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

Oof. I have my fingers crossed for you guys. Especially for anyone coming cross-country.

What a mess. o_0

I waffled back-and-forth a lot about rather I really wanted to attend to this thing or not... LA isn't much more than a commuter flight away from Seattle... But in the end, I ultimately decided against it. Catching up on this thread, I think I made the right choice. Delays, disorganization, patchy communication and cutting things close to the line may be par for the course with Volks' events, but it would have driven me absolutely bananas.

You're all made of sterner stuff than I am.

 

Why am I not surprised by all of this news?

I don't know what to think anymore … Like many here, I've booked my plane tickets and my hotel already. Had I known there would be another "lottery" I may have held off until I had a solid result. It's a full day of travel with 2 plane rides. Oh Volks! I love you but sometimes you make me seriously, seriously cry ….

Both my husband and I put in separate applications in and of course, we have different last names so there is no way to tell on paper that we're married. But fortunately we are both doll people (with Volks dolls), so if one gets in and the other doesn't, then at least it's not a waste. I think it will be a bit disappointing if significant others (not really in the Volks hobby) get in but someone who's been a long time Volks enthusiast doesn't get in.

Didn't Volks ask us when they closed the LA Store what dolls we were bringing and then they didn't do anything with that info? We all thought we'd have a personalized cookie or something and then nada? So I'm not expecting anything this time. Maybe they just want to see if we have a Volks doll??

But I am booked so I will be coming regardless! It will be great to see people and their dolls again. I'm bringing my SD17 Genji and maybe a YoSD. Fingers crossed that Volks manages to do some reshuffling and find a bigger room and that everyone gets into the Tea Party! Come on Volks! Make it happen!

 

I suspect that this is why they limit the attendance of children, since their dolls are for 13+ it doesn't make business sense to give a spot to a dependent and one adult rather than two adults with their own collections. Room occupancy can't be altered so you want the largest number of buyers in the room that you can.

At they don't show any signs of changing the date this time.

 

I didn't put in this time and it makes me rather sad. I was excited at the initial announcement but the chosen weekend was already bad for me due to family commitments and the amount of money to spend to get there for a single day event, I couldn't justify it. I loved the last LA Dolpa and liked that they spread the event out better to make it worth the travel and cost. Such is life!

 

Still no announcement on whether there's a hotel-room block for the convention/ special rate, is there?

 

I was very excited when the news broke about a Dolpa in LA, but I decided to skip it because the cost of traveling from the East coast for a single day was too much. I would had been devastated to not be able to participate in all the events after traveling to California.
I hope that something can be work out and everyone can get into the Tea Party.

 

I'm share your opinion to the letter pris84.
My sister, hubby and myself have already bought flights from Canada...

The room capacity of the tea party room is 200-240 depending on how the do the layout. I'm guessing a few tables will be along one side of the room for the one-offs and whatnot.

 

Thinking back to the 2007 LA Dolpa (which was at the Hilton close to LAX), I don't recall there being a hotel reservation block...

 

I honestly couldn't remember back that far. I stayed in the hotel for that one, but that was, what, 8 years ago? and by now my brain has a big blank spot where the hotel-reservation-making memory would be.

... And so I guess that means Jimmy is gonna be 8 years old this year! I won him at that Dolpa, that's one of the intact memories I do have. I also remember Idrisfynn spitting water across the table when I said I was going to name him Jimmy (he's a fetus Rei-Tenshi so I named him after Jim Foetus).

 

Getting you to do the perfect spit-take is not just a job, it's a raison d'etre.

 

That's the reason why my husband didn't enter the lottery. We didn't think it would be fair if he got in and someone else who is actually a collector was left out. I just hope I'll be able to make it. I don't see the point of flying across the country for a one day event if I can't even attend the tea party. :/

 

I just realized I never posted on here to say I'm coming out for this. Oops! Hotel and flight is all booked and I can't wait to see everyone, it's been ages! I have no idea what doll to bring, it's been changing practically weekly. >_<

 

Yay! : We can't wait to see you again!

Join the club-- I keep promising different people I'll bring this-or-that doll, so if I'm not careful, I'll end up promising to schlep my entire Volks army out there, which ain't gonna happen. I just bought a Yo Shiro, so it will be tempting to schlep all 4 of the Shiro Army just for funz0rs.

 

Muwahaha while I seriously would love you to bring Shinji--especially since spiral is gonna be bringing Saga (also genji so we can combine and make a genji army lol), I would totally melt for a Shiro Army!!! (all those chubby cheeks in one place -faint-) Ah Tokyo boys

I'm still debating who the heck I'm bringing too @_@ I have a feeling there will be a couple stowaways in my doll bag. Those yo's are stealthy little buggers and multiply super fast

 

OURS GO UP TO ELEVEN.

