Los Angeles Dolpa Thread (Nov. 24 & 25th)

Kim, I was thinking the same thing. I seriously doubt we'll get any Japanese vendors; they would barely make back their travel expenses if at all. US vendors, we'll be counting on you!

 

Wow, that's a tough weekend to have it, but I'd still love to go if I could.

 

I'm not a fan of the date or the entrance fee. I think I'm probably going to be bowing out of this one.

 

They probably picked that week end because the 23rd is a holiday in Japan. ^^

The admission fee is probably higher because the venue costs more or some such. ^^;

I'm definitely not going, I believe family is more important than any hobby.

 

Sounds like a great way for me to avoid the family. Woot!

-Anneke

 

Hm >.< could someone explain to me why it's such a bad weekend to have the event? I don't quite understand, and I honestly don't think it was chosen blindly...

Thanksgiving is a time where many people get time off of work (unless you work in a department store ^^") or school to spend their holidays doing what they want. I think the mentality with this date was more people on vacation = more people free to attend. It's not on Thursday, which is Thanksgiving o.o it's after (my family is not very "traditional American" so are there other events besides a big meal Thursday afternoon that go on during the Thanksgiving weekend that Americans do xD;;?). And it's not like announcing the date any earlier would make plane tickets any cheaper, since they'll always be a bit higher at this time of year anyways, but that's something everyone who wants to have a fun holiday deals with, not just doll fans. Even large events like Anime Expo are held close to holidays (4 July) to give people a better opportunity to attend.

^^; I guess that's what I saw by them choosing this date...

 

I hope you can go! We could go to disneyland the following monday!

My parents spazzed at the the thought of me at LAX thanksgiving weekend all alone. But we made hotel reservations ^_^ My first trip without my parents, so cool.

Do some people who apply to go not get to, like a lottery? or can everyone who applies go?

 

EVERYONE goes home for thanksgiving. It is the busiest travel time of the year. I watched the news last year and Sea-Tac looked like hell

 

I'm so disappointed.
I really would love to go, but why on Thanksgiving?

I'm wondering if they will consider adjusting the date... Is that completely out of the question? I would love to purchase airfare ahead of time, but if the date changes...

Edit: I know better than to travel around holiday weekend, but I want to go to a doll convention this year so badly. :[ However, even discount airfare screws you up the bum because you cannot pick the best times for you. If I do go, I'll probably fork over the dough to Continental. :[ I just checked the bookings for flights on Continental, and there are like 4 people who have made reservations. Obviously, this will change when the time comes around, but ARRRRGH.

 

This far in advance it is still $400 for air faire, because it is Thanksgiving weekend! I really hate traveling during holidays, so I may have to skip this one.

 

omg it's during my thxgiving break! ohgod i hope can go..

 

So what's the deal with the vendors? They made overtures to US shops a while back but then nothing seemed to come of it. Maybe I missed something...
We at orangebabydolly have decided not to go as vendors because we'd like to actually see some of the Dolpa and get some playtime, unlike at Dollectable. If there aren't going to be many Japanese vendors, maybe we should reconsider.

 

I....am probably going to be going since it's fairly local! Even though the price is a bit high I really don't want to pass up a chance to go to Dolpa when it's fairly close :3

 

I'm lucky that I live in L.A. and I don't go home for Thanksgiving (too far and too close to Christmas) I hope that everyone who won't be able to go due to the holiday will get the chance to attend a Dolpa in the future.

 

What's the cut-off date then? I didn't see that info, just a dire warning saying they'd cancel your application if you didn't apply before it...

Not sure if I'm going or not... not sure about the T-Giving Weekend insanity, not sure if it'll be worth it if there are no Japanese vendors. Hmmm...

