Fish Extender, Scavenger Hunt, And Towel ANimals
DATES TO REMEMBER
Dates to remember from sailing date
Onboard activities and port excursions from sailing date
Castaway Cay Club status
Concierge rooms 130 days
Pearl 123 days
Platinum 120 days
Gold 105 days
Silver 90 days
First time 75 days
Online Check-in from sailing date
Castaway Cay Club status
Pearl/Concierge rooms 40 days
Platinum 38 days
Gold 35 days
Silver 33 days
First time 30 days
DisneyBand plus purchase window from sailing date
45 days to 11 days
Order in this window to receive them at home
Royal Gathering booking window from sailing date
30 days
Fish Extender
WHAT IS A FISH EXTENDER? (FE)
Short answer: Guest organized secret Santa
Long answer: Every stateroom has a fish of some kind hanging on the wall outside the door. This is part decoration and part message center. The fish is there for Disney to place important communications to you such as excursion tickets and notes from the Cruise staff. It is like a mailbox for your room. A Fish Extender (FE) it is something that you hang off the fish. By hanging the Fish Extender off the fish, the Cast Members can still use it for its original purpose. All the people in the exchange buy or make little items and place them in each other's fish extenders. It is great fun to come back and check the items you have received.
Guidelines for Our Fish Extender Exchange
All gifts are to be delivered between the cruise leaving port and returning. This gives people time to pack their bags and set them outside their stateroom doors the night before we disembark.
There is no minimum or maximum dollar amount to be spent on the gifts given. I just ask that you give thoughtful consideration to what you are giving. Gifts can be homemade, store-bought, Disney, non-Disney, it is totally up to you. J Please no candy or food unless you plan to do a “state themed” gift and candy or food from that “State” is warranted, then that is fine. For example, Maple Syrup Candies from Vermont.
All cabins are cheerfully invited to participate. YOU choose how you would like to spread Disney Magic. You can give one gift suitable for the entire cabin, a gift to each person in the cabin, separate gifts catered to kids, then gifts catered to adults, etc. Again, this is up to you!
If you have multiple cabins in your party signing up for the FE exchange, each cabin must individually participate, you may not combine them. It is not fair for folks to make items for multiple cabins and only receive one item in return. Each cabin is counted individually in the exchange.
Deadline for signing up for the full FE exchange will be set to. This allows participants time to order personalized gifts. Anyone who would like to join after that time can sign up for the Pixie Dust List. The pixie dust list simply implies that you may or may not get gifts from everyone in the FE exchange but that you will get sprinkled with gifts by those who may have extras to give and you are encouraged to do the same.
Feel free to attach a label to your gifts with your Social Media name, Facebook name, cabin number or family name so that we know who to thank. If you wish to remain anonymous that is OK too. ;-)
Basic information collected:
Cruiser(s) Name(s) and Age(s)
Cabin #:
Allergies:
Celebrations on Board:
Favorite Characters per cruiser:
Favorite color:
Favorite movie:
You can participate in multiple groups but remember, you may be exchanging with the same families and therefore, may receive duplicate gifts.
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Term fish extender comes directly from the description of hanging the holder on the decorative fish (or seahorse, depending on which side of the ship a cabin is on) outside a guest’s stateroom door
Gifts are placed in the Fish Extender holder outside the participant’s stateroom
Gifts can run the gamut from being store-bought or homemade, dollar store trinkets or pricier Disney merchandise
There is no real rule as far as what is given, other than to “give what you would like to receive”
There are Fish Extender groups for families, children only, adults-only, cabin only (one gift for everyone in the cabin to share) or some combination of the above
Generally, when a cruiser decides to participate in their sailing’s exchange, there is a form on the cruise group page that lets them specify specifics like favorite Disney character, age, any allergies they have, or any special events they may be celebrating while on board
You are crafty and want to share
It does make cruising more exciting/fun
Who does not like to open presents almost daily
You are an organized person and want to handle the extra responsibility
You like to spread cheer and joy
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Added another layer of pre-planning to our vacation that I felt took away from the relaxing element of a Disney Cruise
Ensure I can fit everything in my luggage
Keep in mind that you will be receiving gifts in exchange so you need to make sure you have ample room to bring your goodies home
I’m participating in a Fish Extender exchange, I am purposefully adding another to-do item to my pre-cruise planning. I must purchase or make gifts tailored at least in some way to every person’s liking in my group.
This is both a time-consuming and financial effort.
