Have you done a Fish Extender? Will you do it again?

[Vertigo127]

I loved doing our FE exchange! Making our fe and gifts for others was fun, and my husband will contend that I went overboard, but giving to others makes me happy. I hope the boys enjoyed their "bones" candy, girls enjoyed their disney themed lip gloss, and the families got good use of their mini first aid kits and coasters. DH also made mickeys by welding washers, and painted them. I would love to know what creative uses people put them to
I loved the door magnets, regional themed goodies, disney pins, disney music cd, and little notebooks decorated with mickeys. I don't know if everyone participated, but I love the sweet sentiment and opportunity to make others smile.

 

[Nannylisad]

I too am in the "wow" category. So, for those of us who aren't crafty, have tons of extra time (I work full time) or can afford $5-10 per cabin - and you feel candy or plastic trinkets are "junk" WHAT do you suggest??? What is cheap, healthy, takes little time, and is not "crap"? I really wanna know!!! (Maybe I need to drop out of my upcoming FE)! I'm not tinker bell with a freakin' magic wand here!! (Wish I was, lol)!

Do not drop out. Enjoy the fun !!! It's better to give a gum stick than worry and be upset at others expectations.

Sorry for all the hard work others put I to the gifts...

 

[Kenzie'sGrandma]

Just my 2 cents.....we would, and are doing our 2nd FE in May. My grandchildren loved checking for the little gifts when we left and went to the room. It wasn't about the quality of the items but the little magic that it adds. They loved looking for the room numbers and checking out the doors as we delivered our gifts. Our 1st time, we just bought little gifts to give and received much better items then we gave. We were like OMG can you believe all the stuff we got and felt bad about our gifts. But reading prior to our trip, it was just little knick-knacks or trinkets. This time we are being crafty and making our items and we are going to need a extra carry on bag just for our FE items.

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

There are many things that can be done inexpensively but show that you took some time and thought about it.
I've printed out "fun facts" about the ship we are sailing on...only cost me a little internet research and some printer ink. I also give bags of mini oreos (not too expensive) with a "recipe" to make an Oreo "blizzard" on the pool deck with your family. Again, not expensive, but THOUGHTFUL.
I make 50 business card magnets for every cruise on Vistaprint (usually just a few dollars for shipping) and put them on ALL of the doors down my hallway, not just the FE doors.
I do go out of my way to create "magic" for others. I am happy to give out glow sticks or eye patches on Pirate night to kids I meet.
Call a spade a spade...anything from Oriental Trading company is CRAP...I don't care how nice you think it is.
All I'm saying is that I won't participate in the FE again, not that others shouldn't participate.
And, please don't give anyone your Halloween leftover candy.

 

[jmarsh]

I thought there was more happiness in giving than receiving. What if someone else thought your items were "junk"?

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading this thread. I'm so excited to be participating because I love to give

 

[kimgg]

And for the record, I agree with "it's the thought that counts." In my opinion, ordering and putting together goody bags from oriental trading takes some thought ( and expense, depending on what is purchased). While I know many adults cruise without kids, I would hope said adults realize that the majority of gifts on a DISNEY cruise are going to be themed and geared towards KIDS and not expect something more than that. If you get more, great, but I would not expect it to be the norm??

Again, I am open to suggestions!! And I do hope those who are disappointed by non-crafty gifts are not the norm!! I agree if is the norm, that's very sad!

 

[jmarsh]

Oh goodness, this is depressing. This is my first Disney Cruise and I am participating in our FE. While I am not crafty, I dont plan on buying them from OT. But this makes me nervous, sad and anxious.

Please do not let this thread discourage you. I have never cruised so I have never done the FE but plan on participating in May and I would be happy to have you in my group. It is about having fun

 

[JackieO]

The range of FE gifts we've received were all the way from home-made, super crafty things to stickers.

If you don't want the little stuff (stickers, little toys, etc) that you receive, you can always put them in your pocket to gift other young kids around the ship. I've done that with leftover FE stuff I've brought along.

The little girl in the movie who sat quietly and actually watched the movie got one. Any cute little pirates/princesses I saw while walking around got them. Kids who were polite got them

You spread the magic that way, and receive a lot of smiles.

Ok, this is better and gives me renewed hope.

I thought I had counted well enough (trying to make girl gifts and boy gifts and counting and recounting adults and cabins) I somehow ended up with more gifts than I need. I'll bring them and hand them out other kids.