I know, I've just got the one Yo at home. so far, and he insinuates himself everywhere. Nava is a party animal and will need to come along with Chibi Shiro. But I like bringing a big doll, and I have had a bunch of requests for Shinji. On the other hand, Kimo has never been to a Dolpa (Shinji has) and he is also a Shiro. On the other-other hand, Yo-SDs are much easier than SD17s on a bad back. Oh, maybe I should just roll a 20-sided dice?

 

I just got an email saying I got in to the Tea Party! Yay, so excited! Though the link to pay keeps giving me an error. I imagine it'll be up before too long though, since we have until the 26th to pay.

[edit] Just received a new email with the fixed link!

 

I also received an email saying I got in.

 

I got into the tea party as well. My mother didn't but she wasn't really all that interested in going anyway.

 

I got into the tea party!! I don't believe my husband did though as he hasn't received an email. Bummer.


So what are the odds of Yo-Tenshi's being at this Dolpa? Anyone have an idea?

I'm super stoked to see you again! I believe that I still owe you a birthday drink. :3 Yo-Shiro!! And the Shiro Army continues to take over and dominate. Now Nava will have someone his side to mischief make with.

 

[MENTION=2181]Senko[/MENTION]- did your mother receive an e-mail saying she did not get in? I have yet to receive anything and I know volks doesn't send out rejections for some things.

 

Yay, both my husband and I got into the tea party!

 

[MENTION=1364]Bird of Hermes[/MENTION] She did not receive an e-mail saying she did/didn't get in.

 

Thanks [MENTION=2181]Senko[/MENTION], that's what I was afraid of.

No email for me but my traveling partner got in. She wont go alone though and I can't spend that amount of money to go just for the 'sales floor'. Been waiting 5 years to be have another dolpa since I wasn't in a place to be able to go to the earlier ones and looks like my bad luck struck again! Congrats on everyone who got in- I hope it's a fabulous time.

 

My daughter and I both got in the Tea Party! Going to be a fun weekend.

 

I'm in, I'm in!!!! Squee!!!!! I don't know yet about my husband though.

 

Well i got my email for the tea party.

But i won't be able to go if the other people i was going with didnt make it.

Can't afford that hotel stay all by myself lol.

Does anyone know where that roommate finding thread went to? ><;

 

Are people getting emails saying that they lost also?

 

I got into the tea party, but my BF did not.

Sooo lucky!!! I should be happy that I got in period.

 

My twin sister and I both got in! We are beyond excited! (and lucky!)

 

It looks like my husband got in but I did not.

 

Hubby-boy will come hang out with me at the bar.... No email for me!

I honestly like rum better than tea, anyway.

 

I'm so sorry, dear

 

This made me smile and feel a bit better. Thanks.

It's looking like I didn't get in. I'm currently debating if this will make a difference in my entire vacation plans to California for the year or not. I do still want to meet many of you guys like Moonglo.

I'm still kind of hoping to bring my Volks Aya if I do and also my Volks Ran to show them to you guys. X3

 

Paid for the Tea Party! I got in but my husband didn't. @JennyNemesis [MENTION=49802]MacaronTea[/MENTION] [MENTION=11693]InvisibleWings[/MENTION] Alex would be happy to hang out with you guys at the bar. My Genji would still love to lounge with other Genji (Shinji ) ….

@biff I'd love to see your Ran! She's a new favourite mould of mine. I'm sorry you didn't get in.

I'm happy and sad. Happy I got in but really sad to see so many people I know that aren't getting in.

I hope there will be a meet in the lobby either before or after the Dolpa. I really would love to hang out with everyone and see their dolls.

 

Will be happy to see Alex again too. Sounds like there are plenty of people who didn't get in, that we have enough to entertain each other!

I'm still not 100% sure which big doll I'm bringing, though Shinji is still a front-runner. Jimmy and Nava will be there for sure either way, so you know it'll be a party with a capital P.

So you can come drink with us too!

... Heck, we can just have the meetup at the bar while the tea party is going on. Meetups with booze always make for the best photographs, anyway.

 

Soooo... I'm assuming that since I didn't get an email I didn't get in.... Boy was I silly to buy plane tickets all the way across the country.

Must look up. Must look up. I was hoping to make a stop motion in honor of the event... Featuring the Volks companion I bought specifically for this Dolpa (headdesk....I sold how many dolls to fund this trip??) And I *was* puzzling over when/ how to share it with people. So maybe this is it? Maybe I'm not going to the tea party so I can give a little gift to everyone who couldn't get in? Showings at the bar or lobby or something?

