Volks Dolpa - Dolls Party in LA 2015 - LAX Marriot (9/5/2015)

There is a starbucks in the lobby. That's what I do for breakfast - get oatmeal and a pastry. I've seen the hotel do a 'sandwich bar' type thing for some conventions - I don't know if they will for this one.

 

Since we're already here, I can answer that! the Level 33 cafe and hotel room service both have salads and other light meal options. I can also recommend Aliki's Greek Taverna for lunch, which is a short walk away on Arbor Vitae.

 

Thank you both!

 

Pop quiz! If I DO manage to squeeze a Yo-SD into my baggage, which one would y'all rather see: Shiro or Isao?

(It's hard to pack mindfully of one's bad back... there's always just a few more ounces' worth of something that you'd like to throw in there...)

 

Yea.... I so bad want Shiro tooo! I was so hoping they'd do an event in the US.

 

Shiro!! I'm packing my Tsukasa now! My Kuuta will join them in a jam session!!

 

There's also a Burger King across the street to the west, next to the Embassy Suites. The Sheraton next door has a sports bar that has great food but sparse seating, and a fairly decent, fancier restaurant. For those not adverse to a walk, the Daily Grill at the Westin down the street is one of the best hotel restaurants I've ever been to.

 

OK, 3 votes for Taki! I'll see if he can jam his zany little self in there... and I'll see how the ol' lumbar feels in the morning.

Gotta get up to catch a 630 AM airport shuttle!

 

The one blessing of traveling with a wheelchair (which is otherwise a monumental pain in every aspect) is that I don't have to worry quite so much about hurting my back. Of course, it's a lot easier when I'm not traveling alone

See you guys there!!

This is my face, and I'll have Anthea (Ushiwakamaru girl) with me -- different outfit, but same girl:


Anthea by Ashbet, on Flickr

(Damn, never did wind up making a nametag -- will have to improvise!)

-- A

 

Thanks for sharing your lovely face Ashbet! I'll be there tomorrow in the afternoon/evening with Daria and Rinon.
Here's my face: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154059163880760&set=t.508450759&type=3&theater if anyone is looking for me
Party on!

 

The shuttle came pretty quickly once I got to the airport. Sweet! XD I'm ready to be at the hotel. Poor Chessa's been sitting in my carryon tote and her hair looks about as frazzled as mine.

 

I am at hotel.

Parking is around $30 a day. But if you have group discount on room it's about 12 a day.

 

I'm checked in, & woohoo I have a balcony overlooking the ginormous pool. Now wish I did have a swimsuit! Failing that, lunch and a nap. But first unpack poor longsuffering dolls.

 

There is a Starbucks with sandwiches. There are also sandwiches at the gift shop.

 

Aw, it's wonderful to see your pretty smile, Basia! And I'd love to get a better look at your ink!

I did grab some stick-on labels and a Sharpie, so if anyone wants to make a basic nametag, I've got the materials.

We're headed to the airport now!

-- A (not doing the driving, so I can type safely)

 

I like Jenny's line of thinkin: lunch and a nap! XD My room overlooks the pool but no balcony for me. Also I'm in a handicap accessible room....? It's huge! And it's just me. :p -streeeeeeeeeeetchhhh-

 

I've made it to the hotel, grabbed some food and just unpacked my boy. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

 

My health -- or lack of -- decided that it had different plans for me and I'm not going to be there with all of you. I'd love a play-by-play of all the fun, so that I don't feel left out.

Good luck to everyone getting their dream dolls!

 

Pretty picture, Ashbet. Now your avatar makes a lot of sense!

'Hope you all get together for a pre-dolpa meetup at some point. Or at least relax a bit before tomorrow...!

Sorry you're not feeling up to coming down for this, Kellyhime. I hope your health improves soon!

 

I walked down the block to Jersey Mike's. The nice barista guy here at the hotel told me about it since I asked about hot sandwiches. It's not even a 10 minute walk. It was so good!!

 

Big shout out to all of you who are attending!! Sooooooo envious and can't wait to see photos and hear all about it!! Will go console myself by hanging out with this girl, my sweet Michaela:

 

Oh, Kelly, I'm so sorry to hear it!!

Very much hoping that you have a dramatic improvement soon!

-- A (FINALLY on the hotel shuttle, since my flight was delayed by an hour)

 

We finally got to La, got the rental car, and got to eat something. So much better.

