Volks Dolpa - Dolls Party in LA 2017

@Nell I hope you go!

 

@CathyM Hope to see you again!

 

@Nell I will be there

 

Congrats to all the people who could try for a ticket to the tea party! Recent financial circumstances ended my chance to get a ticket before they started. And best of luck on the hotels! @_@ I live in San Diego, I'm going to just drive up for the day and hopefully get lots of goodies!

 

Oh, bleh... lottery for the Tea Party... means some people will be Out...

I wonder if I should withdraw to give a chance to those who are travelling in? I'll see. I'm guessing they might do the 2nd chance Lottery after people find out their friends will/won't get in... (I've been to these before and would rather not be tempted by more dolls, basically... but being at the Tea Party would be fun. I wish Volks would allow for more people... pretty much see how many people want to come and then make their arrangements, with a cut-off date. That's how most other events like these are run. But... Oh. Well. It is what it is.)

 

I am travelling from Canada and the East Coast, it is good to attend the tea party since I've never attended one before but I don't mind not attending because I've been out of the hobby for a few years and not looking for a new doll. Having said that, I would surely welcome Yo-Midi Reisner Shadow of Captain if I win the lottery and get to attend the tea party......never ever say no to Reisner when offered. Must try for the tea party and lottery.

I agree with April that they should cater for the number of people wanting to attend and put a cut off date for signing up. Otherwise, organize one BIG masquerade BALL for everyone.

 

Even though the hotels in the area are filling up, I'm totally unconcerned about my ability to find a place to stay. I'm not putting in any reservations or too many hopes into winning until I actually get the email. I've had too many disappointments from Volks. That said, I am preparing to be able to pay in full for Wills since it seems like they're gonna ask for the money up front. There's a lot of things in the area, and by area I mean like a 200 mile radius, that I want to see. So my only real worry for the show is parking.

 

I don't think parking will be a problem... It might not be CLOSE parking, but there's a big convention center in the area and over-flow parking lots... At least I'm hoping parking won't be a problem. It usually isn't down in Orange County... It's suburban... so more space! But we'll see, I guess!

--TRAFFIC could be a problem... So. CA is becoming one of the more traffic-congested areas in the country, sadly... But traffic should be bad for those staying nearby and going to the con...

 

This is probably old news but has everyone seen the schedule for LA Dolpa 2017?

Dolls Party in LA 2017 | VOLKS USA,Inc.

I'm a little confused why there is a drawing (I assume admission into the Sumika shop) on Saturday but not on Friday? Maybe there will exclusive stuff on the Saturday in the Sumika? I'm hoping they add to the schedule as it seems a bit .. uh … limited? I guess it was basically the same format as the last one. I would love to see FCS also with some Sato only heads and of course the SDGr girl body which has never made it to FCS! Maybe one day ...

We booked our room for August 31 to Sept. 5. Curious to know what others booked. Any thoughts of hanging out in the lobby Friday and Saturday night?

 

Yep, same format as last time - except for adding the Friday "workshops". They did abbreviated talks on these three things in the tea-party last time. So this year, maybe they decided to do a longer time, and take it out of the tea-party so more could attend.

I thought the Sumika shop was only open on Saturday (with the drawing for number for order of entry). I don't know what's listed on Friday - maybe that's just a viewing portion?

 

@pris84 We booked from the 31st on for a few days too. I forget now when we leave, but hubby & I are doing some other things while in CA so we will be there for a week or a little over, but not at the con area the whole time. I'm sure there will be lots of people trying to arrange to meet up!

 

I'm kinda thinking that maybe they are expecting the majority of people on Saturday so maybe the Friday Sumika shop will just be regular items and then Saturday they might put out special items as well as the Volks One for All Charity games (I assume they are the same ones at the Japanese dolpas). But I guess we'll probably find out more as we get closer.

