FE disapointment?

[cedricandsophie]

I would love to meet all the people but have no interest in participating. I would much rather buy someone a drink and have a nice conversation.

 

[cgolf]

Unfortunately, FE exchanges started out as just a cute, little fun gift exchange. More recently it's become "who can create the best/most extravagant/costliest gift". And having everyone put their character/color/food/whatever preferences really is limiting. Well, except for allergies, which probably should be noted. With that, people are disappointed.

We've done 4 full FE exchanges and pixie-dusted a couple of others. I liked the gifts that were the more personalized "see what we have where we're from" sort of gifts - postcards, little wood carvings, local candies. Don't get me wrong, I'll take candy of pretty much any variety, but trying new stuff is fun. Also, personalized (with cruise information) magnets were nice.

Were you on the inaugural Hawaii cruise? We got pixie dusted on that cruise and have a couple of things displayed with our shadow box for that trip Just curious if it could have been you, the whole big world sometimes isn't so big.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Were you on the inaugural Hawaii cruise? We got pixie dusted on that cruise and have a couple of things displayed with our shadow box for that trip Just curious if it could have been you, the whole big world sometimes isn't so big.

No, we were on the Oct cruise that year.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Were you on the inaugural Hawaii cruise? We got pixie dusted on that cruise and have a couple of things displayed with our shadow box for that trip Just curious if it could have been you, the whole big world sometimes isn't so big.

We were on it. Amazing cruise. We would do it again IF they had the round trip again.

 

[gismo1554]

I've seen so many neat ideas on these threads, and was just looking on pinterest as well. Just had to share, I saw a pack of orange tic tacs labelled, "Olaf noses." I know it's such a small, simple thing, but this would have my kids ROTFL! If I did something like that it'd definitely be in addition to something else, but little things like that are what make FEs special, IMO.

I don't know about kids! I would genuinely love this!

 

[Fields3619]

We did the FE on our last cruise. I was so excited to do it being our first Disney cruise. I planned, made and picked everything for each person according to there favourite colours and characters.

Then when we received all of our gifts I was very surprised and disappointed after all the hype and work I put into ours. We mostly received just candy. None of the character stuff was the right characters.

I was just wondering if more people have the experience we had or if the FE was everything they thought it would be? Not posting to complain but booked our second cruise and not sure if I should give it another try? Maybe ours was just a fluke?

I know for me it is hard to find some of the characters. I am sewing my gifts and it's really hard to find specific character fabric, where are don't pay a fortune online. So I assume I am good with Mickey fabric.

 

[remlap]

So now we just enjoy meeting our fellow cruisers at the meet-and-greets but don't join the FE list.

Couldn't agree more! Most cruise threads have at least two or more FE lists going, so it's not even like people will know if you're participating or not. Swing by the Meet and Greet on Day One so you have people to say Hi while passing in the halls. Personally for us, the FE while originally sounding cute and fun, have gotten crazy.

 

[Anisum]

I will say I never had the opportunity to do FE in the 'good old days' when it seems everyone had a lot more fun with the process. Did they always ask for so much information back then? Do you really need to know my full name, where I'm from, who my favorite character is, what my favorite color is, and my social security number?

I jest, no one has asked me for the last one, yet.

It just seems like a lot. Even though I understand some people want to personalize gifts to each member of the stateroom (which is always appreciated) there are people whose bank accounts you could probably access with that information alone.

 

[The Grays]

You can always just fill in the blanks you want to. You don't have to give all the info.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I've never, ever been disappointed in a FE gift, no matter what we give or gave. Not everyone can afford what someone else can OR not everyone wants to spend all the time that others have invested in it. It's not supposed to be about who can outdo who. My kids love checking out their FE and seeing a little surprise. A bag of dollar store candy? They are thrilled. A tube of glowsticks, woooohooo!! Handmade coasters, yay!! We may not use any of it after our FE and may have spent some time putting our own together but it was FUN for us, we don't go into it expecting a certain amount spent on us, people to get to know us and our favorite things and or certain items. We are in it for the fun and above all it's about the kids, never us. When they want to stop doing it or somehow get disappointed in what they get, then it's time to pull the plug.

 

[wcw57]

i cannot imagine someone complaining about or being disappointed with FE gifts, unless it is in order to have an opportunity to opine about how hard they labored over the gifts THEY gave out or how much they spent on the gifts, or some other "look at me look at me" type of thing. You know, the people who say "How are you?" so they have the chance to tell you all about themselves....

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i cannot imagine someone complaining about or being disappointed with FE gifts, unless it is in order to have an opportunity to opine about how hard they labored over the gifts THEY gave out or how much they spent on the gifts, or some other "look at me look at me" type of thing. You know, the people who say "How are you?" so they have the chance to tell you all about themselves....

MTE

 

[GrannyDee]

Ok, I am so stoked for our first Disney cruise AND the Fish Extender. We're going in December so the little gift idea is spot on.

I'm amazed there is controversy around this. Our Littles will be thrilled to come to the cabin and find surprise gifts and I guarantee they'll be thrilled whether it's a sticker or a glow stick or diamond ring.

Their mother - my daughter - and I will be meeting over coffee this weekend to talk about what we want to make as fish extenders. We'll have a blast making them, my granddaughters will have a blast playing Santa and exploring the ship delivering them. Everything about this idea - thank you dearest Debbie for starting this whole thing! - screams FUN.

If we run into one of the people discussed above, we won't allow them to affect our experience. If someone snatches the bounty in our granddaughters' pouch, this grandmother will have some spare glow sticks and stickers (no diamond rings, though) to replace it.

