Are Fish Extenders being allowed yet?

[ArielRae]

Not sure the origin of Fish Extenders. I sure don't recall hearing of them until long after my 2003/04 Disney cruise, and sure don't recall seeing any on the ship.

I like to post this in every thread I start in the Cruise Meets board for the sailings we go on that we have a Fish Exchange.

What is a Fish Exchange?
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/fish-extender-basics.htm

Link to the current cruise we plan to go on.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/o...gh-seas-cruise-from-new-york-bermuda.3842423/

 

[tvguy]

I like to post this in every thread I start in the Cruise Meets board for the sailings we go on that we have a Fish Exchange.

What is a Fish Exchange?
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise-line/fish-extender-basics.htm

Thanks. So they didn't start until 2005.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Well, whether or not it is allowed yet sort of leads to SHOULD it be allowed? To be honest "It is about the spirit of creating, sharing, exchanging and giving." is NOT why I am taking a Disney cruise. I am on vacation. I don't want to create or share or give. I want to relax and not have people trapsing up and down the halls outside my cabin looking for 'gifts'. Again, my two cents before this thread gets closed. it is obviously NOT Disney sanctioned even if you put Mickey Mouse stickers on your 'gifts'.

My point is that this isn't about that. No one actually cares if you (not you but anyone) don't like them. Simply discussing whether DCL is allowing them or not.

You're being really whiney about something that doesn't effect you. It's not like anyone is holding a gun to your head saying you have to participate!

 

[Lilsia]

Unpopular opinion but I think they look kind of trashy and sometimes the 'gifts' have fallen on the floor. There's so much else to do on the ship besides hang things no body needs made in China from your fish. I know, I know, but that's how I see them.

I have got some great stuff from the FE groups. Someone made one of those microwave heating pads with a Mickey cruise theme fabric and I use it all the time. My daughter has received some nice pins and I give out Disney themed pot holders. It is not all junk. And it is not like you are forced to do it. I do not think they look trashy at all.

 

[LiZaArd]

I love the people that are against the FE but still come on to a posting titled "Are Fish Extenders being allowed yet?" just to suck some joy out of people's lives...... If you don't like it, don't look at it or just ignore it. Saying negative things about someone else's positive things is kinda crummy.

 

[mousefan73]

I have upcoming cruise and definitely going to write about FEs on the comment card and speak to the cruise director and just give my opinion on the topic. I’m gonna say either Disney be honest and say you simply don’t want them because you simply don’t want them but stop using Covid as an excuse right now. And for DcL to be honest on what they allow We as cruise passengers plan and do on our own.
One difference between DCL and another cruise lines is a sense of community Before sailing. And seeing that cruises are usually booked Many months , even years ahead vs other vacation types In many cases you get to know each other on various online Cruise groups. I’ve been in cruise groups with both Disney and other cruise lines. Other cruise lines focus more on technical planning things ( logistics, what to do at this port etc.). What differentiates Disney Is that besides technical planning people post things like Disney pictures, art work specific for that cruise, graphics print for door magnets and then of course As one gets closer to sail date, FEs start. For myself personally I don’t buy crap from China but literally spent weeks before hours every night crafting things. For me this is part of the joy in pre-vacationing time. Especially with this Hawaii cruise it’s been a pleasure trying to come up with creative ideas mixing Disney in Hawaii theming. Comes down to planning for vacation is part of the fun. And extends the enjoyment of that of that cruise.

For me joining a cruise group for other cruise line is more a planning resource. Joining a cruise for Disney cruise I am much more excited I have a feeling of community. This is definitely a USP that Disney has is what I will also express when I’m on my next cruise about the current FE situation. Disney is not stupid and they know they have a brand and Loyalty, and an emotional connection , Where customers will literally throw money and over pay for service ( often not better sometimes worse ) because there’s a mouse behind it. That last statement was general about Disney not specific to DCL

 

[TNewman1024]

We were not in a group but we brought some pixie dust items on the Wonder March 25th 5 night. and we hung our FE on the door. Got a couple of pixie dust items coming our way as well.

We also have a Lollipop hanger that we load up. It says something like Be Sweet have a Treat.
We saw one a few years ago and my wife likes to be crafty so whe made one up. Our 12yo son keeps track of the counts everyday and we have him load it up at night.
In January on the Magic we did B2B 4 night and 5 night. didn't have much action on the lollipops but on the 5 night at the end of March on the Wonder we had to refill about 60-70% each night. These little "dum-dums" or another brand and it cost us like $15-20 for the package. Its pretty much a hit with most everyone. Our January Cruise was a little tighter on covid restrictions and we were in Concierge for that one so the kids were not as rampant in the halls. Our March 2020 Fantasy cruise right before covid we could not keep the thing filled. It was nearly empty each night.