 

[yaddakal]

Oriental trading is not crap to my kids. Handmade items may be crap to my kids! This thread is way to negative.
To each it's own!

 

[jmarsh]

I too am in the "wow" category. So, for those of us who aren't crafty, have tons of extra time (I work full time) or can afford $5-10 per cabin - and you feel candy or plastic trinkets are "junk" WHAT do you suggest??? What is cheap, healthy, takes little time, and is not "crap"? I really wanna know!!! (Maybe I need to drop out of my upcoming FE)! I'm not tinker bell with a freakin' magic wand here!! (Wish I was, lol)!

Do not drop out of the FE because of this thread. This is not the opinion of everyone

 

[kimgg]

And for the record, I agree with "it's the thought that counts." In my opinion, ordering and putting together goody bags from oriental trading takes some thought ( and expense, depending on what is purchased). While I know many adults cruise without kids, I would hope said adults realize that the majority of gifts on a DISNEY cruise are going to be themed and geared towards KIDS and not expect something more than that. If you get more, great, but I would not expect it to be the norm??

Again, I am open to suggestions!! And I do hope those who are disappointed by non-crafty gifts are not the norm!! I agree if is the norm, that's very sad!

Edited to add- I haven't bought from OT, but with my time, budget, room in luggage, and # of cabins to buy for, it seems anything I come up with is probably not gonna please everyone, despite all the thought I am putting into it. Nothing personal, but while thoughtful FE gifts are awesome, judgmental comments about others' FE gifts here when others may be offended is not so "thoughtful" at all. One persons' thoughtful gift is another's crap - we are all different with different preferences and taste. Kindness to others is much more thoughtful and magical!

 

[missj1975]

And for the record, I agree with "it's the thought that counts." In my opinion, ordering and putting together goody bags from oriental trading takes some thought ( and expense, depending on what is purchased). While I know many adults cruise without kids, I would hope said adults realize that the majority of gifts on a DISNEY cruise are going to be themed and geared towards KIDS and not expect something more than that. If you get more, great, but I would not expect it to be the norm??

Again, I am open to suggestions!! And I do hope those who are disappointed by non-crafty gifts are not the norm!! I agree if is the norm, that's very sad!

I have participated in four FE exchanges (no kids, adults only cabin) and have enjoyed each exchange. I don't judge the gifts, I like each and everyone. I definitely agree it is the thought that counts.

I also don't keep track of gifts because I definitely don't want to worry about stolen gifts or worry about getting shorted because there is really nothing I can do to stop that so why worry about it.

As an adult only cabin, I am perfectly happy with kid themed toys. If I personally don't have a use for them, I just save them for my nieces or use them for geocaching swag when I get home.

My fave gift on the cruise was a ziploc baggie. Yeah it may seem cheap to some people but it really saved the day for me (long story, only funny to my husband ;-)). Anyway, it really is the thought that counts and if a person is worried about the money value of the gifts they will get in return, then they probably shouldn't join a FE.

 

[DVC Jen]

Holy Smokes! I am in charge of the FE for our upcoming cruise and I have told everyone participating to NOT stress over their gifts. Just to do what is fun and financially feasible for their family. FE is all about fun not trying to be the best gift giver or anything like that.

I sincerely hope no one who is thinking about doing an FE exchange for the first time is not turned off by the OP.

I have photos of my DH being 100% totally silly with some of the small trinkets we got. Those images still bring a smile to my face. DH has a VERY stressful job and seeing him enjoying something that cost a few cents to buy was worth more to me than anything else.

It's about FUN - not stressing yourself out because you are worried about someone elses standards. Life is way to short for that.

 

[love280mickey]

Why I probably won't do another FE:
I remember seeing threads about the cool FE stuff that people have gotten and being so excited to do one. I now realize that those things are not the "norm".
I have participated in 5 Fish Extender exchanges. 2 with just DH & I, 3 with kids. Here is what I have found:

1. I care about my gifts WAY more than other people. I spend weeks working on handmade, very nice things to give out, partially because I love to give gifts and partially because I won't give out "crap".

I know the OP is taking a lot of heat here because of her post. I appreciate her post though and she has a right to make the observations she has and now feels it is best if she doesn't participate again. it probably is best for her.

