Travelling with your dolls: issues/ideas/etc. Part I

I took Ylva with me down to Sarasota, Florida for Ringling Precollege. I don't have a doll carrier or anything, and since we drove down, there wasn't much of a travel issue. We flew back, however, so she of course came with me on the plane yesturday. There was NO WAY i'd pack her away, i carried her through the airport for the most part, but since there was room enough in my carry-on (justa backpack), my mom had me sit her in there (she fit comfortably) through security checks..after the plane was in the air i took her out and she was fine, nothing damaged or mussed, though her wig needed a quick comb-through. she stayed in my lap for the ride and the landing and the drive from the airport to home.

 

Has anybody ever taken their doll on a train before (like, one of the overnight ones?) I am not familiar with the carry on requirements of our friends at Amtrak at all>__< I've travelled once by train, from London to Glasgow, and both my roomie for the night and myself lugged all our luggage into the tiny car. Don't know if we were supposed to or not....anywho, just wondering if anybody has any train travelling stories.

 

You should get a doll carrier, you are aloud to carry on items, and trust me you don't want to put her in your luggage.
I find that its very hectic to travel with a dollfie, and not always worth it, at least, it wasn't for me.
anyways, back to what I was saying, you can make her one carry on item, then put your magazines, in the bag with your laptop along with your book.
I hope this was helpfulu.

 

Hey, so Im going to California from WI and I want to bring my BJD. However, Ill only bring her if they allow me to bring her on as a CarryOn because I just honestly dont trust.. her going through the regular stuff.

Has anyone ever, taken one of their 60cm dolls on an airplane before? If so Id truly appreciate it if you could give me some feed back about what I should do.
Thanks soo much,
Pakou

 

http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80449&highlight=airplanes
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83069&highlight=airplanes
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197&highlight=airplanes



These links will help ^^ just search Airplane with the search function and these come up

Most people carryon their dolls in a padded bag...as far as I know.

 

I haven't read through those other threads, but iirc most people either use a dollbag as a carryon or pack them really well with clothes and stuff in a suitcase.

I carried my SD13 in his box from Japan back to the US and it was a huge pain in the butt, but it was manageable. So if you don't feel like buying a carrying case or bringing an empty one with you, the box will work just fine, as long as you don't have other carryons you need your hands for.

 

awe thanks sooo much for the links *thumbsup

 

oh so it was kinda hard?? maybe i should jus leave her, but bah i wanna take pics with her over there.. im soo picky.

 

I'm always in two minds about getting a doll carrier, I know I wouldn't use it that much at all but if ever I did wanna take them out I'd have no way of doing that without one.

 

Oh my am I nervous xD
I've always been nervous going through those beepy things, and even worse when I think that someone might have slipped illegal drugs into my backpack.
So, with a doll?
Will they make me take him apart and go through the two-hour amateur method of completely restringing him and having his body tight and snappy? Will they say that the hook in his head is a 'sharp pointed object and can be used as a weapon'?

Discuss:
Past experiences, advice, precautions, packing them, and etc.
Thank you~

 

Well....there was no comment from the Honolulu Airport security when my dolls went through but there were incredulous laughs and staring at the monitor when the dolls went through the Seattle Airport security checkpoint.

I didn't have to take them apart or anything, just packed them carefully in rolling carryon with their blanket and pillows. My SA Husky, however, was wired while I was staying with a friend and I left him behind for her to ship him to me. I was a bit afraid he might be mistaken for a bomb as the wiring used was electrical wire

But you'll be fine. It'll be a bit, "What? That's it?" when you walk through screening and nothing happened.

 

Thanks so much! ^^
Chu will be so relieved when he hears this...
He doesn't trust me with stringing him xD He's such a brat.

 

Anyone thought to use a train case? They are fairly hard, also known as makeup case. I know they sell them on ebay much cheaper than doll carriers. Of course, your dolly would have to scrunch up a bit, but there would be room for their stuff around them too. Some even come with a tray on top that could be used for smaller accesories.

 

Wooh, just took my mini from Canada to US, no problem ^^ The only question asked about him: 'Is, uh, is there something in your bag?' after they x-rayed it xD
I just put his face gaurd on and sat him down on his pillow in my backpack and tucked him between my sketchbook and my magazines to makesure if someone bumped me from behind the mags and book would protect 'im.
Very fun to take them on as carry-on ^^ Easy, too.
We'll see about taking him back to Canada, but so far it's been easy carrying him around.
Well, considering he's only, like, half a pound he's pretty easy to pack around xD My friend's doll weighs almost 3lbs =O Heavy dolly.

 

I haven't read everything here. too long. but i agree with honeyedbiscuit, the girl who said her mom works at the airpot, WHOLE HEARTEDLY

not that anyone would be reading this, since it'll be lost among this swamp, but i've been on airplane more than 40 times in my life, and in one year, i had to get on the plane 12 times.

that being said, after 9-11, the security is worse, so if they see ANYTHING that seem weird to them, they'll open up your check-in bag and take everything out. they don't care if they damage it.

so. carry your doll WITH YOU to the plane. get a carry-on bag, and take it with you so you can hold onto it the entire ride. it's the safest.

also , when they check your carry-on, you can at least tell them to be careful with the face of the doll etc.

 

Hi everyone, I was a bit torn on this, and so I thought I would ask for other opinions.

Next week I'm travelling home from University on the bus, and am taking my doll, Lucy. Because of space/luggage constraints, she basically has to be packed, and I don't have room to take her box.

I'm trying to decide between wrapping her carefully and nestling her in the middle of all my clothes, so to cushion her from any potential impact. OR, since I was thinking of taking her apart and doing some body blushing over the holidays, I thought perhaps to take her apart beforehand and simply wrap each part separately in my clothes. I would keep her hands and her faceplate (she's a 43 cm Narae) with me since they're so delicate.

I'm just torn because I've never re-strung a doll before, and I'm scared that I'll regret taking her apart. Yet I'm scared she might be more prone to damage all together, since my bag will just be in the hold of the bus.

Any thoughts or advice or experiences you have would be really appreciated! Thanks!

 

Oh wow. Are you allowed a carry-on bag on the bus? Or a purse? You might consider putting her in the purse so you can keep an eye on her...

But I don't really know what to say. Personally, I would wrap her carefully and put her with the clothes, like you said (of course, there would be much usage of bubble-wrap, as well!). I've never restrung a doll myself, so I can't be sure of what I'm saying, but it sounds like a looooong, drawn out process, and I've no idea how difficult it can be.

You can try searching the threads on restringing dolls, and see if you think it's worth it or not.

Either way, good luck!

 

I'm not sure how prone to breakage the Narin resin is, but I think she would be safe with her wig removed and not wearing any clothing with hard metal pieces (Buckles, chains, other assorted metal dangly bits). Then I'd put her face cover on, wrap the whole head in bubble wrap and then wrap her hands and feet in bubble wrap. If you've got her box pillows, rubber band her in between them. If you can carry her with you, I'd definately suggest that, if not, nestled in your suitcase among your non-metal dangly bit clothes should be safe. ^_^ These things made it from Asia to us without significant mishap, after all, so they are able to take some jostling. ^_^

 

Either way will work. Dolls really aren't that difficult to restring or anything. If you ARE allowed a carry-on, I would definitely recommend having her in that, but packing her in your clothes will work just as well really.

And once you get home if you need any advice about restringing her you can always ask here. One thing I would recommend, take a soft pencil and mark L or R on all of her peices just to be sure... I don't know if Naraes are premarked or not. Some dolls are. But having those handy-dandy notations will make it easier to sort her out once you get home. Good luck and have a safe trip!