Raven

 

*is horrible and very glad it's Thanksgiving weekend for many and varied reasons*

I want to go very badly I think and if I can negotiate it, I will be there. It's horrible it's on Thanksgiving, but at the same time I'm kinda glad to have a reason not to go to Thanksgiving with my family ^^;

It looks like there might be a make-up class so that would be awesome if I can get into that, even if I can't do anything else ^_^ 'cuz my funds will be spent on Admission and hotel ^^; I just want to see it *.*

 

Ouch! $60 seems high! I'm sure that doesnt include the class materials. The NY Dolpa was $20. That market must be really good.....Alex

 

If they have other vendors of clothes and such, is it still only Volks dolls? As in, will there be other doll vendors or allow you to have non-Volks dolls?

 

Anyone know how the fee works? it says:
"Fee:
$60
Dinner, and Dinner Party Entrance Fee (24th), Dolpa Market Limited Entrance Fee (25th)"
So would it just be for those things? or what?

 

I assume the same Japanese Dolpa rules apply: Only Volks dolls should exist on the premise. That has always been their stance, but it would be interesting to find out if they change it.

 

So.. My question is if you apply to signup, do you automatically get accepted? I'd hate to book a flight and hotel and then find out I wasn't accepted and have a hassle to deal with x.x

 

I'm really disappointed by the cost and timing... I know I just can't afford it. With it being Thanksgiving weekend, airfare and lodging is going to be at a premium. Flying cross-country isn't impossibly expensive normally - last year I went to San Diego in February, made the reservation 2 weeks in advance, and only paid $280. Looking at it now, booking now, the cheapest is... well, $450. And I can't ditch my family for the holiday. Damn.

Oh well, maybe next year!

 

I wonder if they are going to be having multiple dolls released at this dolpa since they are advertising it internationally like the ones in Japan. It'd be really neat if there was a choice of dolls you could bring home AND be able to bring them home from the event instead of waiting a month for them to ship! Thanksgiving weekend is actually far enough away I might be able to save up to fly out there - even more possible if I thin the "herd" and sell some of the clothing and patterns I've been working on. ^^; I'm going to need to get cracking!

The time isn't too bad for me as my grandmother is never interested in Thanksgiving, other local family doesn't really "cook" and I'm pretty sure my parents aren't going to be interested in the holiday this year. I'm so not driving to Alabama for Thanksgiving from Delaware. Oooh maybe if I flew out early I could spend some time with my uncle! That would be an awesome trip. Too bad I can't ask for a round trip plane ticket to LA as my Christmas present this year. *starts pondering*

 

My parents said we can spend Thanksgiving here in California, rather than at home in Arizona! I am so excited! A real Dolpa!

 

Hm o.o hey... do you guys know...

1.) If they have the dolly doctor, is it OK if you bring a doll that's kinda uh... switched around :3? My Luna is on an sd13 body instead of the default sd10 suwarikko, would this be a problem?

2.) For the SD customize contest (I never paid close attention to the rules before since I haven't been to a dolpa before o_o), what are the limitations? Does it have to be like a completely original design, or is it ok if you customize it to look like some popular fairy tale, or what about a part of pop culture? I mean, would it be against the rules to dress them up as something copyright like uh... the power rangers or harry potter? (Not that I would dress my dolls up as either the power rangers or the hp crew xD"... but you get the idea of what I mean, I hope).

 

As long as the head and the body are both Volks I don't think there will be a problem with the doll doctor. From looking at the website he should be there. As far as the contest, I believe there is usually a theme. Like it was Halloween last year and at the NYDP2 it was "fairy tales." I'm pretty sure they will announce further details down the road.

 

Oooohhh !!! I see! Thank you for the info I can't wait to find out the theme of this!!!

 

I think for the NY Tea Party they had a survey and people voted on the theme for the customizing contest.

Just an FYI, that hotel has had an employee strike going on for almost a year, and there is no end in sight. I was there a month or two ago, and there were people picketing.

I hope it is over by then, but the news article I read the other day did not sound like the owners (who are not the Hiltons, just using the name) were not wanting to resolve the dispute over a living wage.

Wish they had picked a different hotel, but I am sure they got a good rate and it is the second largest in LA.

