Welcome aboard, Amber! Are you checking your "to do" list before setting sail with
Disney Cruise Line! I know there is a lot to think about and plan for, but once you arrive, be ready to relax and have an amazing vacation!
You asked about secret pals onboard, and I think you might be referring to the Fish Extender exchange groups that some Disney Cruise guests set up amongst themselves before sailing. These groups are not sponsored by Disney Cruise Line, but are set up by guests themselves who meet up ahead of time on fan forums, like the popular Disboards.com. If you go on Disboards on the Forums section, then scroll down to the Disney Cruise Line section, and choose Meets, you can view the different ships and sail dates and find the forum with guests sailing on your exact cruise. That is where you can view if the guests have organized a Fish Extender exchange for the sailing.
What is a Fish Extender? Outside each stateroom on the ship is a clip where Cast Members might clip a message or notice. Many of them are shaped like fish. Guests in the exchanges hang pockets from the fish clips, thus "extending" the fish, so that others in their forum group can leave little Secret Santa-type gifts. Each group of guests tends to make their own rules and deadlines for joining the Fish Extender groups, so check in and see what's happening on the forum for your sailing!
My family and I have participated in the exchanges a few different times, and it was a lot of fun. It was nice to get to know some fellow sailors before heading out to sea, and fun to plan gifts to exchange with them throughout the cruise. It just added a bit more magic to what is already an incredibly magical experience with
something for everyone in the family!
Good luck finding your group, and have an amazing cruise, Amber!
Marcy