So, here’s the deal: If you’re heading out on a Disney Cruise and you think you’ve planned everything, there’s one magical tradition you may not have heard about.
Or heard about it and have no idea how to get involved.
It’s fun. It’s creative.
Let’s talk about fish extenders.
They’re actually part of a super secret unofficial Disney Cruise tradition that adds an extra layer of magic to your trip.
Well it’s more like an open secret these days as so many Disney cruisers participate in these magical exchanges.
Imagine a Secret Santa-style gift exchange happening right on board, with surprises waiting for you every day. It’s like having an extra sprinkle of pixie dust on top of your already magical vacation.
What in the World Is a Fish Extender?
Okay, so here’s how it works.
Outside every stateroom on a Disney Cruise, there’s a little decorative metal fish (or other sea creature) near the door.
Here is one from Disney Wonder.
This is where the crew leaves important things like tickets and reminders. But Disney cruisers? They’ve turned it into something way cooler.
A fish extender is basically a pocket organizer that hangs from that metal fish. It’s where your fellow cruisers—yes, strangers who become instant Disney friends—can leave you little gifts as part of a pre-organized exchange.
Here you can see the Fish Extender hanging from the fish on the left of the door.
Think of it as your personal magic mailbox.
Some people use simple bags, but the pros customize tiered pouches with their names, favorite Disney characters, or even cruise dates.
And let me tell you, once you’re part of the fish extender crew, you’ll never want to cruise without one again.
How Do You Join the Fish Extender Fun?
Disney doesn’t officially run fish extender groups.
It’s all guest-organized, which means you’ll need to do a little sleuthing before your cruise. Don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds.
- Find Your Cruise’s Group
Head to Facebook or a Disney Cruise forum and search for your ship and sailing date. For example, “Disney Wish, June 2026.” If a group exists, join it. If not, you can even start one yourself and invite others. And to help you I have compiled a list of Disney Treasure Facebook Groups ready and waiting for you to join.. - Join the Exchange
Once in the group, look for posts about fish extenders. These exchanges are often themed—family groups, adults-only, or even specific gift types like ornaments or magnets. - Fill Out Your Info
Most groups ask you to share some fun details about yourself and your family. Think favorite Disney characters, hobbies, or snack preferences. This helps everyone personalize their gifts and make the experience extra special. - Get Your List
You’ll be assigned a small group of staterooms to exchange gifts with (usually 5–10 cabins but it varies). You’ll receive their info, and they’ll get yours. Then the real fun begins.
What Kind of Gifts Do You Give?
This is where things get exciting—and honestly, a little addictive. The best part about fish extenders is that the possibilities are endless. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- For Kids: Glow sticks, small toys, stickers, or Disney-themed coloring kits.
- For Adults: Reusable cups, tote bags, or cute magnets for stateroom doors.
- DIY Magic: Handmade ornaments, keychains, magnets.
- Practical Gifts: Sunscreen, lip balm, or anything handy for a day at sea.
Pro tip: Keep things simple, fun, and affordable. The goal is to spread joy—not stress over your gift list.
Where do you find Fish Extenders? You can make one yourself but a very easy solution is to look at these great options on Amazon.
How Much Should You Spend?
Here’s the thing—there’s no “right” amount to spend on fish extender gifts. Some groups set a budget (like $5–$10 per gift), while others leave it up to you.
Let’s say you’re in a group with 5 cabins, and each cabin has 4 people. That’s 20 gifts total. If you spend $10 per gift, your budget is $200.
But don’t panic—many people DIY their gifts to keep costs low, and it’s just as magical.
How It All Comes Together on the Ship
Once you board the ship, the real magic begins.
- Hang Your Fish Extender
As soon as your cabin is ready, hang your fish extender on the metal fish outside your door. Most people pack it in their carry-on so they’re ready to go right away. - Deliver Your Gifts
There’s no set schedule for delivering gifts, but you’ll want to do it before the last night of the cruise. Many cruisers like to surprise their group during the day when everyone’s out exploring the ship or ports. - Check Your Extender Daily
Make it a habit to check your fish extender every day. You never know when a surprise might show up, and it’s always fun to see what your fellow cruisers have left for you.
Want to Keep It Low-Key? Try Pixie Dusting
If committing to a full fish extender group isn’t your thing, you can always try pixie dusting. This is basically a random act of kindness—leaving a surprise gift for someone without expecting anything in return.
Is It Worth It?
Absolutely. Whether you’re all-in with a fish extender group or just sprinkling a little pixie dust, these small moments of connection are what make Disney Cruises so special.
It’s not just about the gifts—it’s about the magic of giving, the excitement of receiving, and the memories you’ll make along the way.
So, grab a fish extender, join a group, and get ready to experience Disney Cruise Line in a whole new way. Trust me—you’ll never forget it.
Disney Treasure Fish Extender Groups for 2025 and 2026
Just to know that none of these Groups are endorsed or affiliated with us at EverythingMouse – we are just providing the list for you to make them easier to find.
If you don’t see a group for your specific sailing date, you can always start one and let us know—we’ll add it to the list!
And if you are running a Group and don’t see it here then just join our general Disney Treasure Group and let us know and we will add it here!
May 2025
- May 3rd, 2025 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - May 10th, 2025 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - May 17th, 2025 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - May 24th, 2025 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - May 31st, 2025 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here
June 2025
- June 7th, 2025 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - June 14th, 2025 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - June 21st, 2025 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - June 28th, 2025 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here
July 2025
July 5th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
July 12th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
July 19th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
July 26th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
Facebook Group
August 2025
August 2nd, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
August 9th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
Facebook Group
Facebook Group
August 16th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
August 23rd, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
August 30th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
September 2025
September 6th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
September 13th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
September 20th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
September 27th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
October 2025
October 4th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
October 11th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
October 18th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
October 25th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
November 2025
November 1st, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
November 8th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
November 15th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
November 22nd, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
November 29th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
December 2025
December 6th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
December 13th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
December 20th, 2025
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
December 27th, 2025
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
No Facebook group link found
January 2026
- January 3rd, 2026 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - January 10th, 2026 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - January 17th, 2026 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - January 24th, 2026 – 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
(Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here - January 31st, 2026 – 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
(Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Join the group here
February 2026
- February 7th, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group - February 14th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group - February 21st, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group - February 28th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
March 2026
March 7th, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
March 14th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
March 21st, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
No Facebook Group found
March 28th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
April 2026
April 4th, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
April 11th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
April 18th, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
April 25th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Join the Facebook Group
May 2026
May 2nd, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Public Facebook Group
May 9th, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
May 16th, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
May 23rd, 2026
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
May 30th, 2026
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Ports of Call: Cozumel, George Town, Falmouth, Castaway Cay
Facebook Group
June 2026
June 6
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
June 13
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
June 20
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
June 27
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
July 4
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay) — Independence Day
July 11
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
July 18
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
July 25
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
August 1
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
August 8
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
August 15
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
August 22
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
August 29
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
September 5
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
September 12
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
September 19
7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Falmouth, Castaway Cay)
September 26
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Port Canaveral (Tortola, St. Thomas, Castaway Cay)
Let me know if you need it in a table or with any extra details!
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Alison Meacham is the founder of EverythingMouse Disney Blog. For over 15 years she has shared her love of Disney Parks, Disney Cruises and Universal Orlando. In over 30 years of Disney Travel she has spent countless months in Disney Parks and has sailed on over 45 cruises. A British native and now a United States resident she splits her time between California, Florida and the UK. And spends a serious amount of time sailing the seven seas. She helps over 200,000 people per month follow their Disney travel dreams.