Cost financially even if making the gifts
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Part of the excitement leading up to any Disney Cruise Line voyage is being able to connect with your fellow seafaring folks online, and planning unofficial exchanges of gifts and trinkets. I love walking down the corridors and passing by all of the colorful Fish Extenders that guests hang outside their doors, and it's great to see them make a return after previously being prohibited for a while.
As a fellow crafter I love that you've felt inspired to get creative with it, so I spoke with one of the friendly Crew Members currently on board who was happy to run up and check:
Typically the aquatic creature-themed Stateroom Mail slots have just enough clearance to be able to hold a few pieces of important correspondence; these can include invitations to special events, statements, promotional flyers or notices. Generally whether you have a fish, seahorse or starfish outside of your Stateroom door there's well under an inch of clearance to the wall, or just above 2 centimeters. (Note that this may vary and be subject to change from ship to ship and especially on the Disney Wish, but generally if it's thicker than a shoelace or a pen - chances are that it might not fit!)
Be sure to check the official guidelines and policy for decorating spaces outside your door; you wouldn't want to be charged for anything that may result in scratches or any damages! I've seen some extravagant examples made of various materials that might be inconvenient or unsafe for Crew Members as they clean corridors and tidy rooms!
What is pixie dust?
Are the Random Acts of Kindness given to Disney Cruise guests from time to time
Pixie dust is the real-life sprinkling of magic
Smaller gifts that can be given out to random staterooms on a Disney cruise, just because
Disney Letters and Surprise Scavenger Hunt
We did a scavenger hunt for the kids to figure out the trip
See the PDF as an example
We themed a letter each day based on something for the kids:
Pirate night
Port adventure
Day at sea
Fun tasks to perform on the ship
Disney Cruise Line Towel Animals
Typically each night your stateroom host once you venture off to dinner and they turn down your room, will make a towel animal with chocolate
On board there will even be a towel folding class offered
Disney Cruise Line Paper Crafts
Disney Vacation Club
If a member make sure you stop by the office/booth daily during your sailing for a free small gift
FAQs
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Get to know your staff
Catch a sunrise or sunset
You cannot do it all on your first cruise
Pick a couple of things before you board that are priorities and the rest of the time see how you all are feeling
Attend at least 1 Broadway like show
The shows have amazing actors, singing and special effects
The shows will last less than 1 hour in length
Bring a refillable cup
Free soft drinks, water and coffee is served on pool deck
Book placeholder
10% off future non-concierge staterooms
You have 24 hours to sail again using it
It is refundable if you change your mind
Old gift card or hotel room key
You insert them to keep the lights on in your room when you are in them
It is easier than using your current room key and you leave your room with it still in there
Get a passport
Any DCL ship is amazing
Yes they all have a little something different but there is no bad ship
Ice cream sandwiches
Order room service cookies (do not forget to tip the staff) and bring them up to ice cream on the pool deck and make a sandwich
Fly into the port location one day before you leave
Try new food and order seconds
The menu on the ships has a lot of variety so it is an excellent time to get the picky eater to try something new
If you love your meal and want more just ask for a second plate
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The good news is that all names can be changed before the final payment date.
There are different rules if you are past the final payment period. Then at least one name in the stateroom needs to be the same as the original booking.
All you have to do is call DCL at 800-951-3532, and a Cast Member can change the lead name for you.
If you booked with a travel agent, they would be the one to make the switch.
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There's nothing quite like stepping aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship and setting off for adventure.
Staterooms are typically ready around 1:30 p.m. on the day of your voyage.
Luggage may not arrive for a few hours afterward, so I recommend that you bring a swimsuit and coverup in a carry-on bag if you'd like to enjoy the pools onboard shortly after boarding.
My family has a tradition of enjoying lunch and then grabbing a soft-serve ice cream cone poolside.
For lunch, you can find a delicious buffet meal or be treated to excellent service at one of the main dining restaurants onboard. Check the navigator app after boarding the ship to see which restaurant will be opening its doors for lunch and to look over the menu.
After lunch, there are plenty of activities to enjoy and those too will be listed on the activity schedule within the app.
You'll find tours of the spa (often with exciting raffles and giveaways) and open houses offered in the youth activity spaces.
If you have little ones, this is the perfect time to check out these areas as a family and meet the amazing Crew Members that will be interacting with the kids all cruise long.
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Disney Cruise Line can provide distilled water for use with your CPAP machine while you sail.
