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

Will they release Alice and Lorina again!!

 

Yes book your rooms now , I would also suggest to everyone to find the hotels that did not have a out break of bed bugs ugh.. ALL the hotels around the airport had them ( SO GROSS)

My husband and I travel a lot so we always look online at reviews and bed bug reports because we are paranoid haha .

 

Well, goddamn! First measles, now bedbugs? I should stick to my usual resolution of Never Go Near Los Angeles At All Unless In Case Of Extreme Emergency.

 

It's an issue at many larger cities, unfortunately. Probably my worst experience was in Bakersfield. Only two reports at the Marriott, which isn't bad for a hotel its age.

One caution...their parking garage does not have an elevator, so drop any luggage you may have off at check-in *before* you park your car. We learned that the hard way.

 

Then only time I've had bed bugs was in San Francisco. I found that I seem to be allergic. The bites were intense. And the reason they're around airport hotels is that they often travel in with peoples luggage from other places. So hateful. But I stay in Hollywood so for the LA travel luckily I'm able to bypass all that....

 

I have kept up contact with Volks over the past month about various things, they just replied to me today that admission to the Dolpa will be open to all who wish to come, without lottery or any other method of entry. However, they did state that during the afternoon there would be an event which may be more limited attendance and will require a lottery if too many people apply to attend. So this is all great news because we don't have to worry about booking and not being able to get in!

 

Great news! I've never been to a Dolpa and would hate to miss this due to a restriction in attendance.

 

You should look for a roommate, idontcare57. That way you'll have new friends to hang out with and the hotel room will be cheaper.

 

I think I am going to drive in simply because I really, really hate flying...so if there is anyone from the Phoenix metro area who would like to carpool/split a room drop me a line. I'm thinking of getting a place a little bit further away from the airport due to mentioned bugs.

 

There are bedbugs everywhere, unfortunately... but it's good to check the hotels anyway, I guess. However, it's in their best interest to keep the bedbugs out, so hotels that have already had some probably have been checked and have gotten rid of them...

 

Just gonna drop this small update here (Screencapped from another forum):



I can give you the proper link to the vid if you folks want it as well~ The guy who filmed it (and posted this originally) directly asked him these questions and those are the answers he got back.

 

Yes, of course we'd be interested in the video link!

 

It isn't the easiest to hear, but there ya go~ He asks the questions at the end. :>

Click for video (via Dropbox)

 

Thanks for the vid ! I'm still on the fence about going, I want to, and I'll have the funds but...I have a bit of a goal I want to meet by 2017 and I'm not sure if this'll hinder me financially in the future or what. But a part of me really wants to go, just so I don't regret not going Dx

 

Gunter von Christ -- Thanks for reporting from the Wondercon panel! I was curious to know what would be said.

That's too bad about limiting attendance!!!! I wonder why? It would be best if they opened up the attendance and see how many places they might need and then reserve the space... so the most people could be accommodated.

It's not so bad for me because I don't need to arrange flights and stuff... or get time off... but for those who are making plans and who might lose out in a lottery--that's no good!

I hope they re-think limiting it to a small group of people...!!! AND try and give people enough advance time to be able to plan travel if necessary...!!!

--Oh, the lottery will happen IF they exceed the limits of the space they reserve... Hopefully their "small" means small for a Dolpa, not small-small!

-- Video also had a question about whether there will be vendors from Japan... sounded very iffy... I hope maybe they will have some. That would be cool. But I'm sure the travel from Japan would be expensive for vendors, so that could be a problem.

 

I think that the main event will still be open to anyone. If you listen carefully, he does say that it's a later event that may require a lottery, and my understanding is that this portion of the event is perhaps the tea party that has limited seating. Maybe their plans have evolved and had to be scaled back since we first discussed it, but I don't think there is cause to worry just yet.

 

I had no problem getting into the L.A. Mansion Parties and one L.A. Dolpa... but that was years ago... The last thing was the store-closing Tea Party thing and that I wasn't able to get into... although I got into the store the day before and got an appointment with the Dolly Doctor which was cool! But not getting into the limited event was kind of a bummer...

 

As I stated above, the news was from Volks themselves, not long before this announcement, the event as a whole is open, but there will be a more limited event within that time frame that will probably require lottery. No worries all! I am however hoping with this small comment, doesn't come a lack of offerings for us. If they offer us plenty, I am sure we will buy plenty! Also, if they offer exciting enough merch, I am certain that people will travel there from other countries too to attend. I know plenty of people who have traveled here for less!

 

I wonder if they used all of that re-release survey data to come up with the dolls they'll be offering? We did note on those surveys that we were from the North American market.

