Is this person on FB in charge of Fish Extender?

[CamColt]

I don't participate in FE anymore except to pixie dust people. My favorite part of cruise meet threads, whether here or other places, is getting to know people, and sharing info. I also enjoy the pre-arrange mixologies.

Sadly I haven't even joined any cruise meet threads in recent years because it seems they all revolve around FEs. After doing that twice, I've decided that's enough for me.

 

[Shanti]

Wow. I've recently participated in 2 FB-led FE groups & have never experienced any kind of problem. Lucky me, I guess. FE's should just be fun & not stressful, in my book.

It probably helps that I've only joined FB groups for my specific cruise, & within those, FEs were created. You have to be sailing on that cruise to join. I haven't joined some Fish Extender-only FB group, which sounds like might have been the case for some people dealing with this woman.

 

[abayaflowers]

I agree. I was on my Disney Meets thread and noticed that the FE was taken to FB. Since I am not on FB, this is the 1st time that we have not participated on FE. I remember when it was on the Disboards and someone just started it and was fun.

On our 2015 Baltic cruise, our FE was so large that we had 3 groups set up on Disboards Meets. Everyone was given different things and enjoyed the variety with no minimum cost. It's just a fun activity.

When my children were younger, I created pre-cruise activities for the children just to get to know one another. If anyone on the June 4th, 2018, cruise would like to do a separate FE, please let me know and would be happy to create one. Again, FEs are suppose to be fun.

 

[mousefan73]

Here on the Dis we can only speak for what happens here, not on other social media sites. Of course you are under no obligation to participate in anything you don't want to. If you would like to start a cruise meet thread here on the Dis, or post to one that is already created for your cruise, feel free to do so. With enough interest you may be able to start a FE Exchange here.

With that said, here is my opinion, FWIW. These Cruise Meets threads originally started to meet and get to know your fellow cruisers. Some hit it off and wanted to be table mates, some made plans for meets, and others even planned excursions together. I've been involved with some groups that met up once, were very casual and just said hi to each other around the ship. I've also been in some where we became friends, all dined together (almost 40 of us) and really did a lot with each other all hours of the day.

The FEs were something that grew out of that planning and became a fun little thing to do. I don't mean this to anyone in particular but I am seeing more and more of people just wanting to do a FE for the gifts and they make that so important, they don't care about cruise planning and anticipating the cruise with others. I can honestly say, I only remember a few of the gifts we received but the people I spent time with are still my friends here and on social media, we exchange Christmas cards, etc... We all have great memories of the time we spent together. IMO, too much emphasis is being put on doing a FE Exchange and the fun part of the planning is being overlooked.

So, I guess what I'm trying to point out is don't get so caught up in FEs that the fun and anticipation of the cruise is gone because you are getting upset/stressed. Enjoy your cruise!

I could not agree more!! We are cruising our first ever cruise and DCL this september. I joined this large general FE group that is run by the above mentioned woman. I find this group a great resource on FE ideas. For me I am excited about creatively making our hanger thing. Bought that standard walmart door holder. Also this FE site has great insites on how to create your own. I find this builds the excitment for our cruise.. But I am not obessed... as........
......the many who are focused on the gifts.. Either what, and how much $$$ they should budget, people stalking Target, walgreens for clearance Disney stuff, complaining on "how you had months to plan, I put my down I have a son who is 14 and you still give us bubbles". The average budget per cabin is aobut 20-30 so it seems. ( way too much for what I planned). but I thought FE was for small trinket things, or thoughtful self made things... I feel now I need a circure (forget name) professional vinyl printer so I can print DCL logos for my water bottle gift. So many are caught up in the FE.. and people are making money off of FE, go check out Etsy and also the FB group owner.


By the way this FB group also specifically says no referencing and Disnboard groups. ....

 

[mousefan73]

Wow. I've recently participated in 2 FB-led FE groups & have never experienced any kind of problem. Lucky me, I guess. FE's should just be fun & not stressful, in my book. It probably helps that I don't spend much time on FB.

I find our specific cruise FB group is different totally laid back... people signing up and saying hi and how excited they are, or asking who else is doing the 5K or WDW before-after etc....

what I find stressful BUT resourcful is the main FE FB group... there are many but this one is the largest I believe.

 

[Shanti]

I find our specific cruise FB group is different totally laid back... people signing up and saying hi and how excited they are, or asking who else is doing the 5K or WDW before-after etc....

what I find stressful BUT resourcful is the main FE FB group... there are many but this one is the largest I believe.

Sounds like that's a group that people should avoid, then. There's no need to join that anyway, as each cruise-based FB group develops its own Fish Extender groups...with nice, sane people in charge.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I am definitely NOT a fan of the FB page. In fact, I quit. Her (and her husband) are way too controlling. I mentioned that the idea of FE originated here and by whom and got jumped on by both of them. I participated in the FE from the beginning so I am quite protective of it. She definitely likes to have her hand in the pot for every sailing and that is annoying. She should not be in a group that already has an admin. I don't know if she still does it but one sailing she had us agree to her rules and also provide some personal info and she was NOT sailing. Nope, not gonna happen. I dropped out. There were no rules in the beginning here. It was for fun. The fun is gone. You weren't kicked out of the group "just because". I've known too many people that have had issues. It's almost like high school. Nothing like the DIS!

 

[MelSpees]

For those not on FB, you could join FB just for your cruise group. You would not have to be on it generally.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am definitely NOT a fan of the FB page. In fact, I quit. Her (and her husband) are way too controlling. I mentioned that the idea of FE originated here and by whom and got jumped on by both of them. I participated in the FE from the beginning so I am quite protective of it. She definitely likes to have her hand in the pot for every sailing and that is annoying. She should not be in a group that already has an admin. I don't know if she still does it but one sailing she had us agree to her rules and also provide some personal info and she was NOT sailing. Nope, not gonna happen. I dropped out. There were no rules in the beginning here. It was for fun. The fun is gone. You weren't kicked out of the group "just because". I've known too many people that have had issues. It's almost like high school. Nothing like the DIS!

