The hardest part of Disney fish extenders is coming up with the perfect gift ideas. Well, we've taken the stress out of that with the ultimate list of amazing Fish Extender Gift Ideas. Whether you're a DIYer or want to quickly buy online, we have you covered in this post.
You've probably saw in our Everything You Need to Know About Fish Extenders post that we recently returned from the dreamiest Disney Cruise! We had so much fun, and one of my kids favorite things was participating in a fish extender group. It was so fun and easy on board. The hardest part was definitely coming up with the perfect fish extender gift ideas before we left.
Fish Extender Gift Ideas
Well, it's your lucky day, because I decided to take the hard work out of Fish Extenders for you and I rounded up over 30 amazing fish extender gift ideas just for you! If you are a DIYer and want to make your own Fish Extender here is my DIY Fish Extender Tutorial!
If you have more questions about how fish extenders work or want to see a few of the gifts we got on our cruise live, watch this video!
Cruise Gift Exchange Ideas
Okay you ready to see all these amazing gift ideas? I broke them down into categories to make it easier to navigate.
Scroll through to see adult fish extender ideas, Castaway Cay inspired ideas, cruise preparedness themed ideas, DIY fish extender gift ideas, Star Wars gift ideas, Princess themed gift ideas, great for traveling home gift ideas, and last but not least Pirate Night themed gift ideas.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Adult Fish Extender Gift Ideas
There are so many great Disney gift ideas for kids, but adults can be harder to shop for! Here are a few fun ideas that will work for any age!
- You can't go wrong with this unisex Disney Baseball Cap! I can't get over how cute it is!
- Cute Minnie Mouse Wallet Lanyard would be perfect for holding your key to the world card and a few other necessities!
- Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World Book my husband and son would love this book! They are all about learning Disney secrets and trivia!
- I bought these Minnie Mouse Earrings for myself before our cruise and I love them! They were comfortable, and super affordable! I already want them in one of the other fun colors!
Castaway Cay Inspired Ideas
The Castaway Cay day on Disney Cruise Line is most definitely our favorite stop! Make it extra fun with some of these cute beachy ideas!
- Beach toys for Castaway Cay are always a good idea!
- These no-spill bubbles for toddlers are so much fun! Plus, so nice for mom and dad who don't have to clean up any messes!
- My older kids would love these emoji inflatable beach balls! They would be easy to pack too, then people can inflate on Castaway Cay!
- Not only would goggles be great for that clear blue Castaway Cay water, but they could be helpful on board the ship for chlorine sensitive eyes too.
Cruise Preparedness Gift Ideas
Especially if you have first time cruisers in your group, things like lanyards and sea bands can be life savers, and are also cheap to buy! Three cheers for practical gifts.
- Cruise lanyards are a great idea for new cruisers. Perfect to keep your key to the world card handy without having to carry a bag!
- Sunscreen, Dramamine, or other cruise essentials would be a good idea for the first day of sailing.
- Sprinkles and toppings for the soft serve ice cream are so fun! Nothing better than the ship's unlimited soft serve!
- Re-usable straws to use while on the ship are a great idea because Disney Cruise Line has done away with all paper straws to help the environment!
DIY Fish Extender Gift Ideas
If you are a crafter nothing is more fulfilling that making something for someone you know they are going to treasure! Here are a few fun and simple DIY fish extender ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
These funny socks would make a super fun and affordable DIY fish extender gift!
DIY Funny Socks
DIY Funny socks are a fun, easy Cricut project for beginners or for seasoned pros. These hilarious socks make great gifts, and you can personalize them however you want!
SEE THE POST
Or how about some nautical DIY Disney ears? Can you believe you can get a 12 pack of Disney Ears on Amazon for under $15?!
I love these cruise t-shirts Sarah made for us to wear on our cruise! If you have a small fish extender group and are a crafter these would be above and beyond!
Check out the tutorial for these Disney Cruise Shirts here!
A personalized tumbler or cup can be such a fun gift idea! You could totally make them with monograms or using each persons favorite Disney Character!
Star Wars Gift Ideas
Star Wars is all the rage right now and we definitely had some fans in our last fish extender group! Check out these fun ideas that any Star Wars fan will be sure to enjoy!
- Star Wars Candy like these cute Pez Dispensers or these fun BB8 Candy bracelets.
