Dolpa3 NYC co-hosted by FDQ - Discussion Thread

Neon,

Check out JetBlue. I think that a ticket is only $100.

 

I just checked the JetBlue site, and Chicago to O'hare is only about $100, but it's $100 each way. Still not the end of the world, though.

 

Or, you know, I could invite myself to sleep on your stoop. ^.^ No?

Hey, maybe organizing and trying to talk a hotel into giving us a discount isn't a bad idea. If someone in NYC could give me some hotel suggests that are EASY, if not CLOSE, to get to from FIT and aren't an arm and a leg, I could call and try to negotiate. In the meantime, how many of you would be interested in trying this with me? If nothing else, if there are a bunch of us in the same hotel, we could share taxi and stuff. We could do a pre/post-Dolpa dinner thing too if anyone wanted....

 

I'd be happy to join a group at a hotel if it is organized. Thanks for offering to call SailorLimaBean!

 

I'd be interested in joining a group, too! I've never been to a Dolpa and I'd love to go to one!

 

I think I'd prefer to stay in a higher-end hotel... I don't mind splurging for comfort. If anyone would be interested in getting a double room at a nicer hotel, let me know and we can totally split the cost. Hostels just kind of frighten me, and staying at resorts has totally spoiled me.

 

I'm going to try and plan a budget for about $4000 if possible. It'll be hard saving up, but if I'm going to do this thing, I'm going to go all out. X3 No need to spend the days in poverty, especially if it's just my dolls that are going to be spoiled. I'm going to totally spoil myself, too!

 

If you want to stay somewhere pretty nice, the Marriot Marquis on I think 45th and Broadway is just lovely. I've never stayed there personally, but I went to visit a friend who did and the rooms seemed huge and bright. It's an easy walk or you can hop on a subway and be there in minutes.

One thing to always remember is to ask about parking if you're driving, cause finding parking can be really unfun. Sometimes you get lucky, but most of the time you don't.

 

I have two hotels near me. They are both walking distance from FIT>

One is the Hotel Deauville. They are located at 103 East 29th Street between Park and Lexington. In June, they said $165.

The other is the Park South Hotel. It is a block away on 122 East 28th street also between Park and Lexington. In june, they said $265.

The neighborhood is very safe. The only thing to worry about are the Yuppies!! Ohhhhh, they give me the chills!!!

 

The hotels are about 15 minutes walking from FIT.

I tried to post the Hotels phone numbers, but I think DOA blocked it as advertising.

Both hotels seemed very clean and nice.

 

Thanks for the news. Will keep those dates open for sure.

 

Do we know if there is gonna be FCS orders accepted there?

 

Thanks, rkold! I think I'll be flying in and will try to ride the subway and hoof it around NYC. I haven't been there for a while, but from what I remember, it wasn't too hard navigating around using public transport. :3

I still have my old metro pass from about eight years ago, too. I wonder if I can still use it and put more cash on it. XD

Oh, metro pass, how I love thee!

The Park South Hotel sounds ideal, though. Very close... I could always catch a cab to the hotel. I've never gotten to do that. X3 Experience NYC the right way!

 

Timchener,

I doubt your metrocard will work, but now all the stations have metrocard vending machines. So you can buy a new one. There are rarely Metro people in the booths now.

There is also a store in the East Village called TOY TOKYO. They have anime stuff and cool Japanese toys, but nothing BJD related.

 

Just checking, are the dates for this correct? Is Dolpa actually going to be a Friday and a Saturday, not a Saturday and a Sunday? *wants to make sure this is right before planning on it*

 

Actually, I would recommend against taking one from the airport unless you are sharing. There are generally some sort of shuttle buses from the various airports to Times Square or Port Authority which are both pretty close to FIT and the hotels near it.

And yeah, Metro cards have expiration dates now. ^^

Just pay attention to which airport you're flying into cause the cost of getting to them really does vary as does commuting time.