 

Turynn, unless your family doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving or you live very close to them, many people plan this time period to travel and see their families. That's the reason Thanksgiving Week End is the busiest travel time of the entire year, even busier than Christmas. July 4th is a big holiday but it's not in the league of Thanksgiving. I still had day camp on July 4th, I did not have school on Thanksgiving.

This is also the single most expensive time of year to fly anywhere in the US. Those of us who might consider going if we could use points, would be unable to do so as well. I live in NY, airfare is over $400 on the cheapest flight which takes more than 8 hours because of connections. For that sort of money I am 2/3 of the way to an airline ticket to Japan where I could go to a Dolpa there.

I don't think comparing the LA Dolpa to AnimeExpo is quite appropriate (though again I passed up trying to go in 2006 because I believe family is more important than a hobby) Anime Expo is MUCH larger and has much more exclusive guests. It's an industry expo as well as for consumers.

For anyone who works retail, not just department stores, that week end is one of the hardest to get off. The only time period comparable is the week from the 22-29 of December.

 

From what I remember Mr. Shigeta saying at the Huis Ten Bosch event, they are flying the japanese venders in on their own private jumbo jet.
So there *will* be plenty if not all japanese venders.
And I had to pay for my airfair and hotel stay when I went to Japan for that event, so I dont see the big deal of the Japanese fans having to pay for their's. Thier was tons of interest from Japanese fans when Mr. Shigeta announced the "event in America where American and Japanese fans would come together".
It's really a main reason why I want to go.

And- The price for entrance is up-ed because it include your entrance ticket for the marketplace, as well as your dinner ect.

*Jen

 

OMG! I was thinking the same thing!!!!

 

I second this. The Thankgiving date will maybe work well for students since they will be off school, but for most anyone with a job, particularly a retail job of any kind, tg is next to impossible. This isn't to mention the absolutely horrific nightmare of trying to fly on tg weekend.

 

The registration fee isn't all that bad considering it includes dinner. Here in Illinois one of the local doll shops hosts a dinner with a doll artist at a local hotel and it costs $42.50 per person to attend.

Stacy in IL

 

Mine too...I am excited !

 

We are so going to hang out together at the event.

-Anneke

 

Thanksgiving weekend Why would they choose to do it then?

Well I can still probably go since I'm not aware or any big plans this year, I think my mom is planning to just do it at her house. But still, in other years I know it wouldn't have worked and I don't know if my boyfriend will be able to go.

 

I'm still working on hotel. I'm HOPING my friends go because I can't afford if they don't go. I'm also thinking my ride may be in jeopardy cuz of TG. So fingers crossed!! If I go we will totally hang!! And I'll see you Y-con in Oct too!

 

Well, I just found out out last night about this...and after a brief consultation with the beloved, we are GO! We have gone to LA for the last couple of years to visit a friend of ours in Burbank (and her amazing garlic turkey!) before going to a sci-fi convention that happens in the area at the same time, LosCon. As a result, going to the LA event would be no change on our schedule!

We have our hotel booked Friday-Sunday. The standard rate i got for a king size room was 129/night, but hotels.com had as low as 109/night if you don't mind something nonrefundable. If anyone hears of a convention rate, by all means post it here and I'll make adjustments.

I'm really looking forward to this, and have been for quite some time. I'm glad things worked out for us to go, and feel bad that some others can't make it (rkold, for example..I know it would be great to have her see Annabel again, being her head's former owner!).

Question on the custom doll thing...I believe everything including faceups have to be customized? Sadly, I don't think I'd be able to come up with something THAT cool in such a short time...but wow...tempting....

Meantime, I will hope for good new limiteds and good luck with a one-off....I didn't get the last one I wanted, and I am -really- hoping a good SD16 boy slips into the pack ;D

 

Oh gosh. On one hand, I have been looking forward to this since I heard the announcement at the Halloween Party . . . but the date! I live in NorCal and we were prepared to make the trip down there (by car) and shell out the cash for a hotel room so we could stay for the weekend.