 

Can't wait to see everyone tomorrow. I'm making sure to t=set my alarm so I can get there early. I forgot that I might have to fight holiday traffic this weekend.

 

Well, 5 hours late but i made it!

I stumbled past a group of people with dolls on the way in, . I would head back down but sitting for 9 hours is tiring and I'm hungy.

 

the hotel is nice, the weather perfect and can't wait to start spending- so nice to see everyone once again.

 

hi, i called Marriott customer service tonight to inquire about parking at the hotel. I told them I live locally and will only be parking for the day for the doll party. It took awhile for her to search through her notes but she told me that the
rate for this event is $12 a day self park and $25 for valet. Hope this info is right, I usually ask about 3 people before I trust the answer but I don't have the time to deal with that. This rate sure sounds better than $34 posted on website.

 

You know, that makes more sense to me. I have attended a LOT OF events in this hotel, and that's about what i paid. They mean the open lot next to the hotel (to the right when you pull into the driveway). Drawback is it fills up early

 

See you all tomorrow! I finally decided that some of the design flourishes just aren't going to happen on this outfit if I want to get any sleep. so my gal will be slightly less glamorous than planned. Oh well. Still looking forward to tomorrow!

Edit: I'll probably stuff my Sei (won at the 2007 LA Dolpa) in my bag just for the heck of it

 

Good morning! Finally able to upload a picture of the doll I'm bringing. Chessa's going as the "White Queen."

White Queen by Holly Stuart, on Flickr

 

POST PICTURES EVERYONE!! I'm dying to see everything!

 

Oh yes! I second this request...we want to see-eeeee!

 

Yes please!! I would love to see what head they're adding to the SD16 FCS line!!

 

That actually makes sense, the higher rate is for overnight guests because they want to make sure people don't use the lot for cheaper parking when actually using the airport. People actually attending an event at their hotel are different.

 

Any news and pictures on the new SD16G being added for the October FCS? Also does anyone have any clearer pictures of the coordinate models? The one on Facebook is blurry and hard to tell which dolls they are. Any info would be great

 

I think this is the new SD16 head? http://bjdnews.diary.ru/p205436713.htm

 

http://i.imgur.com/24A1QMJ.jpg

I couldn't resize since it's from my phone. Vivid make up on left and natural on right!

 

https://flic.kr/p/ygEyT4

Amethyst is so pretty

 

On my way home from Dolpa already- it was a pretty awesome day, all things considered, and Volks USA intends to hold more Dolpas stateside in the future! This was my first time ever attending a Dolpa, and it was incredibly touching to see the entire Shigeta family there, giving their best.

The majority of the event was just mingling and socializing, but that's the best part, imo. Got to see plenty of friendly faces, had a chance to connect with new people, and finally met some folks that I've idolized since I first got into the hobby (over a decade ago!). If there's one thing Volks is great at, it's facilitating amazing memories and this wonderful sense of nostalgia. Thanks to Volks for pulling this event together, and thanks to everyone else for making it so enjoyable!

 

Thirding this request. Hope everyone had an awesome time.

 

It was great meeting so many people today! I will be posting a link to all the pictures I took tomorrow.

 

Here is a link to some of the photos I took today of Dolls Party Los Angeles. I will post a few more tomorrow.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bonmwe/sets/72157655921324333

Thank you for bringing Chessa. I had a chance to meet her and She was beautiful. You made a lovely crown for her!

 

I had a great time and enjoyed seeing some friends! I hope everyone had a fun time~

 

I had such a lovely time meeting everyone! Big hugs to all of the wonderful doll people I finally got to talk to in person!!!!!! My husband can't stop talking about how fun and welcoming everyone in our hobby is (Well, of course we are, lol). Seriously, though, watching everyone at the dolpa, tea party, and swap meet afterwards reminded me of why I love being a part of this hobby so much. There was such a cool feeling of camaraderie today that I feel really grateful to be a collector!

 

Hello everyone! I just wanted to say how much of a lovely time I had at the event. It was wonderful to see people I hadn't seen in a while, and I got to meet some new people in person as well! XD I'd been quite down about the event beforehand, but I feel like going renewed my love for my favorite doll, and she was quite insistent that I didn't need a new doll anyway

My husband attended the Tea Party, and he was very impressed with all of the speeches, but especially Mrs. Shigeta's speech about the Dear SDs! She said she designed them for her own mother, who wanted a simple doll, less complex than the SDs. I thought that was very sweet! Mr. Hideo Shigeta said that Volks wanted to do more Dolpas in the U.S.! He also wanted to do more releases for the website, and improve the website.


