If you've spent any time in a Disney Cruise Line sailing group before your trip, you'll likely have come across two phrases that can leave first-timers a little baffled: fish extenders and pixie dusting. Both are gift-giving traditions among guests, and both are completely optional, but they work in quite different ways. Here's what each one actually is and how to get involved.
What is a fish extender?
The term "fish extender" refers to the brass hook located on the wall just outside your stateroom door. On the older Disney ships these are the shape of a fish, hence the term Fish extender. ( Fish is your portside, seahorses if you starboard). On the newer ships these can be a number of themes depending on the them of the floor your stateroom is on. These hooks are also used as yourmaibox while your onboard, and will be where you key to the world card can be found on embarkation day. Fish Extender gift exchanges and pixie due are simple and easy to enjoy as party of your Disney cruise.,specially if you have children. 
You hang a pocketed pouch or bag on that hook,similar to the one in the pictire on the right and little gifts may be left in the pockets across the course of the cruise. You can buy ready-made fish extender pouches (often themed) or make your own. The number of pockets usually matches the size of your group, so there's a spot for a gift from each room. Some people like to personalise them, others just hang a bag on their hook.
How a fish extender exchange works
A fish extender swap is a gift exchange, usually arranged between around four or five staterooms. It's often groups of adults, though families take part too. These exchanges are usually organised by one of the group members ahead of the sailing. It's almost always set up through the cruise's online group. That group member will create a sign-up sheet, you add your room and details, and you're given the list of who's in your group.The idea is simple: you gift something to each room in your group, and they each gift back to you. A magnet exchange works in much the same way. Instead of pouch gifts, guests swap decorated door magnets, which people use to personalise their stateroom doors.There's usually a sign-up for these too, run the same way through the group. If you're doing it for the first time, don't overthink it. It's a fun part of a Disney cruise, especially if you have children.There's no set gift value to stick to. Just think about what you'd like to receive yourself, and work from there. Once your fish extender is all set up the fun begins. 
There is always something exciting about opening your stateroom door, or going back to your room after you have been exploring the ship to see if you have any surprises waiting for you.
What is pixie dusting?
Pixie dusting is a separate tradition and much more spontaneous. It's a random act of kindness with no sign-ups and no organised groups. You simply give a small gift to another guest, or leave one for them, as and when you feel like it during the cruise, there's no obligation and nothing to match or return. You just pop your gift into the pouches at random as you wander around. I always like to look to see if there is a theme to a room, or if you have some one celebrating and try to leave them a little something. Types of pixie dust we have received have been some fun disney stickers, a disney duck - yes there are such things, a pen - always a handy thing to have, some sweets and even a night light which we still take on cruises with us now. One thing worth noting is unlike fish extender gift exchanges where you should receive gifts from the other members within your group.
Pixie Dusting due to its random nature means you may not receive anything at all.
What we do
When we sail, I've always got a bag full of various pixie dust gifts, ready to share out around the ship. I always put little tags in so the recipient knows where it was from. For fish extenders, I set myself a budget and try to make the gifts as fun and practical as possible. I also try to have at least one personalised item for each recipient.
Our take
Being part of a fish extender exchange and pixie dusting is really good fun and a great part of a Disney cruise. Finding little goodies in our pouches is a highlight.
