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

It is fine to take dolls around the Disney complex. They do not mind, you can walk right through the gates cuddling them in your arms, not even needing to be in a bag or anything. We just put all our dolls in a stroller and a couple wheelchairs, lol, although I mostly carried Baron and his girlfriend safely in my arms the whole day.

Magic Kingdom is also fine, really. KeyofTwilight and I took our dolls on Pirates of the Caribbean and I just hid them inside my hoodie when it was time for the steep downhill-mild splash part. And we tromped all over Swiss Family Robinson with about ten or so dollies. If you're going on a ride that gets you wet...leave your doll with someone who doesn't want to go on the ride! That is what we did when some of us at the meetup wanted to go on the airplane ride in Epcot.

I would NOT recommend taking your doll to Sea World!!!!!!!

 

I'd never trust putting my dolls in a suit case >_o;

When I took my MSD Bee-A doll to Spain, I had her in my bag. She went through an x-ray both ways without any problems.
I had her on the plane with me in said bag.

I do worry though. I have an SD doll now which I'd have to get a VERY large bag for, plus another big guy. My doll carrier is only MSD sized, and I can only just fit both my current girls in there now. I'm not looking forward to the purchase as shipping of a bigger one x.x; We are going to America on Holiday some time soon, and then Australia later on. I WILL NOT leave my dolls at home for several reasons, including their safety considering there is no one to house sit or to keep an eye on it.

So, with two SDs and an MSD, I'm not sure how to go about a very long plane ride x.x;

 

Sal came to Germany with me, stuffed rather unceremoniously into my patrol pack (the doll carrier was too large to be considered for carry on baggage). About the only thing that happened was that the security clearance people saw her on the X-ray and took her out to ooh and aah over her (they were all women) and call over a few of their friends. I had a big laugh about it.

Sal's carrier was packed in my checked luggage, though, so I'd have something to cart her around in once I was here.

The German security people were pretty "Meh" about it. So... as long as your carry on luggage meets size restrictions I'd say that traveling with them can be pretty hassle-free.

 

I once carried ChinSeung in a sling over my shoulder on a trip to California. I recall dozing by the window, annoyed by the shifting and shuffling of the large man next to me, and so I turned ChinSeung's head to face the man while I tried to get some sleep. He... stopped shifting around quite so much after that.

This story has nothing to do with anything, really.

 

Nice to hear from someone who went to that meetup X3

lol well with a family of four there is less of a chance to have someone not want to ride something (seriously, my dad, who is the grumpiest and boring person ever is excited to go to Disneyworld...scary lol). And I love rides where I can get wet lol.

If I'm correct, Magic Kingdom is more ride-oriented than Epcot, right? b/c I"m reluctant in bringing Larue to MK...^^'

XD and I'll take your word about SeaWorld...

 

MK is more ride oriented but with the exception of maybe...Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Thunder Mountain (hmm...all the mountain rides...) I doubt any of them would jarr a doll enough to break it. Epcot doesn't have much in the way of rides...I think Mexico and Norway are the only ones that have anything, and they're basically lazy rivers. I could be missing something, but I think that's about it. Other than that, it's just the country exhibits. I think your doll would be safe at either park so long as you were careful with him.

 

Oh and I was thinking about carrying Larue in a sling backpack I have...it's sorta big (well it has to be...^^"), but they'll be secure on the rides, right?...oh...and what about rollercoasters?...probably can't ride those?

Oh, and what about Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios (I assume that will be okay, b/c I saw that you guys will have a meetup there soon)? (sorry about all the questions, I just wanna make sure which ones I really wanna bring Larue to, b/c I don't wanna bring him to all of them).

So as of now I think I'll take Larue to Epcot...I"m not too hot on MK...^^'

 

Most rides have a pocket you can stuff bags into, provided it's not too large you should be able to squeeze it in. If you're taking him to MGM I suggest you don't take him on Rockin' Rollercoaster as it goes upside down. Mt. Everest at Animal Kingdom might be a little harsh as well. Epcot is definitely the safest bet.

(I spend too much time at Disney...)