We received lots of notes and little things saying thanks for the sucker.

Its fun and we like to do it. We never asked just stuck those items on the door and went about our business. Never were asked to take it down.

We see it as part of the DCL fun and there is something to be said for getting forgiveness rather than permission when it comes to stupid little things like this. Who is it hurting/ If you want to play, play if you want to turn your nose up then turn your nose up. Its suppose to be fun. People are talking cruises in July and Sept. Lots of things will change before then in terms of opening up. They did for us between 13Jan on the Magic and 25Mar on the Wonder.

 

[Husker Mike]

I love the people that are against the FE but still come on to a posting titled "Are Fish Extenders being allowed yet?" just to suck some joy out of people's lives...... If you don't like it, don't look at it or just ignore it. Saying negative things about someone else's positive things is kinda crummy.

The FE crowd commandeered my cruise's Facebook group just before COVID shut everything down, and berated people who weren't participating. It was so over-the-top and out of control that I really hope Disney makes this permanent.

 

[anricat]

The FE crowd commandeered my cruise's Facebook group just before COVID shut everything down, and berated people who weren't participating. It was so over-the-top and out of control that I really hope Disney makes this permanent.

That's super unfortunate. I've been a member of every FB cruise group for the sailings I've done since our first one (didn't know about it then) and I've never seen behavior like that. I guess just like in everything, there's always a bad egg. Not everyone who participates behaves that way and I'm sorry that was your experience.

 

[BadPinkTink]

The FE crowd commandeered my cruise's Facebook group just before COVID shut everything down, and berated people who weren't participating. It was so over-the-top and out of control that I really hope Disney makes this permanent.

and there is the elephant in the room, what everyone in this thread is not saying. The whole reason why certain people are so militant about FE and why they are now ignoring DCL stated rules. The FE groups and the majority of the cruise groups on places other than on Disboards are run by a network of people who have a financial interest in the FE. There is a network of frequent cruisers affiliated to one person who set up and micro manage cruise meet up groups. The financial interest part is that many of the FE gifts promoted in their groups are from Etsy and online shops / sellers which they own / run / are affiliated to their network.

THATS why its become such a competition over the years and why gifts have become and more extravagant. They micro manage the FE and have rules about when to give out gifts, the type of gifts, how much the gifts should cost and so much more. And thats why they dont like people who don't participate, because if you don't partipate, you are not buying from their Etsy / online shops and they are not making money.

If you dig deep enough here on Disboards, there are threads naming these people, and how they treat people in the cruise meet up groups.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Oh brother. AGAIN, This post is just about if DCL is allowing FE"s again yet or not.

Not a thread about complaining about FE groups or how ugly you think they are. Can you not just scroll past and post in threads of things you do like? Geez.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Oh brother.

Many people don't know about the secret network of the FE and cruise meet up groups as they don't like people talking about them, especially here on Disboards. And those who know were not saying.

So here you go, for those who didnt know, it may answer many questions and for those who did know , oops I brought the secret out into the open.

And its because of the secret network group that Disboards have the rule about not allowing cruise meet up groups on other platforms to be promoted. Theres a whole history behind the rule, all on Disboards threads here in the cruise section if you dig deep enough.

Many of the secret network group are posters here on Disboards and will start the cruise meet up threads here on Disboards but then not keep them active and encourage people to find the cruise meet up group on other platforms.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Many people don't know about the secret network of the FE and cruise meet up groups as they don't like people talking about them, especially here on Disboards. And those who know were not saying.

So here you go, for those who didnt know, it may answer many questions and for those who did know , oops I brought the secret out into the open.

And its because of the secret network group that Disboards have the rule about not allowing cruise meet up groups on other platforms to be promoted. Theres a whole history behind the rule, all on Disboards threads here in the cruise section if you dig deep enough.

AGAIN, not the point of this thread. Perhaps you could make your own about how much you hate Fish Extenders and leave this one alone? IN my 6 cruises I've never seen an issue about Fish Extender groups. So I don't know about this horrible experience you've had, but it's clearly effected you greatly.

 

[BadPinkTink]

AGAIN, not the point of this thread. Perhaps you could make your own about how much you hate Fish Extenders and leave this one alone? IN my 6 cruises I've never seen an issue about Fish Extender groups. So I don't know about this horrible experience you've had, but it's clearly effected you greatly.

to bring it back to the original topic and answer the question, no FE door to door exchanges are not permitted by DCL and this is stated on the DCL website. People in cruise meet up groups on other platforms are ignoring this rule and I have just given an explanation as to why certain people are going against DCL rules.

 

[HeatherLassell]

to bring it back to the original topic and answer the question, no FE door to door exchanges are not permitted by DCL and this is stated on the DCL website. People in cruise meet up groups on other platforms are ignoring this rule and I have just given an explanation as to why certain people are going against DCL rules.

