How much do people REALLY spend on fish extender gifts?

[cheermom2four]

We did FEs for our first 2 cruises but not our last one due to luggage space (Med cruise and trying to pack for 2 weeks for 4 people wasnt allowing an FE suitcase). This next cruise I chose not to do it as I havent had spare time and since no one knows about the cruise till Christmas (and we leave in March) I just want to kick back and relax for once. It got to be such a competition and i started to not enjoy it. My dd loved it though so we will buy her small things to put in the FE holder that we hang up. She wont know its from us as I'll just have my husband occupy her while I "run to do something" and slip it into the FE. I did do an ornament exchange though on the last cruise (Med) as its so easy to do that one. Only requirement for that was giving an ornament that depicts where you are from. We gave ornaments that had our state name and what we are known for carved into the wood (they were 1/4 inch thick so not heavy and not very big) that I had ordered on Etsy. Some people made theirs and we loved them just the same.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have organized Local Candy/Snack Exchange and the idea is to give enough for the cabin to share. Fewer cabins participate here, there are almost always posts on the cruise meet thread asking if there’s a FB group. Still, recently we had a DVC MC and 11 participating cabins. My guess is people probably spent between $4-8 per cabin. I heard no complaints and it all was delicious!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This entire FE thing is the most drama filled situation I see on FB messages and message boards. It's nasty. I overheard a couple of women on the ship really talking smack about some of the gifts they received. Same thing you're talking about here "they were so cheap" and "who needs that dollar store crap" and "if you can afford to be on this cruise why can't you afford to give better gifts?" So elitist and gross.

I think what started out as a cute idea for kids has blossomed into a monster. All these restrictions, as if someone is supposed to keep track of who should get what type of toy, severe nut allergies and insensitive gifts (what on earth would that be?)

Red flag ladies--the more rules in your group, run the other way fast.

Exactly. Only rule I think should be in play, is that you do have to give at least one gift per room. Beyond that any information that is provided (allergies, favorite character, favorite color, age) may be worthwhile having for those people who want to use the info, but certainly shouldn't be required.

 

[darnheather]

I spend about $1-$2.50 on each person. Sometimes I also include a cabin gift as well. This year I'll be spending a little more because there are fewer children going which means fewer people per cabin. For the candy exchange I want to give something made in my state and it will run about $7 per cabin. I don't really care if people think I'm cheap, love my gifts, or hate my gifts. I always buy what I or my children would enjoy receiving and we get a kick out of everything we receive.

 

[ElenaRN]

I have never kept tally of what I have spent. It's def been different all 3-4x that we've participated. The last cruise we went on DH surprised me for my bday so I didn't have much time to plan. I did wind up spending more bc I had to buy everything rather than mix in some homemade goodies. I usually just pick up things when I see them, even if we don't have a cruise booked at the time. My gifts aren't always consistent between cabins for this reason. Some cruises have more kids of a certain age and I didn't buy enough at the time etc.

I have rec'd things that were obviously way more than I have spent & some that were way less. I don't care. It's supposed to be fun & people do what they can.

 

[lbatesetc]

I purchased Disney pez dispensers or beach balls for our gifts. I then saw a comment on our fish extender Facebook post that no one wants dollar store items and people should be spending $10 to $30 per cabin. I am now debating going out and either doing Sundae kits or local hot fudge for each cabin because I don’t want to be cheap. I didn’t plan to be spending hundreds of dollars on this though and am wondering if this is one rogue person.

So really, what kind of gifts do you typically get? Am I being too cheap? What should I plan to spend?

My family has had so much fun participating in FE on all our cruises. In our opinion, it’s the thought not the cost. Some of the kids favorites have been pez, dollar store treats, and hand made gifts to give and receive. Some gifts we have given haven’t cost a lot of money, but hours of planning and work. Of course the more elaborate gifts are appreciated too. Whatever makes the giver happy to give should be appreciated in return. If someone is offended by a gift they received they should join a fe group that requires everyone to all pay the same amount, or not at all. Seems pretty petty to me. Enjoy your cruise and try not to stress, it is really fun, just give something that you would like to receive.

 

[Shanti]

We probably spend $10 - $20 per cabin. I buy things from Etsy & Amazon. I never make anything.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We spend $6-$8 per person. Sometimes more. My preference is to not receive Dollar Store items, so that is not what I give. However, some of my favorite gifts ever received have cost about a dollar. One was a bottle of cajun hot sauce that costs $1.10 (I know because I ordered more online) and a little mirror from the dollar bin at Michael's that has a vinyl cruise logo affixed to it. I keep it in my purse and use it every single day. FE is one of my most favorite aspects of cruising DCL.

 

[Chandra C]

Like Shanti posted above , I buy my gifts, mostly from Etsy. I spend anywhere from $3 dollars to $8 dollars per person. I could probably get by spending less if I was crafty and could make the gifts. I don’t judge the gifts by how much they cost, and I love receiving items unique to where people are from. The thing that upsets me is when I read of people signing up only to receive gifts and don’t give anything. Haven’t had it personally happen as far as I know as I don’t keep close track of received gifts but I have read about it on the boards.

 

[TestingH2O]

When I run FE, I always say that you should give what you'd enjoy receiving. No minimum value ever.

I've been lucky that I've never had an overbearing organizer, but I'm wary after all the stories here.

 

[HuskyGal]

This entire FE thing is the most drama filled situation I see on FB messages and message boards. It's nasty. I overheard a couple of women on the ship really talking smack about some of the gifts they received. Same thing you're talking about here "they were so cheap" and "who needs that dollar store crap" and "if you can afford to be on this cruise why can't you afford to give better gifts?" So elitist and gross.