 

Woot! I just realize LA Dolpa takes place this year in LA, thanks to Volks appearing at BJD panel at WonderCon 2015. I hope I'm able to attend and Yay if it'll be an Alice and Wonderland theme, so exciting!

 

Whew, I'm glad I was out of the frame for that video. I hate being filmed.

From what I understand after talking to him for a while when the panel was over, there is a smaller "tea party" event which is the cost and limited part and a larger, overall event which is open. The cost of a meal event makes sense, and if they haven't set the menu yet, that would explain the range in cost at this point. It's not unusual for there to be a limit for food events. I'm hoping that the information will be more solid by Comic-Con, since he'll be participating in the BJD panel there as well

April, he still hasn't been able to answer whether or not there will be space for local vendors like last time, much less international vendors...I got the impression that they'd be bringing things from Japanese vendors, but the vendors themselves may not be there.

Midori, I didn't get into the last Volks "tea party" last year, but I had no issue with any of the previous ones or the Dollpa in LA.

Hideyoshi is very interested in what models we would like to see as one-offs, so if there are any that you're dying to see, let me know. I already put my two cents in for some Yo-Tenshi faces like Hinata and Nono

 

[MENTION=2493]clochette[/MENTION]

Oh that's interesting! I just wanna get into the initial event. I'll worry about other events later. I'd only be really bummed if I got locked out of the entire Dolpa. Please update us with whatever info you get from there! It'll be much appreciated. :> And thank you for clarifying on this as well.

As for the One-Off choice? Anything that is a Dollfie Dream. I fear them being ignored for this event, and for a SD...Suigintou. I will always, forever recommend Suigintou~

 

Thanks for the info! still debating and wondering how much to set aside for the whole thing, hehe.... As far as one-offs, I think it'd be great to see SD16 Megu/Kira, or sdgr Saki.

 

I always want to see Tsukasa one-offs, though of course what I really want is a limited!

 

I already mailed them about this a couple times, but frankly I just want a WS MSD or Midi available during the event. Of course I'd rather it be something other than a one-off so I would have the chance to actually buy it, but otherwise for one-offs, I will always suggest Suigintou, Hasekura Tsunenaga, Hewitt, or Schulze…in WS of course >,<;;;

 

I would love to see a Kujo girl, or SDGrG Michele. Or SD SWD Una in her tenshi fullset.

 

I'm confused. Do we do the lottery at the door? That's crazy if that's the case.

