Looking for fish extender gift ideas to make your upcoming Disney cruise unforgettable? Our recent Very Merry Christmas cruise inspired these top suggestions we know your fish extender group will love. Get ready to add extra magic to your voyage!

Going on a Disney cruise is such an amazing and magical experience that creates memories you’ll cherish forever.
As fellow Disney enthusiasts, we totally get how exciting it is to plan and prep for this adventure.
One of the highlights onboard is the Fish Extender gift exchange.
If you haven’t heard of it, the Fish Extender is a pocket organizer hanging outside your stateroom door, where fellow cruisers can leave small gifts to spread joy. It’s a fun tradition aboard Disney cruises and a great way to make new connections with other cruise guests.
With the holiday season approaching, we went on our own Very Merrytime Disney Cruise and participated in some fish extender fun.
In this post, we’ll share the Disney fish extender gifts we put together for our last cruise, hoping to inspire and assist you in finding the perfect gifts for your next cruise.
So please sit back and join us on this exciting exploration into the world of Disney cruise fish extender gifts.
This post is all about fish extender gift ideas.
Fish Extender Gift Ideas
A brief overview of fish extenders
If you’ve never heard of the fish extender gift exchange, here’s how it works:
Participants hang a pocketed organizer called the fish extender from the metal fish outside their stateroom and fill it with small gifts for other guests who are also participating.
It is not organized or sponsored by Disney Cruise Line – it’s all run by fellow cruisers like you and me!
To join the fun, all you need to do is find the Facebook group for your cruise dates and keep an eye out on that Facebook page for information on how to sign up for a fish extender group.
Many people choose Disney-themed or practical items packaged in little gift bags. It’s a great way to make new friends and extra memories of your cruise!
That’s the quick lowdown on the fish extender program, but if you’re new to this whole concept, don’t worry!
Check out my post on the five things you must know about fish extenders before joining.
In that post, I share more information about how to sign up, the types of gifts you should get, and the pros and cons of participating. It’s a must-read!
Selecting our fish extender gifts
Our fish extender group (FE group) consisted of our family and five other families.
For the exchange, we decided to focus on the kids because I always find it a bit challenging to come up with affordable items that adults will truly enjoy.
The children in our fish extender group ranged from around 18 months to 6 years old, so we had a younger crowd.
All of our little gifts included character stickers, pirate tattoos for pirate night, an ornament decorating kit with Mickey head-shaped ornaments we purchased on Etsy, and some markers.
We were on a Christmas-themed cruise, so I thought it would be a cute idea to include some sort of Christmasy keepsake.
The FE gifts for ages 18 months to 3 years also included a set of Minnie-themed bath toys.
And, the gifts for ages three and older included a Beauty and the Beast activity book and Disney Princess Lip Smackers.
Ornament Decorating Kit
Beauty and the Beast activity book
Minnie and Daisy bath toys
Gift for the younger kids in our group
Gift for the older kids in our group
Where to purchase gifts
When you’re shopping for fish extender gifts, it’s important to find something thoughtful without going overboard or getting something too big.
After all, everyone needs to be able to take their gifts home after the cruise.
For our fish extender gifts, we bought items from different places like Etsy, Dollar Tree, Amazon, and Target.
At Dollar Tree, we found our gift bags, stickers, activity books, and bath toys. The stock at Dollar Tree can vary from month to month and even between stores, so I don’t have specific links to those products.
So, when looking for fish extender gifts, keep it thoughtful and practical while considering the size and not spending too much money.
[RELATED: What to Wear on a Disney Cruise: 6 Easy Outfit Ideas for Moms and Families]
Shop our gifts
Packaging the gifts
To package our fish extender gifts, I first wrapped the DIY ornament kit in a separate plastic gift bag. That way, it would be clear what it was for.
Then, I put everything into these adorable small canvas Christmas-themed bags I found at the dollar store. It added a cute Christmasy touch, and everything fit perfectly.
To make sure I knew who each bag was for, I added a fun gift tag I found on Etsy. Since each child had different character preferences, some of the bags were slightly different.
The activity books were too big to fit in the bag, so I just tied the gift bag to them when I delivered the gifts.
I waited to attach them until we arrived on our cruise. It was much easier to pack everything flat in my suitcase that way.
More great fish extender gift ideas
- My first Disney cruise magnet
- Light card for the room
- Toothbrush holders
- Chocolate gold coins for pirate night
- Custom ornament with the family’s stateroom number
- Lego ships
- Ice cream toppings kit
- Lip balm
- Mickey-shaped magnetic hooks
Tips to make your gifts extra special
Putting extra thought and care into your presents can make all the difference when it comes to fish extender gifts.
One great way to do this is to pay attention to the kids’ favorite characters listed on the fish extender information.
If you know that a child is a huge fan of Elsa from Frozen or Lightning McQueen from Cars, consider incorporating their favorite Disney character into your gifts.
Another helpful tip is to think about practical items the kids can use on the ship, like ice cream toppings or small toys that will keep them entertained at dinner.
Finally, don’t forget to keep the theme of the cruise in mind when you’re selecting gifts.
For example, if you’re on a Christmastime cruise, consider incorporating some festive items like holiday-themed candy or ornaments. For us, we also tied our gifts to the Beauty and the Beast show that was playing on the Disney Dream, so we included a fun activity book centered around that theme.
By putting some extra thought into your fish extender gifts, you’ll be sure to create something truly special and memorable for the kids on your cruise.
Concluding Thoughts
The fish extender tradition aboard Disney cruises is such a unique and fun experience, and we hope this post has given you some inspiration for your own fish extender gifts.
Whatever you come up with, whether it’s cute Mickey or Minnie stockings filled with treats, an activity book, or a custom craft you make yourself, don’t forget that it’s always the thought that counts when it comes to special gifts like this.
So get creative, pick up some supplies, remember you don’t have to spend a lot of money – and enjoy your cruise vacation!