Is she even on those cruises? Or just handling the FB groups?

 

[kuhltiffany]

She loves control and power. If someone doesn't start a cruise page pretty soon after they are released, she sets one up as if she is sailing. Then refuses to give it over to anyone actually in the sailing group. Her rules, her way. The FE's are set up and she makes everyone "Sign" their gifts and keep track of what came from whom, takes all the fun out of the experience...

Is she even on those cruises? Or just handling the FB groups?

 

[Shanti]

She loves control and power. If someone doesn't start a cruise page pretty soon after they are released, she sets one up as if she is sailing. Then refuses to give it over to anyone actually in the sailing group. Her rules, her way. The FE's are set up and she makes everyone "Sign" their gifts and keep track of what came from whom, takes all the fun out of the experience...

Well again, there is no need for anyone to use her page as each sailing has a FB page of its own, and an FE exchange is always set up within that page.

These cruise-specific FB pages are nice & normal.

 

[kuhltiffany]

She maintains a list of sailings and the FB page for each. If you don't "register" with her page, another group will be started for that sailing, either by her or someone else (that is where a lot of people look for them).

Well again, there is no need for anyone to use her page as each sailing has a FB page of its own, and an FE exchange is always set up within that page.

These cruise-specific FB pages are nice & normal.

 

[cadien]

I had no idea each cruise can have FE-specific Facebook groups.

My upcoming cruise has a very active Facebook meet-up group and that includes FE. I guess there could be totally different people over on this woman’s board organizing their own separate FE.

Those mega FB groups have really opaque rules. I joined a general info one when we booked our first Disney cruise but got booted with no communication when I shared a big sale on Disney products from a major chain retailer.

 

[mmmears]

Wow. I'm sorry you have to deal with this. I'm pretty sure I know who that ultra-controlling person is (and she is wrong much of the time she is correcting people). I'm fortunate that she hasn't been messing with my cruise group (which is fantastic) and if she did I'd have to quit. I've already had to put the larger page on ignore since she and her husband just seem to need to be so heavy handed (and it's not a group I ever even posted in - but I've seen how they controlling they are to other people). Furthermore I see first time cruisers panicking and trying to book everything right away and totally stressed about what should be a relaxing vacation.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

As for the FE, we did it back when it was a fun little extra thing to do on our cruise. It just feels to complicated now, so instead we're just going to pixie dust a few doors when we feel like it. This way nobody should feel they have the right to judge what we give and decide if it's nice enough or not. All of this is taking the fun out of FEs.

 

[Shanti]

She maintains a list of sailings and the FB page for each. If you don't "register" with her page, another group will be started for that sailing, either by her or someone else (that is where a lot of people look for them).

I'm not sure how this relates to my comment, as I was referring to joining an FE group on an established FE page for a specific cruise. This has been very simple to do for our cruises within the past two years.

FE is just as nice & carefree as ever when done this way.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I guess I’m old-school, too, because I wasn’t even aware of all-FE groups. Why on earth would someone not on a specific sailing run that group? I don’t get it.

Join a group of people sailing on your specific cruise with you. Get to know people. Plan meets & activities. Share ideas & info. If you all decide you would like to have a gift exchange then someone in your group can organize it. I’ve organized them before. It’s not a big deal. My #1 thing I tell anyone about cruises is don’t stress yourself. Keep it simple. If it’s a chore or not fun, don’t do it.

 

[n2mm]

She maintains a list of sailings and the FB page for each. If you don't "register" with her page, another group will be started for that sailing, either by her or someone else (that is where a lot of people look for them).

Are you sure? I’ve always joined a FB group specific for my cruise through a page call Disney cruise meet Facebook groups. I’ve never even heard of this FB FE Page. Once I join a FB group, admins or other members set up FE groups specific to our group with no outside influence. I don’t participate in FE groups, but my daughter and granddaughters do when sail with us. They only do FE for 7 night cruises.

 

[gotomu212]

Are you sure? I’ve always joined a FB group specific for my cruise through a page call Disney cruise meet Facebook groups. I’ve never even heard of this FB FE Page. Once I join a FB group, admins or other members set up FE groups specific to our group with no outside influence. I don’t participate in FE groups, but my daughter and granddaughters do when sail with us. They only do FE for 7 night cruises.

There are sometimes up to 4 big FEs on a cruise (and I mean completely different forums not that one FB group breaks into 5 lists because 100 cabins want to participate). On our last cruise there were people in our main FB cruise group (this was just for our sailing and it got broken into 10 groups), then there was the other FB FE only group (that the OP is mentioning), there was a small disboards FE group, and then our table mates told us that their travel agent organized one for her 12 different clients sailing that time. Plus there are people who put out an FE for their family or hoping for pixie dust.

It’s kinda become a bit over the top for me.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Totally sure. She did it to one of our cruises a few years ago. Set up the FB page as if she was cruising too, maintained the FE group with strict rules. Apparently she does it all the time, you would never know the difference, and claims she is "helping". When we asked her to "give back" the FE to those actually cruising she refused...

Are you sure? I’ve always joined a FB group specific for my cruise through a page call Disney cruise meet Facebook groups. I’ve never even heard of this FB FE Page. Once I join a FB group, admins or other members set up FE groups specific to our group with no outside influence. I don’t participate in FE groups, but my daughter and granddaughters do when sail with us. They only do FE for 7 night cruises.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

It’s kinda become a bit over the top for me.

Sad truth for me, too.

Someone needs to take the crown away from the self appointed FE Queen.