EDIT:
~~~
So I just missed it and only saw the part for those going outside the event. Okay, so you make a reservation and that'll be the FIRST lottery for entry.

For those who want to line up at the door you may part-take in ANOTHER lottery.

So I guess everyone has to do a lottery to get in. *Sighs* Welp if my friend doesn't get in then I'mma skip the event. (Or vice versa).

 

Where is this lottery at the door business coming from? I've never heard of anything like that.

As for one-offs, please a white skin SD17 boy! Anything!!! Or more than one so we don't have to fight our best friends for him.

 

I do find it rather strange. I guess it is for those who are local or last minute? Does that mean that technically you have two chances to get entry?

I'm kinda curious about just how limited it is...hmm... It was just weird. I actually somehow missed the link to the reservation bit at first. I wonder when they'll release those results? I'd love to know sooner rather then later! ><;

 

How did I miss the Dolpa page update?!

Anyway, it sounds like the "lottery" to get into the main event, with the Sumika shopping and dollie doctor, etc., is going to be like getting into a Volks event in Japan. Everyone lines up, then takes a lottery number, then has to line up again in number order. I don't think that portion of the event is number limited?

The Tea Party is going to be limited though, and I am wondering what they will cap the attendance at! I've already sent in my reservation form, but it looks like we have to wait until the end of May to find out if we get in!

Question for anyone filling out the Tea Party Reservation form: Did you put your doll's sculpt name or your doll's name in the "Dollfie name" box? I put my doll's name, and I hope that was ok! I suppose I could always email them if they wanted the sculpt.

 

Registered! Hoping Volks confirms registration soon because now I am sitting here going "I spelled my email correct, right...?" because I am so jittery over this. 8,D Oh lawd.

I put in my dolls name, thesaraghina! XD; I didn't even think of putting in the sculpt until Aeryn told me that's what she did. Now I'm trying to decide which was the correct course of action. So if you do happen to email them... let us know the answer!

 

Me too! I filled out the form about 10 min. ago and haven't gotten a confirmation email that it was received. It's making me nervous. Did anyone get a confirmation email?
I put the sculpt name of the doll I think I'd bring in the dolls name box. I don't think it matters much. Maybe I could have put my username, haha.

 

LOL, I did too, nicely plugged in "Momoko" instead of the sculpt name.

Doesn't matter one bit though because these last two fields were optional; guess they just want to get some statistics on which dolls people have or intend to bring.

 

I didn't get a confirmation email, either! I figured maybe they send them out manually, so I shouldn't worry (too much ) until a couple working days have gone by?

And the reason I put my doll's name instead of sculpt was that I thought maybe it was for name tag/placard purposes? Like, something we'd pick up when we entered? I suppose I could've asked before I entered, but I was a little too anxious to get my reservation sent in.

 

What the fluffy pink heck is up with this whole registration procedure, anyway? We do not pre-register for the actual Dolpa, we just line up in front of the door and hope we get in? And right now we are only registering for the Tea Party event? Oyy. After all these years you'd think I'd learn Volks's twists & turns a little better, but dag, they have just never made it easy.

 

The lottery is just a way to reorder the line to give everyone a fair shot at getting in, and to prevent people from showing up ungodly early to snipe all the goods. If you show up before 9am, you're moved to the end of the line.

 

Oh my goodness, you are right. I just looked that back over. x.x What I get for trying to read a wall of text in the middle of the night! D:

....Volks wth are you guys up to? Why would you make us WAIT IN LINE?! You are essentially cutting down your possibilities of attendants cause who wants to wait in line and then get denied. Especially, ESPECIALLY, if those folks have traveled from various places to come to your event? Why not hold a online lottery? I don't understand. oTL;

Meh, now I just wanna cut this event out of my LA trip entirely. *pouts*

I think I'd get this if like we were talking like a regular items release, or something. They do this sort of set up for that....but for the actual entry of the event? And it isn't just a line and you walk in. It is a line up, get yourself put into a lottery, and then hope you get selected right then and there.

 

Umm, that's not how I'm reading it at all. :/ More like, you line up, get a number, re-order, and then go in with your new number. Not, "Only the first XXX numbers get to go in". You might be at the front or the end of the line with your number, like they do in Japan for the Sumika & Limited Items lines, but you'll still get in eventually. So far as we know, it's only the Tea Party that has limited attendance, and we'll find out if we're accepted to that after the end of May.

 

Oic. That makes more sense. That's still a bit frustrating, but I guess it is better than flat out denial. I wouldn't care about getting in first, but just getting in at all. I think of it automatically like with a lottery for a doll. You know, you win or you don't. That's about it. Try again later (just without that part).

I wonder if it could break down to that though? I would really like to know just what is their top attendance amount is. ><;

Also population control could be far more easily achieved online. This seems incredibly inefficient. You could have assigned random entry order via that as well if you wanted to do that. >.>;; But I guess a impromptu lottery works equally well. (Is just more nerve-wrecking imo.) But I realize I'm just a mean person who really hates seeing blatant inefficiency.

 

Maybe they're planning to have a special limited for the event that would necessitate having a Japan-dolpa-style entry? Or they're just trying to make accessibility to what goods they'll have for sale more fair and to prevent camping out at the doors. Volks has a lot of experience with putting on events, though this one already seems a lot different from any other US event they've done before, yet much smaller than their huge Japanese events. I imagine it'll be a learning experience for all of us, one way or another.

I'm still hoping they'll have a large capacity for the Tea Party! I looked up the ballroom sizes, and it's in a bigger room than the sales/doll doctor/etc. are in, but I imagine there will also be tables for people to sit. I'll be happy to go either way, but it will be kind of disappointing to go and not be able to attend the party!

I do wonder if they'll have oneoffs in the main room, though? There's a Charity Auction listed for the Tea Party, but I'm hoping there will be regular oneoffs available for everyone to try and win!

 

I also didn't get a confirmation for my entry and I put my Doll's name not the sculpt! I didn't even think about it.