Thanks. You've said that several times already.

 

[Lilsia]

and there is the elephant in the room, what everyone in this thread is not saying. The whole reason why certain people are so militant about FE and why they are now ignoring DCL stated rules. The FE groups and the majority of the cruise groups on places other than on Disboards are run by a network of people who have a financial interest in the FE. There is a network of frequent cruisers affiliated to one person who set up and micro manage cruise meet up groups. The financial interest part is that many of the FE gifts promoted in their groups are from Etsy and online shops / sellers which they own / run / are affiliated to their network.

THATS why its become such a competition over the years and why gifts have become and more extravagant. They micro manage the FE and have rules about when to give out gifts, the type of gifts, how much the gifts should cost and so much more. And thats why they dont like people who don't participate, because if you don't partipate, you are not buying from their Etsy / online shops and they are not making money.

If you dig deep enough here on Disboards, there are threads naming these people, and how they treat people in the cruise meet up groups.

I have never seen that. All of the groups that I have been in where super casual. One person volunteered to keep track of the groups. I have not seen anyone suggesting what should be given or any of that. Everyone was very nice and super excited to be going on the cruise. Your post is the first that I have heard of this kind of thing.

 

[Dug720]

I have never seen that. All of the groups that I have been in where super casual. One person volunteered to keep track of the groups. I have not seen anyone suggesting what should be given or any of that. Everyone was very nice and super excited to be going on the cruise. Your post is the first that I have heard of this kind of thing.

Oh there was one person on here before your time (assuming your member date of 2018 is correct) who BRAGGED about keeping a spreadsheet of everything she had gotten and then on the last day distributing her things ONLY to those whose gifts she deemed "worthy". It was obnoxious.

 

[AquaDame]

Many people don't know about the secret network of the FE and cruise meet up groups as they don't like people talking about them, especially here on Disboards. And those who know were not saying.

So here you go, for those who didnt know, it may answer many questions and for those who did know , oops I brought the secret out into the open.

And its because of the secret network group that Disboards have the rule about not allowing cruise meet up groups on other platforms to be promoted. Theres a whole history behind the rule, all on Disboards threads here in the cruise section if you dig deep enough.

Many of the secret network group are posters here on Disboards and will start the cruise meet up threads here on Disboards but then not keep them active and encourage people to find the cruise meet up group on other platforms.

I'm not sure it is as much a conspiracy as you're suggesting here. Yes, there are folks out there who want to monetize FEs and yes, we do have a rule that people not drive traffic to other social media sites. I imagine its more about keeping traffic on this site and data protection (we're all anonymous here unless or until we choose specifically what is shared) or at least that is how it is and has always been presented.

Talk about Facebook all you like (the DIS is on there too) the only part we have ever requested is traffic is not driven there INSTEAD of here, especially on the meetup groups, and that no one tries to sell or promote FE merchandise as that is against another rule about marketing.

 

[mousefan73]

and there is the elephant in the room, what everyone in this thread is not saying. The whole reason why certain people are so militant about FE and why they are now ignoring DCL stated rules. The FE groups and the majority of the cruise groups on places other than on Disboards are run by a network of people who have a financial interest in the FE. There is a network of frequent cruisers affiliated to one person who set up and micro manage cruise meet up groups. The financial interest part is that many of the FE gifts promoted in their groups are from Etsy and online shops / sellers which they own / run / are affiliated to their network.

THATS why its become such a competition over the years and why gifts have become and more extravagant. They micro manage the FE and have rules about when to give out gifts, the type of gifts, how much the gifts should cost and so much more. And thats why they dont like people who don't participate, because if you don't partipate, you are not buying from their Etsy / online shops and they are not making money.

If you dig deep enough here on Disboards, there are threads naming these people, and how they treat people in the cruise meet up groups.

I know exactly who you are referring to but on all four of my Disney cruises this person was not involved. So to imply that all FB cruise groups are run by this person is incorrect. And for the record this person‘s FB group page is strictly adhering to the DCL rule st the moment.
You can’t even post ideas on how to meet and exchange.

Aldo non of my FE groups were militant in anyway and I would not describe our Cruise group thread being prominently focused on FE, in fact people post occasionally asking where the sign ups are because they get lost on other topics The only guideline I have personally seen has been for the mystery Mickey exchanges you exchang with one stateroom. But here it was explicitly said at the sign-up that the focus of this group was one quality gift per state room with an average value of $20..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not sure the origin of Fish Extenders. I sure don't recall hearing of them until long after my 2003/04 Disney cruise, and sure don't recall seeing any on the ship.

Good reading here:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-history-of-fish-extender-exchanges.3805059/