 

[fairytalelover]

We did the FE on our last cruise. I was so excited to do it being our first Disney cruise. I planned, made and picked everything for each person according to there favourite colours and characters.

Then when we received all of our gifts I was very surprised and disappointed after all the hype and work I put into ours. We mostly received just candy. None of the character stuff was the right characters.

I was just wondering if more people have the experience we had or if the FE was everything they thought it would be? Not posting to complain but booked our second cruise and not sure if I should give it another try? Maybe ours was just a fluke?

We never did this and from this time we heard about it years ago, we thought it was a bad idea. Just causing stress and creating more work when we are supposed to be on vacation. Not to mention, it takes up prime real estate in our luggage that can be used for souvenirs. If we wanted cheap toys, candy, stickers and glow sticks, we can just go to the dollar store. And we seriously already have enough of that stuff piled up at home from our son's events at school, valentine's day (tons of stickers, erasers, pencils), halloween, birthday goodie bags.......I know this is supposed to be fun but I dont think that's what the reality is............

 

[fairytalelover]

We used to do the FE exchange but have stopped. It has gotten a little out of hand now and people are being set up to expect these over-the-top gifts. I always appreciated anything we received (candy, magnets, tattoos and stickers, etc). We loved the surprise of seeing what was in our FE when we came back to the room. I also really appreciated the hand-made items that I know people spent a ton of time on before the cruise. But I would never expect someone to have to cater their gifts after my personal likes and dislikes or my favorite character, etc. It is nice when they ask and we would always share that information if they wanted it, but it certainly wasn't expected.

Plus it just took the fun out of it for me to worry about being judged if my gift wasn't good enough. So now we just enjoy meeting our fellow cruisers at the meet-and-greets but don't join the FE list.

exactly my point! You are supposed to be on vacation but now you have to be stressed out about if your're gifts are good enough?? You shouldnt have to do that. You should be relaxing on your vacation. Honestly, we all have Christmas and birthdays to worry if our gifts to others are good enough and at least those are for people we know.....

 

[fairytalelover]

Of note, I've seen multiple people over the years who put one out and let the gifts be "magic" - from characters, or such - for their little ones and they put the gifts in them for them. This is another way to participate.

Now you see, this is a much better idea in my opinion. You put the FE out and then you fill it with nice souvenirs etc.. that you get while on vacation for your own kids. Kill two birds with one stone. Buy souvenirs and let the kids think Mickey gave it to them. But if I did this I wouldnt put an FE out of the stateroom. People could steal whatever nice souvenir I put in it. I would put it on the bed next to the towel animals so when our son walks in he sees it thinking Mickey placed it there.

 

[SirDuff]

We never did this and from this time we heard about it years ago, we thought it was a bad idea. Just causing stress and creating more work when we are supposed to be on vacation. Not to mention, it takes up prime real estate in our luggage that can be used for souvenirs. If we wanted cheap toys, candy, stickers and glow sticks, we can just go to the dollar store. And we seriously already have enough of that stuff piled up at home from our son's events at school, valentine's day (tons of stickers, erasers, pencils), halloween, birthday goodie bags.......I know this is supposed to be fun but I dont think that's what the reality is............

If you haven't done it, how could you know what the reality is? Absolutely makes sense not to do if you don't think it sounds fun, but clearly, the reality *is* fun for those who do it (or, at least, those who do it more than once).

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

It's all as fun as YOU make it to be. It takes up the time YOU want it to take up. For us it's a fun crafting day as a family where we talk about what we are most excited about and what we are scared about etc...we LOVE this time together and it never takes longer than a day on a weekend or weeknight. We also don't think it takes up any space at all, we don't get statues or giant parcels!! What little we take back (if it's not edible) fits in a small space if not pockets of a backpack and the edible stuff is usually eaten during shows! If there is truly something that we would not use or is just not worth bringing back, or millions of glowsticks (which we have yet to be this lucky), we pass them along into other FE as 'tinkerbell' gifts or hand them out to kids we encounter along the way. Every experience is what YOU choose to make of it. I said it before, but if we ever felt it was too 'stressful' or time consuming or we started to judge other people, it would be over.

 

[wcw57]

while I agree, experience IS the best teacher....
IF one uses these boards to learn about DCL, clearly there are many negatives to the FE.

I voiced similar opinions regarding key chains and glow sticks years ago...while it is fun for the kids (heck, that's why Christmas is so magical...no stress for them) the magic runs out quickly if the organizers demand a certain level of participation. That is; $$$$, colors, characters as a requisite part of the FE experience.
It's like little league, once the parents start demanding all-star performance from their kids, the fun is GONE and the angst is IN

 

[wcw57]

It's all as fun as YOU make it to be. It takes up the time YOU want it to take up. For us it's a fun crafting day as a family where we talk about what we are most excited about and what we are scared about etc...we LOVE this time together and it never takes longer than a day on a weekend or weeknight. We also don't think it takes up any space at all, we don't get statues or giant parcels!! What little we take back (if it's not edible) fits in a small space if not pockets of a backpack and the edible stuff is usually eaten during shows! If there is truly something that we would not use or is just not worth bringing back, or millions of glowsticks (which we have yet to be this lucky), we pass them along into other FE as 'tinkerbell' gifts or hand them out to kids we encounter along the way. Every experience is what YOU choose to make of it. I said it before, but if we ever felt it was too 'stressful' or time consuming or we started to judge other people, it would be over.

that's it, in a nutshell.