Ahoy there, Nancy! Thanks so much for sailing over to planDisney - so glad you're here! I am so delighted to hear that you'll be taking a family vacation with
Disney Cruise Line this spring, and I can only imagine how excited your granddaughters must be. Let's drop anchor and chat about some ways to add a little extra pixie dust to your trip!
Fish extenders are a fun and uniquely Disney tradition that brighten the ship and bring some magic each time you return to your stateroom. The name comes from the hooks outside of stateroom doors - it's sometimes a fish, but it can also be another sea creature, or a familiar Disney icon. Guests on DCL often hang an organizer or pouch on the hook so they can give and receive some goodies throughout their voyage. A personalized organizer is also a fun surprise for the cruise that can be used again once you inevitably fall in love with DCL!
To find a group, I recommend searching Facebook for your specific sailing to find fish extender groups. There is typically one person serving as a "cruise coordinator", and they will create groups of families staying in the same general area on the ship. You will receive the names and ages of the individual Guests in your group, and often some other information like favorite Disney characters.
What you bring for your gifts is up to you, and your princesses may enjoy helping choose some fun items. Homemade items and things that are reusable are always a hit. I have a small stainless steel thermos with Mickey and Minnie that was a fish extender gift in 2017, and I still use it daily for work! One important detail - keep in mind that your swag will take up valuable real estate in your luggage when deciding what to bring.
If the logistics of a structured fish extender group are too daunting, you can still bring an organizer and make it known that you have some young ladies who would appreciate some pixie dust. I usually bring along some candy and Disney pins so I can leave surprises around the ship! For some additional door decor, you can source personalized magnets, which then become a fun reminder of your magical adventure once you return home.
I hope this information is helpful for your planning purposes, Nancy! If our planDisney crew can help with any other questions to make your cruise amazing, please stop back and see us again anytime.
SEA Ya Real Soon!
Susan