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

Who told you those bags carry only one doll? Depends on how good at packing you are! I most often use a cylinder-shaped 63cm Iplehouse bag, which looks like it's intended for 1, but I can fit 3 tallboys in there. (Well, if they're Volks, then 2 tallboys + 1 mini. ^^) I'd really recommend making the investment in a carrier-bag, with straps & pillows & handles & compartments: It makes travelling a no-brainer. Especially with multiple dolls, and accessories to worry about.

Nest multiple dolls head-to-tail like sardines, layer of bubblewrap between each. Strap 'em in nice & securely. Use pillows or padding on front & back; bubblewrap the hands & feet securely. Use bubblewrap + face-bubble over the face. Mummify entire doll in bubblewrap or cloth if desired. Hairnet over the wig if desired (or just take hair off).

I've flown across the country twice with the Iplehouse bag, and it fits perfectly in the overhead bins-- it'll just fit lengthwise so it won't take up much space. Or if the bin is full, the bag is narrow & tubular, so it'll also fit sideways across some narrow spaces. I count it as my carry-on (overhead bin), & then I still get to carry my messenger-bag as my purse (under seat).


But: If your dolls will fit into a wheelie suitcase or hardshell case, so much the better (more standard shape)! My tall 60+ boys won't fit inside a carry-on-sized wheelie suitcase, so the tubular carrier-bag is great. I swear by it.

Naah, leave the doll at home! Or if you absolutely must bring her, leave her in your hotel room (or wherever you're sleeping). At reunion events, guhhh.... there's always food around. And sticky-handed children. And crowds. And other doll-unfriendly things. Besides, drunken second-cousins-twice-removed have a way of accidentally spilling things and/or abusing your belongings. >_<

 

Has anybody tried traveling with their doll on a motorcycle or bicycle? Any suggestions? I'm trying to figure out if my doll would be safer in a backpack or in the top case of my bike. Either way she'll be in for a bumpy ride.

 

That's awful, not to mention illegal. Airport security staff are no substitute for the real police. Until they produce a legal warrant badge, they cannot seize your stuff.

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps there was a security tip off about this guy and his computer? They can track internet criminals quite easily these days...but they can't remove your things without a solid reason, and you can sue for a great deal if they contravene this.

I bought a yoga mat bag specifically for doll carrying purposes (it was £10, so I guess around $20?) My MSDs go in top-to-toe and fit quite well, even with my girl's huge platform boots on. With more padding I expect it will be a snug, but secure fit for long journeys, but as it is I think it's a secure enough way to transport my dolls short distances.

 

Also, if someone wants a really cheap, sturdy rolling bag, I just swung by Garden Ridge-they had one that looked like it would fit a bunch of standing MSDs (so sitting SDs) for $14. Hard side, rolling wheels and everything.

 

garden ridge? maybe it was one of those rolling scrapbooking bags? I saw some of those at hobby lobby but wasn't sure how well they'd work. I'll probably look into that.

 

Wow, I'm glad this thread is here. I got some great ideas. Bringing my girl home from Florida after Christmas was sort of a hassle. I just carried the gigantic, bright orange Luts box on the plane. It had to go in the overhead compartment BEHIND me and getting out was a pain: everyone stands up immediately because they're in some huge rush to get off the plane, and meanwhile I'm like, "Wait! Wait! That's mine! Ahhhh!" and I think I hit some guy in the head in the process. TT_TT This year I put her in my packed luggage, which was pretty much a gamble. I had her smushed between the two cushions with her face protector on, then wrapped tightly in a thick fleece blanket, and packed in with clothes in a suitcase. I didn't have a problem with it, but after reading this thread, I'm thinking of getting a doll carrier. ESPECIALLY because I will be getting another doll soon.

 

No, it was a suitcase. I have rolling scrapbooking bags too, but this was not one of those. It was an honest to God suitcase.

On that note, I got one. It's in my trunk right now, actually. My MNF boy, with his boots on, has to bend his knees a little-but it's wonderful! There are three 'grooves' in the bag (where the handles go down into it, and raise up two points) and they're JUST the right size for a doll to fit into. There are also elastic straps, and it looks like you could fit MSDs in there at least two deep. The one I got was one of the $20 ones, and it's made to fit into most airlines' carry on measurements. There were also duffel bag style ones for $10 and $15, depending on the size, but the sides of those weren't stiff enough for my liking.

 

Though it was not out of country i had rather an interesting situation happen last night at my local mall. I commonly carry my doll around in a padded video camera bag and no one is the wiser to the fact that i am carrying her. I walked into a Halloween store and saw a sign asking patrons to check their bags at the counter. I walked up and asked the lady if i needed to check my bag and she said "yes" so i said "That is fine i will remove one thing from my bag though." she gave me a puzzled look and was considering refusing my request, I leaned over and whispered "what is in my bag is worth x amount of dollars" Her eyes went big and i put my bag down opened it and took out my doll. You should have seen the look on her face! Shock, horror and for a moment the thought flashed across her face, "is that a real baby?" she backed up several feet, as i adjusted my dolls feet back to normal. She then realized it was a doll was curious and we talked about them for a few minutes before she insisted that i put her back in my bag and she insisted that i was okay to carry my doll and bag around the store! i thought it was kind of funny but in the future i will remove my doll before i walk into the store and hand them my bag and carry her around. hehe! since i know i will be going back. I know why they have the rule and it does not bother me to check my bag, i just did not want to take the chance her and the other cashier would not step on, kick or loose my bag behind their cramped register with the other bags on the floor. were anyone can walk up bend down and grab multiple bags and be gone before they even notice. kind of weird eh?!