Typically, a guest would fill out a request for Special Services form at least 60 days before sailing.
If you arrive soon, I recommend that you contact Disney Cruise Line Special Services by calling (407) 566-3602 to make your request.
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The first thing that I invite you to do is to log in to your Disney Cruise Line Account and see if your Guest information is "pending approval" or if it is listed as "complete". You can view this information from the Cruise Details page after logging in and selecting your reservation.
If it is listed as "complete", you may try to modify your travel documentation and submit a photo of your new passport.
As it is very close to your sailing, I encourage you to contact Disney Cruise Line and notify them that you have a new passport.
If your old passport is in your possession, it may be best that you bring both your old passport and new passport to the port for check-in. With your current valid passport with you at the cruise terminal, you will be meeting the necessary citizenship requirements to board.
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One of the highlights of cruising with friends is sharing the day’s activities over a meal. Plus, it’s always nice to arrive at your rotational-dining table and see familiar faces. You can link your staterooms on the Disney Cruise Line website or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. I’ll walk you through both.
On the Disney Cruise Line website, sign in and locate your reservation. Click the drop-down arrow next to your reservation number and look for “Add Reservations.” Alternatively, open the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app and view your reservation. Locate the three horizontal lines on the bottom right-hand side of the screen labeled "More." Right below Captain Mickey, select "Add Reservation.”
For either of these options, you will need the last name, date of birth, and reservation number of one of the Guests in the stateroom you are connecting. Once you have officially been connected in this way, you will be seated together for dinner and can also book activities together. Sharing a reservation allows you to see all the details of their reservation – payment information, activities booked, and stateroom number.
If you call Disney Cruise Line, they can link your reservations for dining only. You’ll need their name and reservation number.
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Prohibited items not allowed onboard for safety reasons will be held for the duration of the cruise with accompanying light paperwork for the Guest’s contact information. When you disembark, there will be a location at the port to retrieve these items. In my experience, it was a table near the main exit with a Crew Member to check your identification and match you with the prohibited item for return. The process was quick, easy, and there was no judgment of me or my item, which made me feel at ease.
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You are wise to review the prohibited items list ahead of time, and you’re right that portable fans must be inspected by the Chief Electrician before bringing safely onboard. I learned that small fans brought onboard must meet the following criteria to be considered:
Fans must be compact
Must have a stable base to tolerate any movement of the ship
Must be carried on, not in your checked luggage
Carry-on bags cannot exceed measurements of 9” x 14” x 22” so your fans must fit within those dimensions in the bag (in addition to any other items packed)
Be sure the cords do not show signs of wear and are in good working condition
Please know that I don’t have further insight into what may make the Chief Electrician’s final decision beyond these requirements. I hope with this guidance you’ll be ship shape for bringing what you desire onboard, but we cannot be certain until you try on embarkation day.
In the event your items are not approved for bringing onboard, they will be securely stowed for the length of your cruise with your contact information. On disembarkation day there is a clear location at the port to swing by and retrieve your items before heading home. This happened to me once by surprise and it was a very easy process to understand what wasn’t allowed onboard, and I got the item back very quickly when we returned to port a week later.
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The luggage allowance for Disney Cruise Line is two suitcases per person. These suitcases will be checked in with the luggage porters at the port and will arrive in your stateroom on the day of embarkation. You will receive two luggage tags per guest in your travel party for this checked baggage prior to setting sail. In addition to these suitcases, you may bring one carry-on bag (not to exceed 22 inches high, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches deep in dimension) and one personal bag onto the ship. Please place all valuables, medication, and important travel documents in your personal carry-on luggage. You will take this luggage with you on the ship and can bring it to your stateroom shortly after boarding.
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Guests with diabetes should carry a full supply of all necessary medications and medical supplies with them while traveling onboard. In fact, I suggest packing more than necessary to be on the safe side. This would include insulin and needles, so your husband may absolutely take these onboard. Just make sure that all medications are in their original containers and also packed in your carry-on luggage and NOT in luggage that is being checked at the port. His insulin would be kept refrigerated in your stateroom refrigerator.
Another recommendation: Guests with special needs are asked to complete and submit the Special Services Information Form at least 60 days before the start of their vacation or simply contact the Special Services team at (407) 566-3602 or SpecialServices@disneycruise.com. While he would be able to take everything he needs onboard with him, it’s always good to let Captain Mickey and his crew know your situation going in. That way, they can be mindful of your party’s needs and can assist with suggestions like lower carb menu items. As you can see from this online booklet, Disney Cruise Line has a great deal of experience accommodating Guests with Medical Conditions and Disabilities.