Personally, I think it comes from the hand-crafted notion of a gift, and the time spent in making something. Yes there is also time spent to purchase and pack items, even if they are from Oriental Trading, etc. I know that my feelings have been hurt in the past by family members even who don't appreciate the time, cost of goods, and energy that is put into something hand made. I have one SIL who will never again receive anything handmade from me ever again.

I don't find that the arts are ever fully appreciated by those who don't understand everything that goes into them. Time she has spent in hand making something is not comparable to a plastic slinky toy from OT...to her. It may be ok to you. In all honesty, it wouldn't to me either. We're getting ready to do our first ever FE, and we're excited..to give, and yes, to receive as well.

We will see how it goes. Our group opted for many small groups, so I'm very encouraged, and hope it will all turn out great. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. We will go with the flow and certainly not let it ruin our cruise.


Editing to add: I think 21 cabins is a lot for a FE Group and I would be more comfortable with splitting that in half.

 

[kcashner]

We've chosen to do them on some cruises and not on others. Sometimes it is just too much to pack it up and haul it down. I've gotten some amazing gifts and some....tattoos and stickers. I've given some gifts that I considered amazing and some that while I didn't consider them "junk," I can see how someone else might. I've done "one gift per cabin," "one per person," and a "one per cabin + additional gift for the kids."

Frankly, one of the highlights of one cruise was to see a little princess walking around the ship clutching the FE gift that I'd given (or she had the same thing from somewhere else). Maybe that's stupid, but it made my day to see that she enjoyed it.

On one cruise, we were without power in February for the week before the cruise (ice storm had taken out trees and power lines). I had been sleeping in a sleeping bag on a church floor and using their internet and packed for my cruise in a FREEZING house while wearing a winter coat. I cannot begin to tell you how thoughtful my FE group and Dis friends were. We got LOTS of notes in our FE about how it must feel good to be warm (heck, it felt good to be warm while sleeping on a floor!) But those FE people made me feel WONDERFUL.

Would I do it again...I usually choose to not participate now. I'm better with kid gifts, and it is a lot of effort....but I love the idea of using what I don't want to take home as a "reward" for good behavior when I see it.

 

[sgc1107]

This makes me sick!!! What is wrong with you all!!! All of you that are complaining are greedy people! It's like the saying "if you don't have Anything nice to say then don't say anything at all!" If your so greedy about the gifts your getting in return don't participate!!! Two weeks ago I gave out wonderful handmade made, time consuming, hand blistering key chains (adults) and necklaces (kids), 70 of them!!! And I don't care what I got back, it made me feel good!! Just because you may be blessed to afford nice FE gifts certainly does not indicate everyone else's financial situation! This is not about money, quality, quantity, or who gives what, its about fun, and your taking a lot of fun out if it right now by these negative comments. Just don't participate, keep negative thoughts to yourself to prevent harming others....

 

[drag n' fly]

Our FE group got too big. There was a tremendous of organizing, purchasing and then hauling all this stuff internationally. I was spending up to 2 hours every day trotting up and down halls depositing gifts. I then then had to pack it up all home and haul it back internationally. All for a bunch of meaningless dollar store crap I will never use. If we did something where we exchanged something homemade (even construction paper cards made by the kids etc.) I might do it again but on a much smaller scale.

 

[shopmom]

Wow . Isn't the joy in the giving ? In any gift I've ever given , large or small , handmade or store bought its always been given with the thought that the receiver would appreciate the gift .. We have participated in two FE's and would do so again . We made our gifts and also brought Canadian favorite candy for movie night for the kids .. We received great gifts , some handmade some store bought and all were enjoyed..
This thread could totally hurt some people and put off many more who were thinking of participating ...
Don't do it to receive gifts , do it to give a smile to a child or a kid at heart adult and that's it .start comparing gifts and the joy is gone ..
Sad

 

[alliesmommy]

We are leaving three weeks from today (SQUEE!!!) for our first cruise and are participating in the FE. I have made a lot of handmade items and find so much joy in crafting. I'm excited to see what we get and will be thrilled with all of it. I've met some awesome people through the DIS that are on this cruise and I'm excited to meet them in person.

To the OP, I understand you frustration, but what I don't understand is the tone of the thread. I'm not sure I get why you posted. If you aren't participating in another FE, cool. Why feel the need to post it and call some of the gifts you've received crap? Surely there are people who have participated in previous exchanges with you that have read this thread and are now wondering if you deemed their gifts crap.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I participated in an "exchange" where less than half of the cabins in the group followed through. There's no way I'll participate in another one.