The History of Fish Extender Exchanges

[Mickey&JoshNut]

I was around for the original but will no longer participate off the DIS. It's a crazy world out there for FE's and I don't like it one bit. Too many greedy and competitive people. The days when it was simple and anonymous were fun. Fun isn't the word for it anymore.

I too was part of the original FE group and no longer participate. I agree with the too many greedy and competitive people as well as all the rules.
Whatever you got was appreciated and most time you didn't even know who stuff was from. We had gifts that ranged from t-shirts, first aid kits and our wonderful FE from Debbie (Epcotkilterfan) to temporary pirate tattoos for pirate night and small candy packs. I think our stateroom host had as much fun as we did...if he noticed that some of our pockets were getting full, he would empty them and put it on our bed inside the cabin. We never considered that someone would steal anything from them, but then again we only had 260 kids onboard our sailing.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I don’t do FB and more often than not I am the person who starts my cruise meet thread and by doing so I am the person who ends up running the FE and any other activity that may come up
I will ask for help - often I receive it - often when someone suggest something in the thread I suggest they take the lead in handling it (I’m already handling several things) they often stop talking
I really find it frustrating that peeps sign up on the DIS and then disappear off the face of the Earth I’m sure they went to FB
I have tried several times in the past to work with the FB group on my cruises as I consider us one big happy cruise each time that has failed as the FB group wants nothing to do with the DIS group - this is my experience on multiple cruises - I find thus very sad as I thought we were all adults here
My DH keeps telling me to stop but I won’t as I still enjoy meeting my fellow cruiser peeps and I know several are like me and don’t do FB
The rules are what they are and I follow them not my ball not my place to make the rules ! I don’t believe any of them are causing a hardship but again my opinion your mileage my be way off
My last several cruise meets had several pages of post - but again not as chatty as they used to be
You get what you put into it - so I will keep putting in some may like it some may not - you can always click ignore if I bother you
Thank you for this thread I hope it helps !! Long live the cruise meet and fish extender!!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I myself still have and daily use several of my gifts and every time I see them I fondly think of the person who gave it to me and our wonderful cruise and I hope they are doing well !!
we are not getting stupid junk we are getting memories !! Remember that wonderful first aid kit? Those laundry items we so badly needed? That candy we took to the movies? Or the duplicate items we Pixie Dusted someone with? Memories !!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

often when someone suggest something in the thread I suggest they take the lead in handling it (I’m already handling several things) they often stop talking

I see this also. There used to be a good core of DISboarders who would be the organizers of the various cruise meets and activities. But, many of them have left, it seems.

And then you get newbies, who want to do "everything" so they can have the fun experience, but don't want to step up to help organize things. They seem to think that setting FE groups and other activities are "someone else's" job, and they're just there to participate.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I know they want wine tasting breakfast meet and greets things for their kids etc yup all sounds like fun but one person should not be tasked with handling that and what really frost my cake they will say never mind FB is doing it - yes they are and they have multiple peeps handling each activity! Grr
So I really believe the wonderful peeps that used to be here and helped do all the fun things have left for whatever reason and went to FB sad
To each his own I’ll make lemonade out of my lemons and do the best I can and if it’s not good enough well sorry it’s all I can do!! I do it with good intentions

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I will say this - I urge all who no longer do this - please reconsider - take the steps to take back the fun in FE yes we can do this !! We can make this what it was we have a great big beautiful tomorrow coming once we can cruise again and I believe We can do this !! I don’t have several of these issues as I state from the get go how the FE is - it’s a fun thing not a out do your cabin mate !
recapture what the meaning was behind this - to have fun and get to know the peeps your cruising with ! You can never have too many friends life is hard enough let’s start spreading some of that Disney Magic we all have and if someone doesn’t like well we all know what they can do - walk the plank !! Haa haa !!

 

[WDWEPCOT]

I think this thread needs a new title to grab more attention and reach a wider audience !! Haa haa it’s not seeing any action !!

 

[JM23457]

I joined a FB group about FE. I was hoping for some ideas but quickly left. People would complain about homemade gifts or they spent $$ on personalized blankets and got dollar tree stuff. The Admin tells newbies they need to spend $$ and newbies get scared off. I have been lucky and never had a bad group and had everything from chapstick to handmade items. Love it all. I loved it when groups organized on disboards vs other platforms. I had one person who was a travel agent run the group and was not even on the cruise. I wanted my friend and I to each participate seperately as we font live together. I had to get firm because she didnt see the reason why and thought we should share. We each gave gifts.

Was this a recent group? It hasn't been my experience.