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Disney Cruise Line Vacation Planning Checklist
Browse Itineraries
Discover itineraries that sail to places around the world! Browse sailing dates, departure ports, cruise length, and ports of call to decide which sailing is right for your travel party.
Book Your Cruise
Once you've selected your itinerary, you'll begin the booking process where you will choose your stateroom. You can then pay in full, make a partial payment or put down a deposit to hold your reservation.
Download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App
You can use the Navigator app to explore your ship, read articles and learn helpful tips before your cruise. You can also make modifications to your reservation, add special requests and services, and pre-pay gratuities. While on board, the app allows you to see all the activities on your cruise, view menus, communicate with your travel party and more.
Book On Board Activities and Port Adventures
Once your cruise is paid in full, and you’ve reached your booking activities window, you can reserve Port Adventures, spa treatments, adult-exclusive dining and more. If you're a first-time Disney cruiser, you can begin booking 75 days before your sailing date. Castaway Club members can book further in advance! Be sure to book your desired activities as soon as possible as activities may fill up fast.
Pre-Book Photo Packages
Consider booking a photo package to capture all magic that goes along with a Disney cruise. Pre-book select photo products at least 3 days before the start of your cruise for a discount off the on-board price!
Final Preparations
Make sure you have your travel documents with you as you board the ship, not in your checked luggage. You’ll need everyone’s passport or citizenship documents for check-in at the port. To ensure smooth sailing, review the prohibited items list before you arrive at the port.
Sea Ya Real Soon!
Finalize your travel accommodations and prepare to step aboard your Disney cruise vacation! Be sure to arrive at the port at your designated arrival time.
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I'm sorry to hear that neither the ship's wireless internet connection nor the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App were able to help you with the photos taken by the Photographer Cast Members during your voyage. I reached out to the Disney Cruise Line Guest Services team who let me know the following:
Guests who have difficulty accessing their photos on their device have the ability to check with Crew Members at the Shutters Photography Shop before you disembark, especially if you have already purchased a Photo Package.
During the turnaround time between voyages as guests disembark and the ship prepares to welcome a new batch of seafarers, the images and digital content from the previous sailing may begin to be cleared. They made sure to reiterate the policy that guests will not be able to purchase digital photos post-cruise.
While this may be a disappointing answer to hear, I say that even if there is a slightest chance of preserving these memories - I would do my best to at least ask whether there are any other options. One of my family friends who cruised recently had purchased a Photo Package and had noticed some of the photo opportunities she had taken were missing, so she opened a ticket via the Help Center in order to locate them. Bear in mind that even when purchased, photos taken on board also have an expiry date so I would reach out for a definitive answer noting any difficulties that you may have had locating and downloading them on your device(s) prior to the end of your voyage.
Disney Cruise Line Fun Facts
Uniquely Disney
The Disney ships are painted in Mickey Mouse-inspired colors – black hull, white superstructure, yellow trim and two giant red funnels, each with the Disney Cruise Line Mickey Mouse logo.
Disney Cruise Line was the first cruise line to have yellow lifeboats, instead of the traditional regulation orange. Disney was granted special permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to paint the lifeboats yellow, to keep with the special color theming of the ship.
The Disney Magic was built in two halves… one hundred miles apart! Part of the ship was constructed in Ancona, Italy then towed 100 miles to meet the stern in Marghera to be perfectly joined and welded together.
Disney Cruise Line ships use the iconic first seven notes of the “When You Wish Upon a Star” song melody as their horn signals.
Disney ships are the only cruise ships to have five captains – the ship’s captain, Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie, Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow.
Measuring 964 feet in length, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder are each longer than Main Street U.S.A at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. At 1,115 feet, the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream are longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and longer than the height of New York City’s famous Chrysler Building.
The anchor on the Disney Magic weighs 28,200 pounds – about the same as three full-grown elephants.
On a special night aboard most Disney cruises, the “Pirates in the Caribbean” deck party features a spectacular pyrotechnics performance – fireworks at sea like only Disney can do!
Guest Experience
Eighty-eight percent of the staterooms on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream and more than 70 percent of staterooms on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder have ocean views. Of those, nearly 90 percent and 60 percent, respectively, have private verandahs.