If you really want to feel like a NYer if you use JFK take the free Air Tran to the subway and then take the subway into Manhattan. That's how my hipster brother always gets to and from the airport.

 

I asked about that several posts ago....and want to know too.

I think NYC Dolpa 2 was first posted here as Friday/Saturday. It ended up Saturday/Sunday. I had made arrangements to leave early Monday so I was okay.

.

 

I hope that they have the main event Saturday night. It is difficult for those that have to work on Monday to have to leave late Sunday night.

The first NY dolpa was a one-day Saturday event, if my short term memory holds out.

 

Yes it was Lisianthus, but at Dolpa 2 we did the classes the first day, and at the first we didn't have FCS either. I am hoping for both

 

I'm hoping its actually Saturday-Sunday too. If I'm able to go, I'd if it starts Friday, I'd have to miss school to fly to NY.

But If I have enough money, I might be staying with goil, then taking a train or whatever to NYC. If they have FCS AND School heads, I don't think I'd be able to pass that up. X_X

 

What exactly are school heads? Are they heads that you buy to take a face-up class?

What sort of classes do they offer at Dolpas?

 

They are heads only available to people who sign up and attend their make-up classes usually. Dolpas have various kinds of face-up lessons from enhancing current face-ups to doing a basic one on a blank doll. They also have classes/appointments where you can learn how to restring and suede your doll. They offer toll kits for both classes but they cost extra.

 

I'd also be interested in a hotel group.. I know the Hotel is likely to be the most expensive part of the trip and I would like to cut it down as much as possible since all I'm going to do is sleep there.

 

Thanks Lugi-Moo, That sunds like so much fun. I hope they have classes this time. I saw a portion of a class on youtube. It was all in Japanese though.

 

*excellent* Totally have to go again. I wonder if my mother will want to attend this year, I think she'd have a blast!

 

I found Toy Tokyo by accident during last year's Dolpa and was so happy I did! They might not have BJD items but they sell Pullips and Blythes, and I seem to remember seeing Jenny and possibly even Momoko there. The atmosphere and merchandise is alot like Mandarake, if you've ever been in one of those. Very worth visiting if you have the time, but I spent almost as much money there as I did at Dolpa.

 

FCS IN NEW YORK?! *brain-asplodee-glee* Man, now I have to register XD

 

can we register now?

if there are to many people who want to go, do we lose our money?

 

This might possibly be my very first Dolpa! And my first time in New York! (Wow O.O)

 

I'm hoping they offer a smaller limited doll like Yo, MSD, or SDC but not holding my breath since it is co-sponsored by Fashion Doll Quarterly the limited doll will probably be SD sized.

I do hope they offer sunlight skin as an option or possibly f20 msd head if there is FCS. I'm so very happy with my FCS Aree-chan from last year. They really did an awesome job on her faceup.

 

No, registration isn't available yet. The dates and location have only been announced recently. And if too many people want to go, Volks would have a lottery. You don't lose any your money though. Don't worry. Volks isn't that evil.

 

ugh, may not be able to go this year... Unoa boys preorder in March-April to save up for. since Unoa > Volks on my list, that's my priority. there will probably be a NYC Dolpa again next year, but who knows when there will be another Unoa boys preorder? :]

I hope everyone has fun!

 

Unoa boys preorder? Hadn't heard about that one. I'll have to try out for this too.

But back onto the NYDP3, has anyone called or emailed FDQ to confirm the dates? Sorry if this has already been confirmed.

 

I think Am said she was checking.

Off topic: On the unoa boys it's new news just saw it posted last night check the minis subforum.

 

I'm so happy! I want to go to a dolpa so bad!! =D yay!

 

Does Dolpa registration usually fill up fast?

 

Dolpa registration is usually a filing period. Once registration is open you fill out a form and wait until the registration period closes to get confirmation.

You do need to meet the criteria they set last year it was that you either had to have a volks membership or an FDQ subscription.

So far usually most regular applications haven't been a problem. If there are too many guests then that turns into a lottery.

