Sep. 7, 2015 on the Dream

[RedwineFamily]

Boy oh boy the list is growing Almost up to 50

I know!!!!! So awesome!!!!!

 

[CAyers]

Boy oh boy the list is growing Almost up to 50

I've already started to buy some FE gifts when I see a good one I just can't contain myself and I will admit I am a little OCD when it comes to having everything precise.

 

[joannjoe]

I've already started to buy some FE gifts when I see a good one I just can't contain myself and I will admit I am a little OCD when it comes to having everything precise.

I agree we have a lot of stuff for younger kids. We have some ideals for the teenagers and adults. I just have to see what the wife will let me spend but I like being Santa

 

[RedwineFamily]

I've already started to buy some FE gifts when I see a good one I just can't contain myself and I will admit I am a little OCD when it comes to having everything precise.

It NEVER occurred to me to get FE stuffers here and there.......genius!! Time to shop!

 

[CAyers]

It NEVER occurred to me to get FE stuffers here and there.......genius!! Time to shop!

I figure if I start now with little things here and there by the time the cruise is here I should have enough for everyone I am super excited! I am planning to gift daily with one per person per day (Not everyone has to gift this way but I agree I like to be like Santa )

 

[joannjoe]

It NEVER occurred to me to get FE stuffers here and there.......genius!! Time to shop!

Hi Amber, With everyone so excited about buying gifts for the fish extender. Just an Maybe start thinking of some list so we have some ideal of how many kids and adults we're buying for. What's your thoughts??

 

[Majorandensleymom]

Ok I would like to understand the 101 for dummies on the FE exchange. I know we now have about 12 cabins. I need someone to put some words to it so I can visualize what we need to do. Hope that is ok to ask. Is there a standard set of ground rules most groups follow?

Thanks

 

[CAyers]

Ok I would like to understand the 101 for dummies on the FE exchange. I know we now have about 12 cabins. I need someone to put some words to it so I can visualize what we need to do. Hope that is ok to ask. Is there a standard set of ground rules most groups follow?

Thanks

Geez what a silly question! Just teasin

Here is a generic information post on Dis:

Every stateroom has a fish hanging on the wall outside the door. This is part decoration and part message center. The fish is there for Disney to place important communications to you such as excursion tickets and notes from the Cruise staff. It is like a mailbox for your room.

On the DISboards discussion forums, it is very popular to participate in a Fish Extender exchange. This entails having a fish extender hanging off the fish outside your room. A fish extender can be made of cloth, plastic or vinyl. It can be very creative or very simple. If you don't care to create your own Fish Extender, you will find many auctions on EBay where one can be customized for you.

All the people in the exchange buy little items and place them in each other's fish extenders. It is great fun to come back and check the items you have received. You can do one day, every other, every day this is totally up to you!

WARNING: Looking up fish extender items can become lengthy and addicting so beware

If you google fish extender so much comes up, hope this helps

 

[joannjoe]

Hopefully when Amber get's back on here we can discuss how many staterooms will be in a group. 12 doesn't seem like many, but when you times it by average of 4 per stateroom that's a lot of items to pack and bring with you. On the plus side the larger the group the more presents you get

 

[Majorandensleymom]

Ok now that I understand a little more here are a few more questions:

Let's say we have the above 12. I suppose in my mind I was thinking one family pairs with another family but now it sounds like it is more all 12 rooms are paired together. So you have 12 cabins. Each day we take something to each person in the 12 cabins?

 

[CAyers]

Ok now that I understand a little more here are a few more questions:

Let's say we have the above 12. I suppose in my mind I was thinking one family pairs with another family but now it sounds like it is more all 12 rooms are paired together. So you have 12 cabins. Each day we take something to each person in the 12 cabins?

Our group will set the FE rules from what I have read and understood each group is different, however I am participating for it to be fun not only for the kids but adults also. With that being said I would like to be the first to say I WOULD NOT REQUIRE ANYONE WHO DOES NOT WANT TO GIFT EVERYDAY TO FEEL OBLIGATED (emphasis because I want people to understand this). Only you know what your families budget looks like, what you can easily travel with and pack and the extent that you can participate. I do not think anyone in our group would hold it against you if you could only do a gift per cabin rather than a gift for everyone one time or everyday. This is suppose to be fun for everyone and I and I hope everyone else agrees that you do what you can, even if you can't provide a gift and still want to be included I am happy to drop gifts to you because frankly I like to make people smile. (Not saying any of this applies to anyone in particular). You can gift everyday, you can gift once, you can gift per person, you can gift per cabin this is totally up to you and your family and what we as a FE group decide but like I said even if we decide one thing and you know you cannot personally meet what we decide as a group you won't be shamed or excluded from the FE because even if I am the only one who feels this way you will still get gifts from my family. I have decided that my family is going to gift daily one gift per person in the cabins, it may be the 12 cabins now established or it may be new groups with whom I am placed, but I am currently building my FE gifts off the current group and I understand this may be subject to change as we continue to grow. Hence why I am starting to purchase small trinkets and/or make things now that really can go with anyone. But I will say the original 12 I did buy something specific for each of us as the original FE group

Sorry for the lengthy comment! And I hope I haven't stepped on any toes with it

 

[Majorandensleymom]

Thanks for the explanation. I really just was trying to wrap my arms around what the exchange might look like. I am excited to participate. I like to make things so like you were saying I was hoping to get a little feel so that I could make some generic things for when the final group is established. It is going to be a great time !!!