I'm sure that will sound like a marvelous plan after I've had a good cry over my foolishness.

Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk

 

JIMM-EH!!! It will be a party for sure if Nava is there!

I was looking at the schedule again for the Dolpa and the Tea Party is 2 hours. Honestly not much time. My guess is that everything will be available at the Dolpa itself - dolls, outfits, services like the Doctor (I don't think he travels in a blue box though …), maybe FCS, one offs, etc …. 10 am - 5 pm is the usual amount of time for as a regular Japan Dolpa. My guess is that the Tea Party will be a place to sit, eat a bit, have a bit of a talk and then some raffles. So hopefully people who don't get in aren't missing out on too much. But that's me guessing.

 

That's what it sounded like to me, too-- they have all the displays & events at the Dolpa itself, and then food and raffles at the tea party. In any event, if there's no cap for admission & no entry fee for the Dolpa itself, just a wait in line, then I've still got no reason not to go.

Have they mentioned yet whether or not we need to sign up for the Doctor ahead of time?... Shinji could sure use a restringing, with his goofy old SD17 knees, so that'd be a fine excuse to bring him. But I'd have to be guaranteed a Doctor appointment if I'ma schlep him with this bad back of mine.

 

They updated the page for the Beauty Salon/Doll Doctor today: http://volksusa.com/event/2015dolpala/beautysalon.html
It's a first-come, first-serve from 12-3 where you take a ticket and then wait for your turn, like a deli. I was hoping for appointments, but I think I'm still gonna bring my poor floppy Scarface Cecile and try to get him a spot! He really needs a checkup.

 

We are in too! Now I need to actually decide who to bring.

 

Very excited, I've paid for the tea party ticket and now I have the 2 months to wait.

 

All for that! Sounds like a lot fun to me.

 

The BF and I both got in -- whew! Got over that hurdle

If the theme is indeed "Alice in Wonderland," my Megu Tabitha has her tea party costume all sorted. She was pretty confident we'd get in ("We'd #%$@ BETTER get in!" were her exact words ). She hopes her sculptor Enku-san will be there like in 2007.

My Isao still hasn't gotten over his Doll Doctor appointment at the 2006 Halloween party, so I don't think I have any takers here for that.

 

The tea party winners have until June 26 to pay (RSVP) and if they decide they don't want to come, I expect there might be a second round of lottery.

For the most recent doll lottos, Volks USA has been sending out "sorry, you didn't win" emails a few days after the winner emails. Hopefully they will include a bit more info at that point so don't give up yet!

 

I got in tea party I'll see you all there

 

At first, when I got the email from Volks, I was like this:

But then I read that @JennyNemesis didn't get in to the tea party and I was like this:

Plus, I'll be in there drinking tea and missing out on the cocktails.

So, now we definitely have to have that drunken pajama party!

 

No tea party email for me, but my luck with Volks lotteries is pretty bad, so that doesn't surprise me. I haven't won any of the dolls I entered for, and when the L.A. store was opened, I used to draw numbers toward the end of the line. Lol.

I'll still attend the Dolpa since I'm local, and it will be fun to meet everyone and see all your dolls!

 

I really hope this is the case!

 

Congrats to all the winners! No e-mail so I guess I didn't get in either . I haven't won a Volks lottery in 7 years and that was through one of their old dealers... I'm starting to wonder if I've been blacklisted or something . I guess it was a good call not to enter my travel companion who wouldn't have wanted to go in alone after all xD.

 

No email for me either. I wonder if Volks will conduct another lottery if there are cancellations. I'm disappointed but I'm not giving up hope yet! -__-

 

Hm, maybe it'll be worth going even if I don't get into the tea party... I do fully expect there to be an after party either way
No email for me but I suspect there will be another round after a bunch of people don't pay because their parties were split up. I will be traveling alone anyway so it's not a concern for me. I am still hoping I can get in.

 

I don't think they did for the Toppi/Mihmi dolls. Which Dolpa dolls did they send these out for? Also this is terrific, because nothing is worse then sitting in void without knowing if you can spend the money you were holding for the doll. >_<

 

No tea party for me or spiral either. It really feels like the tea party was the only main event at this dolpa, so I'm not sure what else there will be to do besides look and shop for their sumika items and possibly get your doll restrung for $31 (which I'm not inclined to do). Does anyone know if there were any other events planned? Like the school workshops or anything else?

 

Well, congratulations! You should be at that tea party no matter what. It's just in the stars.
If there's cancellations and I get in later, so much the better, but I'm sure down with starting the drunken pajama-party long before bedtime. ^^