@Ravenwolf Yup. We are thinking the same. See a few things other than Dolpa in the area like Disney and other stuff around LA. I'm guessing the hotel lobby will likely be the place for a meet. But I did see there was a meet and greet on the Friday schedule.

 

Oh...so we need to draw a number for the sumika shop line up also.....I am learning a lot from this thread. What time do they normally issue the numbers and I imagine we have to line up to get the numbers!

Looking at the schedule, me think it's good. My mom and I will be visiting Disneyland on Friday, Sept 1st all day, the meet and greet session is on Friday night. I don't know what the meet and greet session is like or if anybody can just attend but Friday night is good for us.

I booked Clarion Hotel for 3 nights from Aug 31st to Sept 2nd, checking out on Sunday, the 3rd. I am visiting a church and some friends in LA on Sunday before returning to Canada at night. I have a little puppy at home and can't be away for too long. It's a Disneyland and Volks event for us. Anyway, I have a friend living in LA and we can roomie at her place if we need to extend the stay. I am very glad we got a room in Clarion Hotel, I remembered Clarion, it's a good budget hotel next to the Convention Center. It's hard to get a room there.

Oh yes.....I am already wondering which SD to bring for the event. It has to be Reisner, but I was really thinking of bringing SD13 Isao (2004) to meet his maker because he's 12+ years old. My ISAO still has hot glued eyes, company sealed makeup and his resin body has very little yellowing, it would be very good if his maker/s can see him again. He's in very good condition and still very beautiful. However, if I bring SD17 Reisner, it would be hard to also bring Isao. So, probably, I'd only take Reisner, it's his event!

 

Just got my lottery results from Volks. I won! Now I wish I'd tried for Yo-midi Cecil as well as Romantic Glace Williams. I'm super stoked as this will be my first Dolpa.

 

Got a "YES, you can soon pay us to attend the Tea Party" email (2, actually)... I hope everyone gets in!!!

 

I got in too

 

Hooray!! Me too!

 

Ah just checked my email after checking this thread, and I got my winning email too!!! My mom & I applied for a companion ticket so we'll be going together! I'm so excited! I've already been counting down to Dolpa but now I really can't wait.

 

I got my winning e-mail too! So excited to pick up RG Williams at Dolpa and see and meet so many DoA'ers.

 

Aaaa, I also got in~ I'm super excited~

 

If you haven't gotten your invite yet, they may still be going out. I had an early invite number in the teens and got my invite two hours ago and my friend had a number in the 50s and hers came an hour later than mine.

 

I'm number 78 and I got mine an hour or so ago. I'm curious to know how many people will be invited this year. Hopefully more people will get to go than last time.

 

Mine is #11 & a companion ticket and arrived in my inbox two hours ago ^^

 

Yay, I got to in too! And Williams!
I didn't get to go to the last tea party so I'm looking forward to it. Guess I should start working on a pirate-y doll costume!

 

Number 4, and mine came in about 2 and a half hours ago.

 

So far the highest number I've seen is 97? Curious to know if anyone is above that.

 

Congrats on getting into the tea party, guys!

Haven't heard anything yet myself.

 

My Number was 095... and Y... What does that stand for?

--And I really hope everyone hears that they are in... although... if they had to hold a lottery, that means they had more applying to go than spaces. But some people might not make it, so we'll see...! (Good luck, Nell!)

 

Mine said 4C, and my entry was the +1. So perhaps C stood for companion, and Y is just yourself. :P

 

I got my entry too! Mine and my sis is 58 and 59, see you guys there XD! It is my first Dolpa and Im so excited!

 

Oh, thanks! That would totally makes sense!

OMG-- They should have!!!!

 

I'm in!!!!

Number 97 here. Didn't win last year so super happy I got in this year.

 

Yay! Not another Dolpa spent out in the Lobby!!!!

 

16, woo, going to LA.

Gonna have to figure out who to bring.

Guess I'll be getting a couple of Yo-Midi boys. :3 Williams and Reisner.