But Thanksgiving Weekend?! I don't remember where I read it, but I'm pretty sure it is the BIGGEST travel time of the whole year, the time when many people travel far to visit with their extended families. And though the long stretch of highway down to SoCal will probably not be clogged with traffic (?!), I shudder to think of the traffic in the LA area being even worse than it is on a normal visit. Not to mention the cost of a hotel room being higher! I'll have to think again if I'm going to be able to go.

 

I'm wondering if we should make flight/hotel plans now or wait until after the application process. Is there a chance that they would get too many applications and have to turn some people away? Did that happen with NY this year?

Also, did has anyone checked if Volks arranged for a special convention rate with the hotel? $129 isn't bad, but it could be better if the hotel knows that they would have a guaranteed block of rooms taken up.

 

I just called the Hilton and the woman I spoke to said she couldn't confirm whether Volks had arranged that and we'd need to call back on Monday and ask for the Sales Department to find out how many rooms had been reserved and what the special rate might be.

Never had that happen before though that the hotel couldn't just check, so maybe I got a bad operator? It's a mystery!

 

I do not believe that the face-ups have to be customized. They did not have to be in NY. - Barb

 

I think it would probably be a good idea to at least book the air fare now. That weekend will be the busiest travel dates of the year, especially if you're wanting to come home that Sunday.

 

Thank you for checking!

 

Couldn't help myself, I've been super excited all morn! :: bounces ::

 

How exciting and fun this will be to attend. Arlene

 

I'm *crazy* thrilled about this!!! And even though travelling over Thanksgiving will be tough, it means tons of people will be able to come, even if they're in school, and tickets should be affordable, too!

[EDIT] That is, tickets will be affordable if they're booked early and take advantage of the Thanksgiving specials

 

I made hotel reservations because those can be canceled easily but personally I am waiting on air plane tickets untill it is confirmed I can go.

 

Any small chance I had of going is now gone. Thanksgiving??? Such a bad time. It is my favorite holiday, everyone is home from school and the relatives are all here

 

I hope I can go too, it will be my first Dolpa.

But what's with the application? Or should that be reservation with a questionnaire?

I don't have a Volks doll yet, but I planned on going to their LA store next month after work, so for me the timing is great. I just have to stop buying dolly stuff until then so I have lots of $$ to spend at Dolpa.

 

Made my Hotel Reservations! See you all there!!!

 

I would guess so, and classes, and the needed supplies will be additional costs you add to that. $60.00 for a two day "convention" AND a buffet dinner sounds like a great deal to me.

 

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2145134&postcount=53

According the Jen, it's all inclusive.

 

I don't think thats just the case for the increase in fees - the market is FREE to the public after a certain time! Perhaps they're offerring a few exclusives to the registrants??? Alex

 

Well, there is the fact you get first crack at the market.

I believe, that is how it works at Barbie Conventions. Those who are attending the convention get first chance to buy things from the dealer's room while day guests can't enter until later. I'm pretty sure that is what the "limited" vs. "general" admission refers to.

Personally, I really doubt there will be anywhere near as many Japanese dealers as at Dolpa or Doll Show, and the 500 people referred to was supposed to refer to both dealers and fans, not dealers only. Volks does not own a jumbo jet as far as I know either. I believe when I asked about it, they told me they were referring to trying to set up a package much like for the Japanese guests attending Huis ten Bosch.

Very very few dealers make and sell doll items full time. Even a wildly successful circle like LeftWing had another "real" job. (And theirs had a lot more flexibility than most.) It does hurt that the event is between two popular events, and with limited mostly hand-made stock dealers need to have time to make enough to sell at both events.

I think Volks would also like to see US dealers have a presence as well.

I am sure there will be some Japanese circles, but I think 500 is a tad unrealistic.

(and this is ignoring the issues of translation/language, payment, selling permits, and all the other aspects of having a dealer's room.)