Seconding what Izam said in the main Volks thread, a Japanese speaking fellow fan at the swap meet said that it seems like all three Black Jack dolls are preorders, with a 100% chance of winning (that's the big gold 100%). There also seems to be an order form so you can select if Black Jack will have his gray face paint or not. I'm very excited! I love Kiriko's outfit.


I do regret one thing, though! I only bought one kimono, after seeing the gorgeous one [MENTION=2595]thesaraghina[/MENTION] had bought. My Belle claimed it, and I'm regretting not getting one for my Una too! Alas!


I took some phone pictures, which are on my Flickr (link is in my signature), and I will edit my camera pictures when I get home. XD Thank you to everyone who was so nice and kind to me and my husband!

 

SO lucky to see Dear SDs in person!! LOL! The Dear SD thread is kind of jonesing for pictures and comparisons!

MORE PICTURES!!! OMG!!!

 

Can do. Ailene WON the dearSd from Mrs. Shigeta. Her name is H.S. Alice. Or "Holy Shit" Alice, what Ailene said when they called her number. We teased her about that

 

Waah! Thank you Bonmwe for posting the pictures! My camera died in the car on the way to the event. Now I can show my family! I'm Erin (Ghostdollie), the one with long-neck Alice. Great pictures of the lovely party details. Volks is always so classy!

 

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked her!

I had a lot of fun despite familiy drama nearly spoiling the Tea Party for me. I'm looking forward to the next event!

 

I had a great time and I didn't get into the Tea Party and didn't win anything. We just hung around in the sales room for a while. The Dolly Doctor had openings but my boy had just been checked out at the Store Closing.

There were lots of people to chat with and we eventually moved to the lobby were there were tables of dolls and a Starbucks.

We thought we'd get tired of waiting before the swap meet but it was great to talk with everyone and before we knew it people came from the Tea Party with all the exciting news... and some started setting up for the swap meet.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

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Uploaded a few photos to flickr... Lighting wasn't great and I wasn't sure what we were allowed to take photos of, plus had hands full of doll and shopping bag, plus-- I didn't get into the Tea Party... so don't get too excited...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77854072@N00/

 

Ohh! want to see more pics of Jack Black!!

 

So she's growing to like her I hope? I would have walked barefoot through all of the poolside hotel cockroaches for a shot at that doll. I wish they'd done a separate lottery for her.

 

I have some pictures, myself!

https://www.flickr.com/gp/shujinkakusama/pG10U4

I was so happy to see so many people, including people I think I'll recognize names from. I was the girl in the daytime with the loose white blouse and striped skirt, and the Rinon on the SDGrG body with the Daria shoes, and in the evening I had lacy shorts and a mint and white shirt. I loved seeing so many dolls, I wish I'd gotten more pictures of other people's! I'm going to eventually do a loot photo, but for now, I'm exhausted. The swap at the end was a lot of fun, too. I loved seeing what people were making! Everyone's so talented!

 

*SOBS WILDLY* I wish I were ever so lucky!! Dear SDs are wonderful!! And a free doll! And OMG!! I've never won a doll like that! (And in all likelihood never will because I want it too much)

 

I got the definite impression that it wasn't a planned giveaway, just something Mrs. Shigeta decided on the spur of the moment based on the overwhelming reaction to her at the tea party. But I completely understand where you're coming from, it's difficult when it's random like that.

 

I definitely got the vibe that it was an impromptu giveaway, too! They seemed sort of charmed by all the attention Holyshit Alice was getting. I also suspect they just LIKE giving things away, and when the table was empty, they were like, What else can we give away...?

Half the fun of any Dolpa event is watching how much fun the Volks folks are having. Mr Shigeta is like a kid on Christmas morning; he's always a joy to watch.

 

Yeah, it was clearly spontaneous based on our response, but they could have just had interested parties throw their name into Mr. Shigeta's fabulous Mad Hatter hat or something.

All very true! ❤️

 

It was so great meeting everyone!
I really connected with so many people and it felt like a wonderful sense of community. The Volks family was really giving it their all and I could feel that they cared for the US fans.
Thank you for everything!