 

Ha ha ha ha I'm still laughing about the 'Yourself and Another Yourself' joke. Guess we're all Volks nerds in here! Anyway, I'm in and this time husband is actually in too! Since the last tea party when he was very content just hanging out in the lobby, he's finally been to a Tokyo Dolpa so he has more of an idea of what to expect. Okay, well somewhat. When I told him very excitedly that we had won and got to go to the Volks Tea Party, he seemed completely nonplussed. Then he told me that, "Chai would be great, thank you."

Maybe I need to tell him again when he isn't reading the paper.

 

Yep, this is MUCH better.
Congrats to all the other winners too!

Hmm. I got 97, but @InvisibleWings reported in the Volks Large Doll thread that her husband also got 97.

 

Does your number end in a C or a Y? Someone on the Volks (large) discussion thread said they had a number that ended in C and I assume that they are not a companion? Now I'm curious about those letters at the end of our numbers. I am 078Y.

 

My number is 034_c, and it was a companion entry

 

I'm in, and my invitation number is 057Y!

Mods I apologize if this is not allowed, I was curious if anyone wanted to share hotel accommodations and split the hotel fare. I know it's running down to the wire. Thought I'd send out a shout if anyone wanted to pm or e-mail me. I'll be visiting from the east coast of New Hampshire.

 

I'm 58, just one behind you :P

 

I saw that you and your sister had 58 and 59! So exciting!

Any Dolpa veterans know if our numbers also relate to our seating arrangements?

 

I don't think so. The last LA Dolpa we got to sit wherever we wanted. And I think even in registration, the numbers really didn't matter. They were just probably a reference to VolksUSA to allot the number of people and spaces.

At LA Dolpa 2015, everyone stood in line to register and then received a package of items which included a number and some small goods like info papers, ballot to enter for one offs, ballot to vote on the costume and maybe a small souvenir (trying to remember)? All the prizes draws were random number out of a box selection - so keep that number that is in your registration package! It is too big of a group to allow us to play bingo and winners go to the board to draw a string to see the prize revealed (like at the Dolpas in Japan). But at the last LA Dolpa there were a lot of winners and some amazing prizes! They gave away a lot of items and at the end as you left everyone was given a 15th Anniversary Rose.

Now I'm getting so exciting for September!!

 

Thank you for all the information from your past experiences Pris84! I'm getting more and more excited as well.

 

You are welcome!! I'm getting super excited too!! Anyone decided on which doll they plan to bring?

I find the US based dolpas to be smaller, more relaxed and more intimate than the Japanese Dolpas. The shopping experience is limited (because it's really just Volks and a few dealer items they are bringing) but the social aspect is pretty awesome! People hanging out around the hotel with their dolls, taking photos and just sitting around and chatting is just awesome! I think this year will also be really great because people will be picking up their dolls in person!

Anyone interested in a massive Williams group photo?

I'm all in for a doll swap, sale and trade in the lobby again ether Friday and/or Saturday night. What about everyone else?

 

The dolly sale, trade swap meet sounds awesome! I was thinking about bringing my Volks Sunlight Sdgr F-16 boy, but with planning on picking up Sd17 RG Williams at the Dolpa, I'm not 100 percent yet, since I'll be flying.

I would be up for a massive Williams photoshoot!

 

How are those who have ordered dolls and flying getting your dolls home??? (The only times I've brought home large dolls, I've been driving not flying, thank goodness!)

 

That is a really good question April. I'm open for suggestions. Maybe I could front the money for a wonderful Den of Angel member to ship him home for me? Yeah about that, a lot was not really considered when I applied. Ha haa!

 

I didn't preorder any of the dolls but my suggestion would be to bring the doll(s) with you in carry on and then put the boxes in a suitcase in check in or get a cardboard shipper and check the cardboard shipper in. Or ship everything home.