 

Quick question!

In US domestic flight you are allowed 2 carry ons. Can I do 2 carry ons and a doll carrier or 2 carry ones and carry the doll in my arms? I know you can have 2 carry ons and a laptop bag because that's considered "special" but I wonder if the same applies to dolls.

I'm trying to get me and my doll AND my laptop back home from college, I'm wondering how to juggle this as I have a doll, a laptop, a backpack, and a small rolling carry one.

Thankies~

 

Count your doll-carrier as 1 carry-on bag.
Then you get to have your second bag or purse.

Lately all the flights I've been on have only allowed 1 carry-on + 1 purse or laptop... For some reason, yes, they do consider purses & laptops different from "carry-ons". And with the cost of checked luggage now ($15-$25 to put your freaking belongings under a plane you just paid $400 to ride in?), things just keep getting tighter.

 

Same here... It's been one carry on + one hand-held "personal item" on just about every flight. I put my laptop and such in my carry-on courier bag and then hand-carry Harumatsu (my Shiwoo). So far no one has had a problem with that.

'Like I said up-thread, they don't even make me put him under the seat during take offs or landings. Which is good, since I always put my courier bag under there. I don't trust putting my laptop in the overhead.

 

I have a very small suitcase that I use for my carry on. Its nice because it's rigid, so I don't have to worry about my doll or dolls getting squished during travel.
Funny thing happened last time I traveled though XD I brought my three msds with me, all packed into that one carry on, and when it went through the check, the guy at the little x-ray screen or whatever stopped it right on my bag ( I could tell because i'd been watching him closing. I just knew he had to react to that, lol). It was so freaking hilarious. He got all googly-eyed and called over another security guard and she was like "WTF o_O!". They let it go through though, and I was trying hard not to laugh my ass off XD I can't imagine what they must have thought at seeing three tiny bodies in my bag!!! XD

 

I havent travelled with my girl or (or newly bought but dont have yet) boy and id pack them into a custom bag. id also carry them on if possible depending i was taking with me as well.

 

My yoga mat bag worked really well when I did a dummy run today. I put on my boy's face protector, wrapped him in a sarong, then put him in the bag, his head in one corner and stiffened the bag beneath his feet with scarves. It was secure and safe, and it rained today too and the bag is waterproof

I got some strange looks because no one here does yoga either, and I bought a red leather one because I wanted my bag to be so conspicuous I would notice it if someone tried to steal it, or someone would notice it before they sat on it or stood on it.

 

i have to travel to sydney in december for BJDOZCON and i need to take a fair few dolls with me.
any ideas what would be a good bag to carry them all in as i want to take them as carry on luggage but because of restrictions am not sure wat bags would be good.

i have a DOC, a B&G Sapphira, a yo-SD and a puki and will be getting a DOI. also my mum has to carry 2 SD's

any ideas????

 

I just flew to atlanta. The best thing I found was to use a carry on suitcase with wheels, as doll cases do not fit within airline size restrictions. I had my SD wrapped in his pillow, had him sit up in the carry on suitcase and he fit fine with room for more dolls to fit in. I'd say you can fit one SD and then a MSD and a tiny in without a problem, two SD's probably won't both fit in one carry on piece of luggage. The dimensions for carry on luggage for air travel is must not exceed 22"x14"x9"

 

If you can't find a carry bag that will fit all your dolls...or one that will fit both of your mom's SD dolls...you might have to un-string the largest of them to pack in pieces to be re-strung once you get there...

 

When going to the UK from the US I disassembled some of them, wrapping the parts in bubble wrap and placed them in my carry on. The three of them together weighed 15lbs! The only thing which happened was airport security putting them through the scanner twice. After that no problems. Oh and if it helps this was two 70cm dolls and one 45cm.

 

Ohwow. Points for you. xDDDD

Haven't had the opportunity to hop on a plane since I've gotten dolls, but I did take Alec with me to NYC for three days on a charter bus full of hyperactive high-school theatre students. Lugged him around everywhere (shows, even) in my flimsy little Tintin backpack-purse, and he was fine. I also kept him in my lap on a long road trip last summer to visit colleges. He got to hold the snack supplies. xD

Basically, so long as you're careful, you should be fine. *nodnod*

 

I have travelled to numerous countries over last few years and ive never been stopped with my dolls, ive taken MSD's/YoSD's and also SD's as carry on luggage in their bags, theonly time I did something different, was when I was taking more than one SD, so took the head of one and took the doll apart, wrapped and put body in luggage for hold and brought the head with other dolls in carry on and that was because of weight not the size of the SD bag