- Star Wars Vinyl Stickers to go on laptops, water bottles or even your cruise door!
- Fun Star Wars socks are something that we gave alot of our fish extender groups last time, and they were a huge hit!
- Inflatable light sabers Luke and Bryce got these from someone in our group and the kids had so much fun playing with them!
- Star Wars Boba Fett Playing Cards would be fun to play before bed or just a cool souvenir to bring home.
Princess Gift Ideas
Princess gifts are also timeless for any girl! We gave out the princess chapsticks as one of our FE gifts last cruise and they were a major hit!
- Princess socks are another fun thing we gave last time. You can get a pretty good bang for your buck by buying them in sets and splitting them up!
- Autograph Books to get all your character signature on board the ship!
- Character chapsticks I love these because they are a gift that can work for any age or gender! Last cruise we gave the girls princess chapstick and the boys Star Wars. Three cheers for gifts that are fun and practical!
- Adorable Disney Large Bead Character Bracelets these are so fun for younger princess loving girls!
Good for Travel Home Fish Extender Gifts
Everyone knows the worst part of any Disney Cruise is leaving! Help make the "see ya real soon" a little easier with these fun "traveling home" themed gift ideas!
- Disney Coloring Sets for younger kids are great to entertain during long plane rides!
- Toy Story 4 Uno Game works for any age.
- Disney Draw String Bags 2 Pack are great for carrying home all the extra pixie dust you picked up on the cruise!
- World of Disney Eye Found It Cards are another fun way to entertain in the airport or bus rides!
Pirate Night Inspired Gift Ideas
Second to Castaway Cay on our kids favorite list has got to be pirate night, and I have to say we love it too! Nobody is going to be mad about getting a little extra pirate gear in their fish extenders! Plus, these options are all really affordable, too!
- Pirate night gear like these eye patches!
- Inflatable pirate swords, save room by gifting them un-inflated and letting people blow up their own!
- 12 Piece Pirate Bandana Set Disney gives you each your own bandana to use on Pirate night, but it was fun to have extras for arms, legs or other embellishments!
- Fun Pirate looking keys you could put on string to make necklaces!
Disney Fish Extender FAQ's
Just in case you want more info on fish extenders in general, here are a few of the FAQ's we often get.
- What is a Disney Fish Extender (FE)?
- A Fish Extender is a hanging pocket organizer often made of fabric, usually found on the stateroom doors of Disney Cruise Line ships. It's a way for passengers to exchange small gifts and surprises with other cruisers.
- How does a Fish Extender exchange work?
- Passengers who want to participate sign up for a Fish Extender group before the cruise (often through online forums or social media groups). Each group has a coordinator who assigns participants to specific staterooms. Participants then prepare small gifts and place them in the pockets of the assigned FEs.
- What kind of gifts should I give?
- Gifts can vary widely, but they are typically small, thoughtful, and Disney-themed. See above post for all the best ideas!
- Do I have to participate in a Fish Extender exchange?
- Participation is entirely optional. If you're not interested, you can simply enjoy the cruise without being part of a Fish Extender group. However, it can be a fun way to connect with fellow passengers and make new friends.
- Where can I find Fish Extender groups?
- You can often find Fish Extender groups on Disney Cruise Line forums, social media groups, or by asking fellow cruisers before your trip. Many groups are organized on platforms like Facebook or by using dedicated websites or apps.
- How do I hang my Fish Extender?
- Most Disney Cruise Line staterooms have a metal fish-shaped clip outside the door where you can hang your Fish Extender. You can also bring magnetic hooks to use on the door if needed.
- Is there a cost associated with participating?
- While there may be some costs involved in preparing and purchasing gifts, there's no mandatory fee for participating in a Fish Extender exchange.
- Can I make my own Fish Extender?
- Yes, many participants enjoy making their own Fish Extender organizers. There are also online sellers who offer customizable options for purchase.
- Are there any rules or guidelines to follow?
- Each Fish Extender group may have its own rules and guidelines, so it's essential to check with your group coordinator for specific instructions.
- What is the purpose of a Fish Extender exchange?
- The primary purpose is to create a sense of community and fun among fellow Disney Cruise Line passengers. It's a way to spread Disney magic and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded Disney fans during the cruise.
Well what do you think?! Which gifts are your favorites?
xo,
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