 

Just in case, I'd ask Volks if they could bring some shippers for people who might need to ship their dolls. You could do less expensive shipping that still had tracking, maybe (or just over-night it). I'd kind of hesitate to put a doll in a shipper through checked luggage--BUT--that could be an option--for $25-35 for extra checked luggage, it's not a bad option, and although they throw that stuff around, it might not be any worse than how any shipping co. treats their boxes!

The suggestion of folding down the box and carrying the doll... maybe--but you know how flying is these days! They don't really like you having a loose doll, even small ones. And the flat boxes are still a large size that probably won't fit in a carry-on or checked bag (but maybe checked, if tall and thin enough). Possible to ship the boxes and pack your doll... The big dolls take up a LOT of space, but you can check them and pad with all your clothes IF you trust the airline not to lose your bags! (used to be BIG risk losing checked bags, but it seems sort of OK now). If you can unstring your doll or pad the joints and have them folded in a seated position, they MIGHT be able to fit into carry-on, which is safer (if you keep your eyes on your bags!). Smaller dolls--MUCH less of a problem--but you still need to worry about padded joints (or pieces) well, and whether things fit in luggage or not... Boxes are still a problem. Shipping for the box alone is a good option.

And I'm sure people will help you out! We all know the crazy things we need to deal with with BJD! So I'm sure it will work out. But make sure to anticipate it all! Also-- many hotels have shipping services (if they take care of business travelers). And the area is close to a lot of post offices and shipping services.

Traveling to the con with your own dolls, too!!! Bringing big dolls can by air can be difficult. (I've checked in a Iplehouse EID in my suitcase for one trip... he took up nearly the entire suitcase! And I feared losing the bag both ways! I'm not sure I'd do that again... But more SD size in carry-ons are possible, and smaller--SO much easier. I wouldn't hand-carry--because too much opportunities to get damaged!)

 

@april Good idea on emailing Volks on shipper boxes! I'm sure the hotel will also know the closest USPS location.

I found that I am able to bring 2 to 4 dolls in carry on with a legal sized carry on. I can bring 2 SD17 boys in one legal sized roller without disassembling plus a YoSD. They get wrapped and end up in a kneeling position - they look like ying and yang. I also have disassembled dolls and individually bubble wrapped pieces. I guess it depends types of things you bring in carry on besides dolls. I also usually travel (check in bag) with extra bubble wrap, scissors and tape.

I think some large suitcases are able to put an SD or SD17 box inside without flattening the boxes down. I've done it once.

I'm also a huge fan of just shipping dolls/boxes too! Why drag it to the airport if you don't have to?

 

Thank you Pris84, and April for all your wonderful suggestions! I am definitely anticipating it all and making a game plan now that it's official that Volks has accepted my application into the tea party.

I have not paid yet. Still awaiting the invoice. I absolutely love this forum and the friendly passionate members here. It looks like I have found a member willing to help me out with shipping my Dolpa bjd since they are driving and I am flying.

 

A Williams photo shoot would be awesome. I'm thinking of bring my yo-midi Williams and Resiner in a separate hard case carry-on and checking my luggage. Hopefully, sd17 Williams will fit in with the for the trip home. If not hopefully there will be shipper boxes available.

 

My number is 097Y, so maybe the other person got 097C?

 

Got my winning email....yeh....

 

lol Missed opportunity!

I would love to do a Williams group photo shoot, as well as one for the minis. I'll be bringing home both Williams and Yo-Midi Williams.

I've only got one Volks doll, so it'll just be me and Mr. Nobody, and my sister taking an uber there.

 

I only have one Volks doll, so I will bring my Kiriko. He came with an eye patch, so it shouldn't be too difficult to toss together a pirate outfit for him. And doll swap/sale/trade sounds great!

 

I am definitely up for a swap meet the night before. It's a great opportunity for more conversation than we actually get to have during the Tea Party, and the things I'll have for sale take up almost no luggage space.