Volks Dolls Party in LA 4 [7-8 Sept. 2019] (After Report is up!)

Oh no!! That's awful @Adele !! Maybe send them photos of the envelope too? Glad you were able to sort it out @shirotsuki !

Still have not received my badge but it's got to cross boarders. Fingers crossed that it makes it safely. Hopefully next event, we can just pick them up in person ....

 

I got my badges last week and posted a pic of them on my Twitter for anyone who wants to see them.

Twitter

Also please come up and introduce yourself if you want since I love to meet other bjd people but never match usernames with real names.

 

I just noticed this on FB :

【Dolls Party in LA 4 -2019-】

★★DPLA 4 After Event!★★

VOLKS USA will conduct Dolpa After Event Online!

For people who might not be able to attend Dolpa in LA 4, we hope you are able to participate!

More details will be announced after Dolpa!
➡️ Dolls Party in LA 4 2019 | VOLKS USA, Inc.

Hooray for after events!

 

If anyone wants to do a ride share hit me up. I land in LAX at 3pm on the 4th. I was looking at shuttles but honestly I'd rather do lyft for the convenience. It's usually around $55~$60 for that distance.

Not surprised badges went missing with them being sent in envelopes. The machines that process them probably ripped 'em out.

 

I'm flying in to LAX on Friday 9/6 around 10am and have a small rental car booked.

If anyone else is getting in around that time, I'm plan on driving to the Disney Starbucks meetup to kill time before check in. Maybe help cover $10 towards the rental? Likewise, my flight out of LAX isn't until late on Sunday 9/8 and I could help some people back to the airport.

Just let me know or PM me. Can't wait!

 

my badge was also damaged from the shipping I had to tape the top part so the lanyard can be used just glad I got in the mail.

 

Hey all, my plus one for the Tea Party won’t be able to come with me after all. Does anyone want to be my Tea Party companion?

 

Just booked my ride share through SuperShuttle! Ahh it's getting so close, I just got my only Volks guy back from the faceup artist so it's starting to get super exciting here!!

 

I got my resent badges in the mail today! Volks was very understanding when I explained that all I received was an empty, ripped up envelope and sent me the replacements right away. They paid 15 cents more in postage for the second try so maybe that helped the letter arrive safely

 

I'm so happy you got a replacement @Adele !! Fingers crossed that my badge makes it to me unscathed!

I can't believe Dolpa is just over 2 weeks away!! How did this happen?!

 

Thank goodness you got a new badge in time!

So very excited, so I really hope my household goods arrive soon. We moved from Hawaii nearly two months ago and I still don't have the majority of my dolls or the rest of my house... It would be a huge bummer to not have a girl to travel with me.

 

She's lovely and that dress is amazing. I wonder what they're going to start her bidding at. I don't expect to be able to bring home a one off, but I wish others lots of luck.

 

The auction dolls, like Princess Fortuna this year, are usually sold via a blind auction. The starting price is unspecified, and attendees can bid (on a form ballot-box style) whatever they want, as many times as they want. Every 30-60 minutes after the start of bidding, Volks staff will go through the box and find the then-current high bid and post it up on a chart. You can watch the price steadily climb during the course of the day at Dolpa. The auction doll gets a shrine of honor within the floor space!

The final price update is usually 30 minutes before the close of bidding. And thus, to win the auction, one would have to take a stab in the dark somewhere above that last advertised price. It's why these auctions usually end with such high-priced bids. The winner didn't know what minimum they actually needed to pay to win, and therefore guessed the biggest number they could afford that they figured would outspend any competition. Somebody's going to guess right.

Disclaimer: Although the webpage implies it, there's no guarantee that Princess Fortuna will be sold via this blind auction process. But, the blind auction is how they've done auction dolls in the past for both Tokyo and LA Dolpas I've been to.

 

Wow she is beautiful. The other model frm Rozen Maiden Suiseiseki, has she ever ben used for auctions?

 

I wonder what the after event will include! I’m even more upset I can’t go after finding out one of my favorite eye makers will selling eyes there.

 

Same! I want some of those eyyyyyes

I also really want the dress that the auction doll is wearing. But she'd be out of my league anyway. So pretty..

 

@Holo's Apple Tree Yeah, I'm sure you are correct and it will be a blind/silent auction because they mention announcement times. And it avoids a spotlight on bidders both losers and the winner.