In a cruise industry first, most staterooms on Disney ships feature a split “bath-and-a-half” design, providing families the added convenience of a sink and tub/shower in one room and a sink and toilet in a separate room.
Onboard both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, there are about 950 crew members representing more than 86 different nationalities. That is approximately one crew member for every three guests.
Dining
On an average seven-night sailing aboard the Disney Magic, the following food items are consumed:
Beef – 5,000 pounds
Chicken – 10,000 pounds
Salmon – 1,200 pounds
Shrimp – 1,300 pounds
Lobster Tail – 1,000 pounds
Melon – 15,000 pounds
Pineapple – 4,500 pounds
Eggs – 71,500
Coffee – 57,820 cups
Soda – 3,125 gallons
Beer – 12,385 bottles/cans
Wine and Champagne – 2,700 bottles
Disney Cruise Line dining room Cast members represent, on average, 86 different nationalities.
The décor and food of the Palo restaurant are inspired by Italy, the birthplace of both the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
Palo takes its name from the poles that line the canals of Venice. Palo’s extensive reserve wine list features selections that hail from some of the most mature vineyards in the world and highlight some of the greatest Super Tuscans like Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Tignanello.
Onboard Features
The Disney Magic and Disney Dream interior is in the art deco style, characterized by geometric designs and bold, solid colors. The interior on the Disney Wonder and Disney Fantasy is in the art nouveau style, which features organic influences and curved patterns.
Every Disney Cruise Line ship has an atrium lobby statue celebrating a classic Disney character. Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse, dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage, graces the Disney Fantasy and Admiral Donald strikes a pose on the Disney Dream. They are the subject of as many memorable vacation photos as their counterparts: Mickey at the helm (Disney Magic) and Ariel sitting pretty (Disney Wonder).
The décor of the Buena Vista Theatre was designed to emulate the elegant movie houses of the 1920s and 1930s, the period when Walt Disney was producing the first Mickey Mouse animated films.
The main showplace for entertainment, the Walt Disney Theatre spans three decks and can seat 977 guests onboard the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and 1,340 guests on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
A leader in family entertainment, Disney is the only cruise line to first-run feature films, including films in 3-D, with movies premiering at sea on the same day that they are released on land.
With ships purpose built for family cruising, Disney cruise ships boast nearly an entire deck of space dedicated to age-specific children’s activities.
Don’t worry about getting a chill! The swimming pools on Disney ships are heated when the water temperature drops below 75 degrees.
Stay connected, even at sea! Disney ships feature Wi-Fi service in staterooms and public spaces, allowing guests to surf the web at sea from their wireless-enabled device.
Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay was the first private island in the cruise industry where the ship docks alongside so guests do not have to tender to land.
Guests can mail a special souvenir message to family and friends back home by using the Castaway Cay Post Office.
Water is procured in Port Canaveral and delivered to Castaway Cay by the ships to an 80,000 gallon fresh water storage tank on the island.
Feels like home? Approximately 60 Disney Cruise Line crew members live and work full-time on Castaway Cay.
Environmental Programs
Each Disney ship has an onboard Environmental Officer dedicated to overseeing all environmental systems and procedures, along with shipboard recycling, waste minimization and water reclamation efforts.
Condensation from the shipboard air conditioning units is collected and re-used to wash the decks, saving more than 30 million gallons of water each year.
Disney Cruise Line made history by being the first cruise line to utilize an innovative hull coating that is both 100 percent non-toxic to the marine environment, and effective in increasing fuel efficiency. The coating helps reduce the ships’ surface resistance in the water, decreasing the need for propulsion power as the ship glides through the sea.
More than 1,000 gallons of used cooking oil from shipboard galleys is offloaded and recycled in ports of call around the world each week. Through a unique partnership with Bahamas Waste Management (BWM) in Nassau, the used cooking oil is being converted into biodiesel fuel used to power a local fleet of BWM vehicles.
Shipboard recycling systems help divert more than than 325 tons of aluminum, plastics, paper and non-traditional recyclables from conventional waste streams each year. That’s the equivalent of over 54 school buses or 24 humpback whales.
Disney Cruise Line and Disney Animal Programs have partnered with local non-profit organizations, Disney researchers and educators in a multi-year project to restore the health of the coral reefs around Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island, and throughout The Bahamas. Researchers are taking long-spined sea urchins that are native to the area and translocating them to coral reefs endangered by algae overgrowth. The sea urchins graze on algae similar to a lawnmower keeping the grass short.