 

[RedwineFamily]

WOW!! Lots of activity the past couple of days. Sorry that I am just responding, but I didn't get an email alert that there were new posts. I just hopped on because I am having a slow day at work!!

Sooooooo......Would you guys like to stop this list now? If so, I can finalize this one now and start a second list for newcomers. Then possibly a 3rd if that one ends up surpassing a manageable size. If that is what the group would prefer, I am totally cool with it. It would be nice to go ahead and start purchasing/making things. I go into freakout mode when things are done last minute!

Thanks for posting the FE stuff, Candace!
Michelle, you can purchase or make your items, exchange as many days as you want, and do it for each person in the room.....It is all up to you and what is best for your budget/family. Personally, I have not decided what we are going to do yet. There are SO many ideas!!!

Let me know what everyone wants to do as far as the list goes.........If you want to finalize it now, it will be so!!!

 

[joannjoe]

Don't forget there was a group or 2 at the beginning that wanted to be in a small group's. I think they were adults only in the family. I would be ok from anywhere from 12 to 15 groups/room's. Don't forget we have 2 rooms so we should be counted as 2. It seems we have a good mixture of young kids, kids and teenagers in the groups that have signed up.

 

[PAGA2003]

I've actually already started thinking about FE gifts as well! I totally agree with keeping it simple and everyone doing what works best for their family. I feel like with things like this everyone should be able to participate in a way that makes them comfortable and happy

This is sort of related-I host a cookie exchange every Christmas and I only have one rule (no duplicate cookies). I've seen so many people put rules and stipulations on exchanges like no no-bakes, no bars, no recipes using mixes, etc. and there is no way I could say that to my guests! To me all those rules would start taking the fun out of it for some, especially if they aren't big bakers and that would defeat the whole purpose! I view the FE the same way. Some families may want to make the rounds and gift several times and others might find that stressful and want to do it and be one and done. Some will prefer cabin gifts and others individual gifts. Anyway, just my two cents on it

When it comes to the size of the group I feel like 12-15 cabins would be a nice size for logistics purposes.

 

[RedwineFamily]

Don't forget there was a group or 2 at the beginning that wanted to be in a small group's. I think they were adults only in the family. I would be ok from anywhere from 12 to 15 groups/room's. Don't forget we have 2 rooms so we should be counted as 2. It seems we have a good mixture of young kids, kids and teenagers in the groups that have signed up.

I looked back and there was a stateroom of adults that requested to be in a small FE group, but on another of their posts she stated that a breakdown of10-20 rooms per list was acceptable. Hopefully, it will be ok. I was looking at guest count more than stateroom number, so I think we are at a good spot

I will make it official, and close down group 1

 

[RedwineFamily]

I've actually already started thinking about FE gifts as well! I totally agree with keeping it simple and everyone doing what works best for their family. I feel like with things like this everyone should be able to participate in a way that makes them comfortable and happy

This is sort of related-I host a cookie exchange every Christmas and I only have one rule (no duplicate cookies). I've seen so many people put rules and stipulations on exchanges like no no-bakes, no bars, no recipes using mixes, etc. and there is no way I could say that to my guests! To me all those rules would start taking the fun out of it for some, especially if they aren't big bakers and that would defeat the whole purpose! I view the FE the same way. Some families may want to make the rounds and gift several times and others might find that stressful and want to do it and be one and done. Some will prefer cabin gifts and others individual gifts. Anyway, just my two cents on it

When it comes to the size of the group I feel like 12-15 cabins would be a nice size for logistics purposes.

I didn't plan on making any "rules". I don't want to be stressed, or for others to be stressed. It is supposed to FUN!!

 

[RedwineFamily]

Deleted

 

[MadamG2U]

Hi everyone!

Here is my take and please take it with a grain of salt.

I was part of a FE (first time) on the Magic in Europe, we had around 17 rooms. We did one gift per room and it was up to you if your wanted to do a room gift or a per person per room gift. We did not chose a day to give the gifts but left it up to each person. We also did not set a budget but each person worked with what they could afford.

It turned out great!! I loved coming back to my room and finding something new. I was also amazed at how creative some folks are., I don't have a creative bone in my body. But I had so much fun shopping and putting my stuff together. The one thing I was told was to have fun and don't stress.

Our stateroom number is - 2058

MadamG

 

[CAyers]

I agree and as always hopefully more groups can be made as people start to discover our thread and get signed up with the FE. Here's to Group 1 time to get our shopping and crafting on! I do not want anyone to stress have fun with it and do what you can

Stateroom: 9598