But I agree with Gunther Von Christ, this is terribly inefficient. I'm going to have to fly down for Dolpa and this is getting a little silly for us coming from far away. I still don't think Volks understands HOW BIG the USA is.

 

I put my doll's name instead of sculpt on the entry form for the tea party! I do hope everyone who wants to go can get in! Our plane tickets are already purchased... I'm hoping that coming from the East Coast will mean we're bright eyed and bushy tailed when the line starts to form I'm also hoping that the Japan-dolpa-style entry means that they'll be bringing dolls for sale, dolls worth lining up for. I'd be thrilled with a dreamy Kasumi, though that's probably not very likely! I'm nervous about the randomness of the lottery, but at least that's a fair way to prevent all-night campouts and whatnot.

 

The East Coast Edge! *high five*

 

But if they're going to do lottery entry, then why not do the lottery for tickets online, before the event, like they're doing with the tea party? So that people don't fly 3000 miles only to find out that they can't get in?

(Well, my flight is no 3000 miles, but flying per se is enough of a bloody hassle that whatever's at the other end better be a sure thing.)

 

I think with any of the sales events here, they've always had the lottery for your place in line. The "no line before 9" part concerns me, though. We've learned that hard and fast time limits like that just encourage people to mill about in the area and rush once the time hits, so it becomes a safety hazard. Even though it doesn't really help you to line up early, as you have as much likelihood of drawing a late number as you do an early one, people still try to do so. One would think random would affect the whole "I have to be at the front of the line" urge, but for some reason it doesn't, at least in my long experience of shooing people from the back of the center who are trying to line up prior to opening for the limited signings ticketing. Was there a similar "no line before X time" rule at the store closing event? If not, the prohibition may be coming from the hotel...they may not want a line forming in public space earlier than the scheduled time (we have the same issue with the playback room at the Omni).

I've sent the first group of One-Off requests to Volks, keep the suggestions coming

 

clochette - They do the "no line before X time" rule at their Japanese events, from what I've read. They didn't do it for any of the NY Dolpa events I went to (all but the first one) but I've never been to one of their west coast events. I agree and don't think it will keep a lot of people from being in the vicinity near the time to line up, but it probably is partly due to hotel regulations as well as the way they are used to doing things back home.

Since there seems to be no limit on how many people can attend the non-Tea Party section (just number selection to see *when* you can enter), I'm wondering how many people are planning to show up? And how many Volks thinks are coming? I'm sure they've underestimated us, as usual! Especially since we haven't had an event here in a while.

 

They've done lotteries at West Coast events, especially store related, but I don't recall them doing it at the last LA Dollpa. That one was a single event, though, with the food function and sales room all being part of the paid event.

The store closing event was just last year and fairly widely attended, so I imagine they have a decent idea of demand.

 

The lottery at 9am is not to get into the event, just to select the order in which you may enter the sales room. Otherwise it's a stampede for the limited items and a few people holding a place in the line for all of their friends, which isn't fair.

 

I'm relieved that's what it is, I was a little worried about going all the way over there just to be told that I couldn't get in!

 

Sounds like a regular dolpa procedure. I think Volks is trying to prevent people camping out all night to get the first place in line. Likely they will ask people to line up at 9 am and have everyone pull a lottery number at around 9:30 and then reorganize the line according to numbers drawn. Just like when they closed the LA store. Otherwise you will have people camped out all night in the hotel to be first in line. I'm sure the hotel doesn't want that. Volks is trying to make it fair for everyone. Luck of the draw.

 

I made my Tea application too. Hope I'll get in as all of you, ladies.

 

I entered my doll's name, too -- d'oh! I figured it was for some small customized doll item, rather than polling which sculpts are going to be in attendance.

Wish we could find out earlier whether or not we get into the tea (not flying halfway across the country for an event that I'm shut out of. (I understand that the lottery is just for the tea, but I suspect that's when the prizes will be given out.)

Looking forward to this, especially since I had to miss Dollism! Now I just need to strategize getting around in a wheelchair with a doll in my lap -- may wind up making her a seatbelt!

Wonder if we'll have tables to set up, like the NY Dolpas?

Am definitely interested in rooming with a friend, and I hope we can do some "informal" events on the 6th, to keep the party going!

-- A : aheartbea

 

I'm having the hardest time deciding who to bring!! I've never been to a U.S. Dolpa - I can't wait! Where are we supposed to send the emails for the one-off requests?

 

It'll be interesting to see how the re-order will go. Hopefully not too many problems. When I went down to the store in 2013 on a release day, I didn't go early for fear of the line/lottery so I wasn't able to see first hand. The staff said it went off without a problem though after I asked.

I'm hoping to go to Dolpa, but i'll probably drive down the night before. 4 hours drives aren't too foreign to me so it'll be pretty easy~ I've already got all my travel fares saved up and requested the time off, so now just need to decide and make a reservation at a hotel...
I really hope they bring dolls to sell! Especially the SD standards *A* I'd be over the moon to purchase a Saki.

I won't be putting in an entry for the Tea Party though... I don't have any full volks dolls to bring unfortunately...

As for one-offs... Saki on any body, I am head over heels in love with her~! *A* or a complete longshot... Ryoya Konoe ;A; He's been a grail of mine since I started the hobby but always been out of reach...

 

The only time I pulled a good number at a Volks event, I wasn't there for any of the LEs . . . typical. I put in for the Tea Party just in case, but I can't really decide whether I can actually go until my summer employment is certain :ase

 

When I went to the closing weekend of the LA store, my friends got numbers at the front of the line. I, of course, got a number at the very end of the line.
I guess I used up my luck getting into the Tea Party at that event.

 

For the tea party lottery for the Volks USA store closing last year, they asked for your doll's name as well. I provided my doll's name (not sculpt/model), but no personalized item/name tag was provided for my doll. Doesn't mean it won't happen this time around however.