I think what started out as a cute idea for kids has blossomed into a monster. All these restrictions, as if someone is supposed to keep track of who should get what type of toy, severe nut allergies and insensitive gifts (what on earth would that be?)

Red flag ladies--the more rules in your group, run the other way fast.

I agree with this comment in the way that I’m in wonderment about why there is a gift giving need. Then the expectation about how much to spend. I keep wondering what holiday it is, how to transport the stuff onto the ship, then back home, then where to store it all when I get home. It just seems like a lot of work and a lot of stuff. Will I need 10 handcrafted Mickey themed things? Do my kids? And then with the snack gifts, isn’t there supposed to be a ton of food on the cruise? Why do we need more Disney themed snacks?
It just seems a little over the top... and... wasteful...

 

[mammacaryn]

I have never kept tally of what I have spent. It's def been different all 3-4x that we've participated. The last cruise we went on DH surprised me for my bday so I didn't have much time to plan. I did wind up spending more bc I had to buy everything rather than mix in some homemade goodies. I usually just pick up things when I see them, even if we don't have a cruise booked at the time. My gifts aren't always consistent between cabins for this reason. Some cruises have more kids of a certain age and I didn't buy enough at the time etc.

I have rec'd things that were obviously way more than I have spent & some that were way less. I don't care. It's supposed to be fun & people do what they can.

This is me as well, EXACTLY the same approach. We’ve participated in 4 and we are signed up for one in our next cruise.

 

[sumismommy]

I'm going on my 1st Disney cruise with my family of 4 next October 2019. I was so excited about the fish extenders. I told my kids and they were so excited to give other kids gifts. But we were planning on getting them from the dollar tree, etsy and amazon.

This is really disappointing. I thought it would be fun. My kids would love dollar tree gifts.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I’m in wonderment about why there is a gift giving need.

There is no "gift giving need". It was just a fun thing for people to participate in. Originally, more handmade, kid-friendly items were made (something to keep kids busy pre-cruise). And the gifts tended to be more personal (hand made items, local candies/recipes, small decorative item).

Unfortunately, it seems, that it has "improved" to a "my gift is better than your gift" competition.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm going on my 1st Disney cruise with my family of 4 next October 2019. I was so excited about the fish extenders. I told my kids and they were so excited to give other kids gifts. But we were planning on getting them from the dollar tree, etsy and amazon.

This is really disappointing. I thought it would be fun. My kids would love dollar tree gifts.

It can be fun. Especially if there aren't a lot of rules to participate.

 

[sumismommy]

I saw really cute disney 1$ children's water bottles. I thought it would be a great get for Port days.

 

[darnheather]

I'm going on my 1st Disney cruise with my family of 4 next October 2019. I was so excited about the fish extenders. I told my kids and they were so excited to give other kids gifts. But we were planning on getting them from the dollar tree, etsy and amazon.

This is really disappointing. I thought it would be fun. My kids would love dollar tree gifts.

Please don't judge FE gifts and their givers by the naysayers in this thread. You and your children will have fun. Our last cruise my youngest was 11. Her favorite gift was a cloth bag someone had stamped "DCL Magic" on and filled with very cheap pirate coins and an eyepatch. The gift probably cost 50 cents but she thought it was the most wonderful thing ever. Thinking about how happy it made her makes me tear up even now. I highly recommend you let your kids help you pick gifts for kids' their age. Have fun and enjoy every minute.

If you are really worried people won't like what you give unsubscribe from the cruise group before you leave and don't put your cabin number on the gift. That way no one can complain. Gifts are given for the delight of both parties not for the counting up of cost.

 

[Shanti]

I agree with this comment in the way that I’m in wonderment about why there is a gift giving need. Then the expectation about how much to spend. I keep wondering what holiday it is, how to transport the stuff onto the ship, then back home, then where to store it all when I get home. It just seems like a lot of work and a lot of stuff. Will I need 10 handcrafted Mickey themed things? Do my kids? And then with the snack gifts, isn’t there supposed to be a ton of food on the cruise? Why do we need more Disney themed snacks?
It just seems a little over the top... and... wasteful...

I don't give food, and also prefer not to receive food. The Fish Exchanges are great for those like my son and me who enjoy giving, and who enjoy receiving thoughtful gifts. It's a great experience.

If it doesn't appeal to you, naturally you shouldn't do it. But many people like receiving things they never would have thought of themselves, and genuinely enjoy giving.

 

[Shanti]

I'm going on my 1st Disney cruise with my family of 4 next October 2019. I was so excited about the fish extenders. I told my kids and they were so excited to give other kids gifts. But we were planning on getting them from the dollar tree, etsy and amazon.

This is really disappointing. I thought it would be fun. My kids would love dollar tree gifts.

We've done it 3 times within the past 3 years, and have never had a bad experience with controlling or demanding members. It's always just been people who enjoy giving. Dollar tree & Etsy stuff is common and is just fine. Never heard of anyone complaining in any of the groups I've been in.

 

[HuskyGal]

There is no "gift giving need". It was just a fun thing for people to participate in. Originally, more , kid-friendly items were made (something to kids busy pre-cruise). And the gifts tended to be more personal (hand made items, local candies/recipes, small decorative item).

Unfortunately, it seems, that it has "improved" to a "my gift is better than your gift" competition.

That sounds cute and fun. My DD would love something like that. I may change my mind if there’s something easy like an ornament or magnet exchange.