried to get Studio Std View at BLT for Thursday and Friday after cruise. We have BLT and even at 11 months out ended up on waitlist.

Just happened to call DVC to see if we had gotten lucky. Cast member pulled my resies up and said "Yes, you got them Monday."

The Disney fairies must have been watching. I am so psyched to not have to spend extra to get a car and just live by the monorail.

THANK YOU DISNEY GODS!!


Awesome! We own a few points at BLT but I'm out. Right now we're booked at AKV before the cruise. I might try for BLT Std. View at 7 months for after the cruise. Probably zero chance of getting anything.

We are traveling with two other families. I told them I already booked for before the cruise. They just can't understand why I'm even thinking about it now. . My good friend wants to rent points to stay at BCV after the cruise. I can't get through to her that its Easter weekend and she had better get on it or have a back up plan. I need to zip the lips and let it go.

I'm glad to have found a group on here that plan ahead!

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

SO EXCITED !!

Tried to get Studio Std View at BLT for Thursday and Friday after cruise. We have BLT and even at 11 months out ended up on waitlist.

Just happened to call DVC to see if we had gotten lucky. Cast member pulled my resies up and said "Yes, you got them Monday."

The Disney fairies must have been watching. I am so psyched to not have to spend extra to get a car and just live by the monorail.

THANK YOU DISNEY GODS!!


Awesome! We own a few points at BLT but I'm out. Right now we're booked at AKV before the cruise. I might try for BLT Std. View at 7 months for after the cruise. Probably zero chance of getting anything.

We are traveling with two other families. I told them I already booked for before the cruise. They just can't understand why I'm even thinking about it now. . My good friend wants to rent points to stay at BCV after the cruise. I can't get through to her that its Easter weekend and she had better get on it or have a back up plan. I need to zip the lips and let it go.

I'm glad to have found a group on here that plan ahead!

It's tough to zip the lips and let it go when you've been down that road you know how crazy that time at WDW will be, how every day the availability dimimishes, how much stress it entails to try and book a primetime. What is worse is how bad you end up feeling when the I told you so comes along and they are sad.

 

[golfnsuch]

I hear you!

I just confirmed our post cruise stay at Vero Beach. Next month I can book the pre-cruise stay at the Cocoa Beach Sheraton.

Only then will I breathe a sigh of relief and feel like the vacation is set and the fun planning can finally begin.

E.

 

[allaboutdisney1967]

I hear you!

I just confirmed our post cruise stay at Vero Beach. Next month I can book the pre-cruise stay at the Cocoa Beach Sheraton.

Only then will I breathe a sigh of relief and feel like the vacation is set and the fun planning can finally begin.

E.

I second that!

That's how I felt when I got the confirmation for our stay at BLT STD View Studio for (2) days after the cruise.

Now that leaves flight, ADR for the two days after cruise @ 180 days out, and the cruise activities at the alotted number of days out.

 

[kim5678]

We are in!!! Wanted some info on the fish extenders and wanted to see what i needed to do to get in on this "swap". This is our second cruise and we will be prepared to decorate our door and I already ordered our fish extender!!!

 

[Deb T.]

We are in!!! Wanted some info on the fish extenders and wanted to see what i needed to do to get in on this "swap". This is our second cruise and we will be prepared to decorate our door and I already ordered our fish extender!!!

Welcome Aboard Kim!

I'll add you to our FE list! Look for a "private message" from me with additional info.

 

[Ness2289]

We are in!!! Wanted some info on the fish extenders and wanted to see what i needed to do to get in on this "swap". This is our second cruise and we will be prepared to decorate our door and I already ordered our fish extender!!!

Kim!! I'll add you to our roster. Who will be sailing with you?