 

XD well, it's good to have feedback about it. tee hee

Well okay, I guess I'll just take Larue to Epcot then (I'll just take lots of photos of Larue at the condo I'm staying at for the other days I guess...^^').

thanks for the help! ^_^

 

... I just realized I'm taking a flight from LA to Vancouver in August and I'll have 5 very expensive, rare dolls with me (I'm babysitting them to their new owner)... ACK! I want to give her the original boxes, too, but VOLKS boxes don't fold!? I could definitely unpack all 5 SDs intto my carry on and fold up the other boxes in my large check-in suitcase. It's red with lots of FMA symbols on it... >.> Hope no one will mess with it.

Does that sound like a good plan? Yeah, I dunno how I'm gonna pack my clothes :X

 

Thanks!
I dont think my mom will let me bring him but...Im gonna ask.

 

I have to bring my Andy-doll home from Colorado to Glasgow via the plane. I'm really worried about this. First thought was to pack him carefully in my luggage, but the way they hurl bags into planes I'd be worried about him getting damaged. Also, what happens if my bag gets lost or stolen? I'd be heartbroken to loose him just after getting him.

So then I thought, hey, I could just take him in my hand luggage, but they are really strict flying in and out of the UK on one item only so he'd need to fit in my bag amoungst my other stuff, which could be a squeeze. And he'd probably be man-handled by security and have to go through the machine and over those metal rollers at the end. And other travellers could man-handle him too and he'd end up damaged that way.

So basically, has anyone flown with their BJD's before, and what did you/would you do in my situation?

 

Can you put him in an oversized purse maybe? I carried my two dolls in a carry on when I went on a trip recently and they were just fine (other than being groped by a customs officer who didn't quite know what to make of them.

One trick you might try is seperating his head and hands and packing them in a little bundle seperately to keep them safe from breakage or faceup chipping.

 

The machines that scan baggage and those rollers would not damage the resin at all. I have flown with two laptops and those are WAY sensitive and little things could go really wrong if the laptop is bounced the wrong way. I really wouldn't put him in checked luggage, cause like you said bags get tossed around a LOT and if they got lost...yeah. Perhaps with the carryon bag, you could try and limit what you pack in there and wrap him in a baby blanket so the resin wouldn't get scratched. Or you can always ask if you could just hold him in your lap for the trip.

 

First make sure he does fit in the hand luggage. Then carry him OUT of the hand luggage through security. They have bins that you can put laptops and loose items in that will protect him from the metal rollers. The X-ray machine will not hurt him. Leave the headcap off so security can see inside his head. On the other side of security put him into your hand luggage and carry him onto the plane that way.

 

I would hold mine...plain and on view. If anyone asked to touch him they'd have to ask you. Only let them touch him if they're gentle. You paid lots of money for him.

Atleast if you always have him, you always know if everything's ok or not. I mean i'm sure they would let you go like that. I've never travelled personally, with or without dolls.

The other option is to keep his packing and post him back to yourself (or a friend) packed exactly as he came through ems? He should get back right as rain like that.

 

I would personally carry my dolls in a doll carrier or a bagpack. Because I go to I am studying abroad, I have to take my dolls back and forth every time I the term ends. Don't trust leaving them in school. >_<
The onlt trouble about it is that the weird security people will want to see what is inside. Lol. They gave me really confused looks. =p Just tell them that the doll/s are for art purposes and they wont be so confused.

 

Hand him to a kid. They ain't gonna inspect a kid's doll more thoroughly than prodding it to see if it explodes, eh?

 

EksDee, they just might, we live in crazy times ~

I hope everything goes well for you on your trip.

Since I'm travelling out of Japan I wonder if it will be the same thing or if they're a bit more used to it...

 

Buy a doll carrier. Myself, I plan to buy a vintage hard-sided suitcase that fits in the carryon dimensions and mod it so I can take all four of my MSDs safely on a plane at once. But since you only have one, best just to buy a doll carrier (I like my Dream of Doll one) and stuff it with pillows, then put it under your seat. If you're really worried, wrap the head and hands secure in bubble wrap for the trip! Or take your doll out of the carrier bag as soon as the flight lets you access your stuff. If you hold your doll very securely they might not even bother to tell you to put him back for landing.