They don't charge the credit card until you have a confirmed application. More info comes out closer to the date.

 

yikes all this information is overwhelming.

Considering this will be my first dolpa, and first time traveling to NYC I am beyond confused as where to go and what to do.

I do know i want to stay somewhere in Newark and just take the train in, as i know that will be a little less for a room. I DO NOT want to drive what so ever in NYC, that scares the crap out of me. I plan on staying for a day before and a day after. I dont deal well with traveling so quickly.

Hubby is dead set on going to the Nintendo store, and Id love to do the touristy thing, like i said i have never been to NYC.

However how and the hell do i go about looking for a hotel in newark that i can get to the Fashion Institute relatively easy? Im really lost in that aspect.

I plan for budgeting and all that junk about 2k-3k -not including plane tickets- not sure how far that will get me, but i hope decent. Any idea if thats about right, cause i want dollies, I really want a Madoka, im tired of loosing just about every bid i have put in, seriously I have lost out on about 10 of them by now. that is my only goal for this dolpa.

now im still utterly curious is those dates are wrong or what. anyone here in jax thats going or here in FL, the tickets round trip non-stop are about 150-200, gonna keep looking on that though.

so any advice for a newcomer like me? or am i totally off base with what im thinking so far?

 

I have a question about the membership cards...

I have a Volks membership card, but my husband wants to go to the Dolpa as well. Are cards distributed by-address? Is it possible for him to have his own card? I would take him as my guest but I have someone else in mind as a guest O.o;

 

My honest advice to you from experience is not to stay in Newark. It's not worth it. What you save in hotel costs you pay for in travel time and aggravation. In December, my husband and I got a hotel room in Edgewater, NJ so we could attend a convention at the Javitts center, and it was totally not worth it. Aside from the hotel we chose being really crappy (albeit affordable), it was a huge pain in the ass to lug our stuff around on public transit... I had my doll carrier and some other stuff, he had a cash box and his laptop bag, and it just sucked ass. We ended up driving after we found a reasonably-priced lot. If you can swing a place in Manhattan, do it. You'll be glad that you did because public transit will eat up so much of your time, and if you're already setting aside a decent amount for spending, paying the extra bucks to stay in Manhattan's worth it. Maybe it's easier from Newark, but that whole weekend left such a bad taste in my mouth (oh, and a $185+$95 car tow/ticked combo which is another story - tl;dr version is yeah, screw driving into the city and screw municipal parking) that once NYC stops being dead to me (conveniently timed with the dates for the Dolpa), I'm never driving there again other than to take in a car and leave it in a lot. Noooo way.

Maybe if I was younger, I'd be less contrite about it, but I was not happy with staying across the river.

Yay, the Nintendo store is pretty fun. I suggest also going to St. Mark's place for the aforementioned Toy Tokyo as well as the Giant Robot store/gallery. Lots of fun! When we went to the first NY Dolpa, we hit those places up. It scratched our hipster nerd itches pretty well.

Ah, Madoka. I understand your Madoka-lust all too well. While ISTR she's shown up as a one-off the last couple of times, it doesn't guarantee she'll be there again. $3K's a reasonable budget for a doll or two plus other expenditures. Another thing to remember is "prices slightly higher in Manhattan" in general. That's how they get you. Taxes are higher.

I'm really looking forward to this. I'm trying to convince my local buddies to go w/me and split a hotel room.

 

They're not done by address because both my Mom and I have one.
He would have to order something from VolksUSA to get a card.

 

hotels from different sources:

Hotels.com

From Yahoo

Travelocity

 

I have a question for people who went before and did FCS. Do you get to choose from Tenshi no Sumika choices or do they offer Tenshi No Sato. And I heard its by lottery, did everyone who wanted a FCS get to have one?

 

Last year the DOlpa NY FCS was by lottery with a waiting list. The LA Dolpa was first come first serve.

Usually it's Sumika options not Sato ones. They offered special sulight skin option for the event though

 

Sumika choices but we did have the sunlight skin as an option.

