What’s the difference between pixie dusting and FE?

[noahsmom]

We haven’t sailed since 2019 and I don’t remember pixie dusting being a thing. We participated in many FE exchanges so I understand how that works. How is pixie dusting different?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Pixie Dusting is when you leave gifts in someone's fish extender, but you are not part of a fish extender group. Basically, you are randomly giving out stuff with no particular affiliation other than being on the same ship.

 

[LorrieAnn5]

Sometimes the specific Facebook group will allow you to sign up for Pixie dusting so it's easier/ more fun to walk around to those cabins and gift a little gift.

I've only participated in Pixie dusting on the two cruises I've been on. We have made custom stickers for the cruise and also given out "goodie bags". Simple little things, but we enjoy giving and receiving.

It's less pressure than FE exchanges in my opinion.

 

[dreamer17555]

FE Exchanges are where you are assigned so many cabins (or guests, depending on how it is set up) to gift to and then those people will gift you in return.

Pixie Dusting is giving random gifts with no expectation of anything in return.

We used to Pixie Dust guests but then I started thinking about how much of those little items likely end up in the trash before they even get home. We have shifted to Pixie Dusting the crew members that are unable to accept tips (baskets full of snacks- crew can pick their item to avoid allergies, magnets for their cabin, things like that) because they make such a difference to our cruise experience.

 

[bffdisney]

Would it be weird to bring a fish extender to just hope for a few little treats for my kids? I think they would really like passing things out to other people. Then I was thinking I could save a few the kids don't know about just in case.

I agree with PP about the garbage thing. Need to be careful about what I think to bring. I was thinking magnets that say "We like your door!" would be fun. We got one of those on our first cruise and the kids got a kick out of it.

 

[BriarBelle]

Would it be weird to bring a fish extender to just hope for a few little treats for my kids? I think they would really like passing things out to other people. Then I was thinking I could save a few the kids don't know about just in case.

I agree with PP about the garbage thing. Need to be careful about what I think to bring. I was thinking magnets that say "We like your door!" would be fun. We got one of those on our first cruise and the kids got a kick out of it.

Definitely not weird. We didn't sign up for a fish extender group on our most recent cruise because our group had 9 kids over 5 rooms and we wanted all of them to get the same items to avoid potential sibling/cousin disappointment issues so we did an "internal" fish extender within our group but since the fish extenders were hanging up, lots of people still pixie dusted things into them.

The types of things pixie dusted varied quite a bit but most were definitely smaller, trinket-y type items and candy. I personally probably would have re-pixie dusted a lot of it, but I think my nieces and nephews enjoyed it!

 

[dreamer17555]

Would it be weird to bring a fish extender to just hope for a few little treats for my kids? I think they would really like passing things out to other people. Then I was thinking I could save a few the kids don't know about just in case.

I agree with PP about the garbage thing. Need to be careful about what I think to bring. I was thinking magnets that say "We like your door!" would be fun. We got one of those on our first cruise and the kids got a kick out of it.

No one is really going to know if you’re participating in an exchange or pixie dusting or just have a fish extender hanging out.

It can get tricky if you have multiple kids because not every little pixie dust item can be divided well. And you might only get pixie dusted once or not at all. I’m not saying not to do it. I just want to warn parents in advance just in case it doesn’t work out the way you’re thinking.

I love the “we like your door” magnets. I make a bunch each cruise to put on doors.

 

[laurelew]

Would it be weird to bring a fish extender to just hope for a few little treats for my kids? I think they would really like passing things out to other people. Then I was thinking I could save a few the kids don't know about just in case.

I agree with PP about the garbage thing. Need to be careful about what I think to bring. I was thinking magnets that say "We like your door!" would be fun. We got one of those on our first cruise and the kids got a kick out of it.

Not at all! I bought a FE very last minute before my April 2025 Fantasy cruise and I'm so happy I did because we were pixie dusted quite often. People are so generous.

Also I highly recommend leaving your FE out until just before bed on the last night. I took mine down while packing that afternoon and my sister's family left theirs up. They received a ton of stuff at the end of the cruise because I think a lot of people had goodies they still needed to give out. I look forward to pixie dusting other guests on the next cruise my family takes!