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!

 

[4 mickey]

I for one pixie dust either in FE or randomly
For sure prior I ask
« is it ok if I gift / pixie dust your kids « I couldn’t give anything if I didn’t ask
It goes from little notebook ..keychains ..accessories for crocs shoes ..even bought cute plushies mini bears …the joy and smiles I get is just wow

My upcoming dcl Nov I have a whole backpack of little gifts

 

[NAB]

We got pixie dusted without a FE . Mostly magnets with stickers on the back saying it was pixie dusted or birthday ones. Also got things hanging or sitting on top of the fish etc.

They were nice surprises because we didn’t sign up for anything.

 

[Loonyluna]

Are there fish extender threads for specific cruises? I did one on here 2 years ago but I cant find any threads for my specific cruise, even in the meeting section. Any advice? Thanks

It's the September 1 for the wish 2025.

 

[Disneyworldlocal]

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

I love it when we get these on our door. Love love love it

 

[dreamer17555]

Are there fish extender threads for specific cruises? I did one on here 2 years ago but I cant find any threads for my specific cruise, even in the meeting section. Any advice? Thanks

It's the September 1 for the wish 2025.

Often they are now done on FB but you can also see if there are people on your cruise meet here and start one here if you like.

 

[pixiedust33]

This is a somewhat recent fish extender thread but reviving it to a a related question. I’m contemplating doing the fish extender thing on our first Disney cruise, because I generally love stuff like this and so does my son, but I was taken aback to see in the cruise specific Facebook group that you’re put in a group with EIGHT other cabins. I had been under the, I guess incorrect, assumption, that you got ONE cabin. Is that in fact the norm and I’m better suited to pixie dusting? It’s not even the cost or time but the suitcase space that I’m worried about! How do people make space for all of this stuff (I already have a merch list of stuff I want as souvenirs too haha).

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is a somewhat recent fish extender thread but reviving it to a a related question. I’m contemplating doing the fish extender thing on our first Disney cruise, because I generally love stuff like this and so does my son, but I was taken aback to see in the cruise specific Facebook group that you’re put in a group with EIGHT other cabins. I had been under the, I guess incorrect, assumption, that you got ONE cabin. Is that in fact the norm and I’m better suited to pixie dusting? It’s not even the cost or time but the suitcase space that I’m worried about! How do people make space for all of this stuff (I already have a merch list of stuff I want as souvenirs too haha).

Every FE group sets up their own rules. I've been in a couple that the whole roll call was on the list for receiving gifts from everyone. And a couple that we were broken out into groups of 10-15 rooms. I've never seen one that was one on one option.

I've also seen ones where you are supposed to gift multiple times to each room on your list. Some groups require you identify yourself as the gifter, others are anonymous gifts.

 

[Disnsyncey]

This is a somewhat recent fish extender thread but reviving it to a a related question. I’m contemplating doing the fish extender thing on our first Disney cruise, because I generally love stuff like this and so does my son, but I was taken aback to see in the cruise specific Facebook group that you’re put in a group with EIGHT other cabins. I had been under the, I guess incorrect, assumption, that you got ONE cabin. Is that in fact the norm and I’m better suited to pixie dusting? It’s not even the cost or time but the suitcase space that I’m worried about! How do people make space for all of this stuff (I already have a merch list of stuff I want as souvenirs too haha).

Ours for our Magic cruise in Sept on fb has us with 5 cabins I think? I think it's up to the person organizing.....BUT....I would have assumed it would be more than 1 other cabin because they were called "groups"

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

This is a somewhat recent fish extender thread but reviving it to a a related question. I’m contemplating doing the fish extender thing on our first Disney cruise, because I generally love stuff like this and so does my son, but I was taken aback to see in the cruise specific Facebook group that you’re put in a group with EIGHT other cabins. I had been under the, I guess incorrect, assumption, that you got ONE cabin. Is that in fact the norm and I’m better suited to pixie dusting? It’s not even the cost or time but the suitcase space that I’m worried about! How do people make space for all of this stuff (I already have a merch list of stuff I want as souvenirs too haha).

This is totally dependent on who is admining the group. I've seen very different FE offerings and agree that eight cabins a group is just too many. (Personally, I think 5 is the sweet spot.) We had cruise where there was a Secret Mickey gift exchange, which essentially a secret Santa where everyone ended up gifting to one other person and receiving from one other person. That saounds more like what you're looking for.

Depending on how far out the cruise is, you could always post and ask if folks would be interested in a Secret Mickey and/or if there's anyone who feels overwhelmed by the larger FEs but wants to do a one-on-one gift exchange. Just because the admins set the groups up that way doesn't mean that's the only way to coordinate onboard gifting.

 

[dreamer17555]

Groups of 5-10 cabins are the most common (personally I like groups of 5 the best).

I think one on one exchange have the potential to be uncomfortable because it is much more noticeable if someone over gifts\under gifts when it is just with one other person. When you are getting multiple gifts it is easy to shrug off gifts that seem to have no thought or value (or skips giving at all) and not feel as embarrassed when someone spends a lot more than you because chances are they are the outlier in the group. JMO.

 

[Lewisc]

So pixie dusting is way to get rid of the trinkets you received from a FE.

 

[Disnsyncey]

So pixie dusting is way to get rid of the trinkets you received from a FE.

I was actually JUST thinking that about the one who left the FE up overnight and got a whole buncha stuff HAHAAHAHH