I think most everyone got their chance, but mark it down on your application form if you want to do it. Don't take the chance of waiting for a spot on the day.

 

I think most everyone got their chance, but mark it down on your application form if you want to do it. Don't take the chance of waiting for a spot on the day.[/QUOTE]

You mean like me, and then you had to listen to me whining about it forever?

Girlytatoos, I can give you advice about staying in Jersey, I will PM you.

 

*peeks in*

I'm way on the other side of the States, but I was planning on a New York trip this summer. The Dolpa coincides nicely. =] I'm hoping it will work out so I can go during the Dolpa. I've been to a bunch of the LA events, but never NYC.

 

hmm, i thought they had Sato molds available at the FCS. Like whatever wasn't available in LA sumika they made the sato molds available at the event. I think I might want to do one FCS, I think I can only afford an FCS. The one offs I am suspecting would cost more than them. I wonder what's the next doll going to be offered!

 

The last Madoka at a US dolpa, the L.A. last fall, went for a relatively reasonable amount, even though it was a charity auction doll and a one-off in a kimono - I think it sold for $1600 - Alex

 

Nope, the only Sato option was the tanning skin. Maybe you're thinking of molds that used to be Sato-only that got added to Sumika FCS? I'm not sure about the timing, but Cassiel's handy FCS page explains how that rolls.

I sure hope they have a cutie boy. There's 2.5:1 ratio of girls to boys here; I could use some more gents.

 

Oh God if they offered the full line of Sato molds I'd go broke ordering everyone I want while I have the opportunity. XD
As it is, I'm planning on doing at least 2 FCS orders this time around so I'll have to jump on the wait list as soon as I check in. ^^; This would be so much easier if California wasn't so far away.

 

The charity auction Madoka in LA sold for $2500, I think. I can verify that this weekend, but I know it was quite a bit more than $1600.

 

Seriously! I think everyone would go gaga if they offer a full line of Sato molds. Then I have to find someone to get me a SD13 F-34 Girl. O__o

 

After rereading my post above about commuting from NJ to Manhattan, my apologies to any residents of the Garden State who may have interpreted my post as casting aspersion on your place of dwelling. I have had many good experiences in NJ through the years, and a few fine friends who hail from your state. It just took one horrible experience recently trying to get around to alter my opinions drastically. Please forgive me if you took offense.

Oh, man... make that two of us. I wonder if our BushBucks rebates will be in by Dolpa? It'd be awesome if June meant "early June"

 

wow, i never looked into that way. my friend ladysaiyuki stayed in newark last year and she said she got a decent room and such for a good deal and they give you train passes. we intended on traveling in large groups but i can see where you would say public transport eats a hella lot of time.

however if i stayed near the fashion institute how should i go about looking for a hotel within short walking distance? and how would i get from the air port to the hotel? cab or what. never really traveled far outside of the southeast and just about all of it has been by car. so this plane thing is relatively new. mara wanna shack up together?

now as far as madoka i cannot spend an outrageous amount but i will try, we will see about that. maybe jun might be better luck for me. however the house is over run by girls!

stella i love you to pieces- um what do you suggest?


any thoughts on what head they will be using for the painting classes? or do they change the head they use everytime they come around with a new dollpa?

 

I suggest some internet research on prices, see what you will pay at the Gershwin and other Manhattan hotels, and also look in Hoboken and Fort Lee New Jersey. Then if the difference is really worth it, I can tell you how to travel, and if it's sketchy or not. I appreciate your experience Mara, but maybe those of us who live in Jersey can be helpful at sussing out the alternatives. Also I totally appreciate your frustration with being towed, but I drive in New York City like 250 days out of the year, and it can be done. Especially on the weekend, when parking is less challenging. You have to read the signs when you park, just like in any other big city. You can get towed in LA or Boston too if you don't obey the parking laws.
Really. It's not that bad. I've been living in and around New York my entire life. One weekend can be done.