@Aichan Hmm ... Suiseiseki as a one off yes, but I don't recall as an auction doll. Or not in recent years. But who knows? Maybe in the future? I think Shinku and Suignitou are a bit more sought after? But I could totally be wrong.

Is anyone else freaking out yet on how close Dolpa is?! Because I can't believe that we are coming up to the final 2 weeks!!

 

@Aichan Sousei/Suisei have had one-off releases but no auctions. They're still pretty popular but Shinku and Suigintou are a level of their own!

 

I would love to be your tea party companion if you havent found someone else yet

 

Yes, please! I will be looking forward to having you as my Tea Party companion!

 

Oh my, I have finally seen the lovely auction princess and the beautiful one-off models! I had an emergency, and had my appendix removed on Tuesday. Talk about crazy timing. I’m still trying to stay positive and excited. I pushed my flight over a day to the 6th and hopefully all is well with my follow up appointment. *Crosses fingers* No way I’m missing this.

 

So question, and I apologize if it's been asked/answered somewhere before, I do try and keep up with the thread. Anyways for you folks who have been to the tea party with dolls before, would it be a good idea for me to bring a stand for my girl? I'm making a packing checklist and I wanted to know if I should add my stand to that list.

And I cannot believe how close this is!

 

@Seditionary I’m glad they got your appendix out before it ruptured. One of my friends had a ruptured appendix. She was in the hospital for several weeks. Hope you heal quickly.

 

@lightning I am thankful I went into the ER when I did. My appendix was perforated. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll have enough time to heal in order to get the green light to travel. *Wishful thinking!*​

 

I hope that his wasn't answered before but I am curious to know, how much were badges for just Dolpa, not including the tea party? Also, it says online that badges will also be available at the door. Do you know what the cost will be for that and what werethe advantages to purchasing a badge online, ahead of time?Does it have to do with line placement?

 

The Dolpa pass without the tea party was $26. They haven't said anything about at door prices or availability yet. I'm pretty sure line placement will be arriving there early and getting a number in which there will be a draw for the new first in line. These passes have no numbers.

I might have an extra pass as my cousin is showing no interest in actually going into the Dolpa.

 

Thank you @kersuru. That makes sense that they will still do the line up lottery for all badge holders. I still wonder what they meant online when they said that "pre" purchasing a badge online had added privileges. Maybe it is only that you get to line up before those who pay at the door. Or maybe it is just that you get a badge. Time will tell.

 

I have one, thank you Nell!

 

@Seditionary Oh geez!! That's crazy! Fingers crossed for you!

Hooray @imoto & @justkatie179 !! I'm happy to see a few more people finding their way into the Tea Party! Hooray!

Thanks for the heads up on the map @Nell ! Interesting that Volks now moved the Sumika shop into the Orange Country ballroom and out of the Grand Ballroom, even though on the Sumika shop webpage, it still says Grand Ballroom. Now people are going to have to figure out where they want to go first -- Grand Ballroom with the Dealers or the Sumika shop?

 

Hmm, it's moot for me since I'll be in the Dealer's Market all day and now won't be able to shop the Sumika at all, but I'm assuming the Japanese stuff will be in the Sumika again. No Nekohige eyes for me, I guess!

 

Oh my seditionary I hope you feel better!!!

 

Katie, Thank god!

 

A bit of a side thought here ... but I'm planning on bringing a reusable shopping bag for any of my purchases (Volks or Dealer). I'm not sure if (all) dealers will provide shoppers with shopping bags or may for get them, so just thought I would point it out so others might want to bring their own.

Under 2 weeks!! I'm not ready ....

 

That's a good point @pris84. If I recall the state of California has banned plastic shopping bags, so you'd need to bring a reusable bag to carry your goods around in. Not just for Dolpa, but also at Target or wherever if you go buy groceries for your hotel room.

 

Just a bit more travel advice. If you are staying at the Marriot, the auto club rate is significantly less than the Convention rate. I cancelled my original reservation and rebooked with the Marriot website. It also seems if you don't have auto club membership, that you can still save on the room rate, by joining Marriot Bonvoy, which doesn't cost anything.

@pris84, Great advice. As for shopping bags at Target or CVS, etc, you can still purchase a bag at most stores for 5 or 10 cents but that is a waste of money too. Who needs one more bag?

 

Suppose it is like airline fares. Right, @Nell, even the regular rate, without any membership discounts, is lower than the convention rate. Enough money to spend on all the games at Dolpa.

 

Finally! My badge arrived in the mail! The envelope was intact but overall damaged! I can breath a sigh of relief and it's already packed in my carry on. That would be one of the last things I would want to forget!

 

Is anybody planning/hoping to do swap sale stuff? I have quite a bit of clothing & accessories I'd love to find new homes for, haha.

 

I’ve got lots of swap stuff too. Maybe we could do an informal one in a room?

 

How do you decide what doll(s) to bring along?

Anyone plan on dressing up? I'd love to hear how they conducted the Customize and Owners Best Dressed Contests. I was trying to locate pictures from previous LA Dolpa and haven't had good luck, but it's likely because I'm not searching the correct thing.

It's so exciting that Dolpa is under two weeks out!

 

I agree, Bonvoy is a good thing to have, especially when you start accumulating nights. Because of my work, I'm lucky and I have decent status, which is also a nice bonus when it comes to personal reservations

 

I’m down for a swap/sale in someone’s room! I have a few items I thought about bringing just in case.

 

@DemonMiko For the customize contest, each aspirant brought their doll and stand into the Tea Party. Once inside, a registration table was available immediately inside the door. Aspirants registered with the staff and then their doll was set up (not sure if by them or by Volks staff) on a long table against the wall, reserved for this contest. Each doll was given a placard with a number, much like how the One-Offs are. Entries were open as long as there was space on the table for the doll.

The initial portion of time during the Tea Party was free time. Participants could: socialize with anyone, walk around the room, eat snacks with their table, use the special photospace, admire the one-offs, or enter the contests. This is also when your vote could be submitted for the customize contest. There were last-calls for all votes / lottery entries so you'd know when the cutoff time was. Winners were announced later during the formal presentation part of the Tea Party.

My memory's a bit hazy on how the best-dressed contest worked though, but... I seem to recall the owner needing to pose for a photograph, and Volks staff would judge based on that, with results announced during the formal presentation.

 

Yay! What a relief .

And I am right there with you in still not being ready!

 

I'm super excited for next week! I got my badge in last week and decided my dolls need something too. Here's what I made:


Needless to say, I'll have a couple extras (like 60 of them!) and I'll have them with me at DollPa if anyone wants some!

 

That's way too cute! I'd love to get one for one of my dolls. How do we find you?

 

I'll be around the event! I'll have a Chii with me, maybe find me that way?

 

I'm up for a swap or just a meet up party of some sort. Maybe if we pick a dead end hallway where we would not bottle neck traffic, the hotel may not mind but as @idrisfynn pointed out it was shut down last time for a bit. I do seem to recall us finding a dead end hallway though where there was much chatting into the night. I would suggest staying away from where Volks is hosting because we don't want to be a nuisance to them as they setting up or during tearing down. Maybe somewhere near the Platinum Ballroom?

 

Generally hotels do not allow any "pop-up" events that haven't already been cleared with them, so even a hallway would likely be shut down. Anything happening inside a hotel room would be fine since you've already paid for the room.

 

Hotels do want to rent rooms and not host free spontaneous things. Room parties can also be shut down if you've got too many people and are too loud or have too many people coming and going. Most cons need to arrange permission to allow their members to have room parties, paying for rooms or not. --So you'll have to be discrete if you don't have express permission! Stay out of the way, don't have too much traffic, don't attract attention of hotel workers...

 

@Shamshir Of course, I can totally understand that. I'm only reflecting back on what happened in previous years and what was permitted or allowed or a blind eye turned at the time. It's a 2 day convention so people are naturally going to be excited to see each other, hang out and talk dolls with their dolls. Also, we would not be a "Pop Up" event as there would be no structure, no signage and no specific meeting place or time, IF this informal meet happens at all. In past years, it just sort of happened at the spur of the moment. I was suggesting what we've done in previous years, if we gather then we should pick somewhere that is out of the way so we don't become a nuisance. But I guess in just over a week's time we'll see how it all unfolds.

I completely agree @april as I recall at previous, non-Volks events where people jumped from room to room and the hotel was upset by the foot noise traffic. At that time, we all gathered down to an empty area of the hotel and hung out. But different city, different hotel and different rules.

 

Mini badges are done! Here's Chii showing one off.

 

That's such an adorable idea asianed, love it!! I am again really wishing I was going, but since I didn't get into the tea party (didn't get the email saying I didn't get it but nothing saying I did either) and since I was just at Resin Rose, I'll have to skip it this year. Would love to have a chance for a Dollfie Icon or Shiro Tachibana but there's the after event at least for Icon. Hope everyone has a great time!!