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

Or if you package them, go as far as to leave a note on them saying: "The dolls in these boxes are very fragile and expensive! If you must touch them, please be careful and do not touch the faces or the makeup will come off!" or something?

 

I would assume the giftwrapping idea would work, however i dont know if that would stop them from shaking or handling the box without care. Maybe it would be possible to wrap them carefully and put them in a box were the box can easily be looked through if you're searched and if you're allowed to, you can remove the doll from the box and show to the border patrol that there is nothing inside the doll/box that could be a hazard.​

 

My husband used to work the Canadian border (Customs & Border Protection) and his recommendation is to leave them at home.

Gift wrapped packages are considered suspicious and will be opened and examined. Also, if you tell/ask them not to touch it, they will asume it contains drugs.

If you do decide to take them, you will need to stop at the US side and register them prior to entering Canada. This is to prove that it was in the US and not purchased while in Canada, or they will make you pay duty.

 

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, every time that I have crossed the border they ask us if we have any drugs with us, so that's why I was concerned. I have had the contents of my purse emptied out, for example... and I worried about them manhandling the doll, taking off her head etc. guess I will have to think about it. I always pack my Blythes in my suitcase, and have had no issues, maybe I will take just one BJD on my lap.

 

I did that once when I had one doll with me. I took him out of his bag and held him so people could see what he was, though the people going through the car looked a bit confused by the empty doll bag with all the straps, lol. Nobody commented on the doll I was carrying, though this was back in 2005, so I don't know if things are any different now or not.

 

I'm actually in the process of slowly transporting my dolls back home as I will soon finish uni. When I travel from the UK to Thailand, I can usually fit about three dolls in one doll bag which I take as a carry-on hand luggage. I never had the problem of getting stopped by security either. When I get on the plane, I usually just put my doll in the over-head storage and as I don't sleep much on flights, I can keep watch when I need to.

 

Recently I travelled by air with two MSDs in a larger handbag. I think if you can, get a seat by the window where you can keep your doll bag on the floor by the side of the window. It's what I did both times and they were perfectly safe.

Of course they were wearing long pants and their upper bodies were wrapped in soft fleece blankets, and with their face-protectors on. And I could also carry wallet, camera and passport in the same bag.

Going through the security scanner machine, I simply said there were fragile items in my bag and requested for one of those big plastic trays they put laptops and other electronic items into before they send them through, and so I didnt have to worry about my bag getting rammed from behind by another large suitcase... And the lady in Singapore when I was departing was awesome; she called out "fragile item" to her colleague on the other side and they treated my bag really gently.

It also helps if you can get a "fragile" sticker from the customs area when you check in, and stick it on your doll bag. People are normally careful then. As for security, neither airport batted an eyelid when my kids went through the scanner.

 

Hey all. I'm about to go on a five-day trip (ugh, I leave so EARLY tomorrow) to my hometown and my dad wants to see my brand new doll. I don't have a carrying case for him, so I was wondering how everyone else totes their dolls whenever they go somewhere with them (especially when traveling by air), and if there are any good tips anyone can offer for taking them along.

Thanks!

 

umm really depends on your dolls size Ive seem people carry dolls in eye glass cases, tripod cases, yoga bags, or even just wrapped up in a purse but if you are going on a plane I would defiantly recommend taking them with you as carry on luggage. You might get some weird looks but at least your dollie will be safe and enjoy the ride!

 

I would like more info on this too... any tips for crowded places like conventions?? @.@ I don't want be taking my doll in and out of my bag all the time...

And speaking of flights... I'm not sure if this belongs here but I'm just curious, has anyone ever been stopped by security because of a doll? xD

 

Well, I flew last year. They ran Norny through the security metal detector, and I had to show them the S-hooks in his hands. This was after they were like: "What's in your bag that has a face. D:"

 

He's SD size, not too easy to just stash, unfortunately XD He went around town with me with his head sticking out of the biggest backpack I have, and he was all folded up. Probably pretty stressful on his knees, the poor thing.

Ohhh I never thought of having to take him apart or any of the details about getting him through security... shoot.

 

For air travel, I would find the closest thing to a carrying case, be it a gym bag or a musical intstrument case (After you hollowed it out, of course). Stuff it with pillows or other padding (If you kept the pillows your doll was shipped in, that works nicely). Bind the arms and legs as well. Make 'em a mummy pillow.

I recently took my two girls with me in one case when I went traveling and they're large gals (57cm and 68 cm). I kept all their pillows so I sandwiched them in it and bound up their legs and arms with the straps inside the case so they were nice and snug. I also made sure that their hands were positioned in a way that if someone bumped into their case or smushed the case in the over-head compartment with their carry-ons that there would be minimal risk of broken fingers. They've been through 4 flights and so far no broken fingers. =D

whitefrosty - I just carried around my girl all though the convention. She was the 57cm one and she wasn't any trouble at all, course I work out regularly...But yeah. No grabby-hands and since I was holding her close to my body, it was easy to make sure no one could accidentally ding her.

 

I took my two Lati yellows to Majorca. I packed them up in a little pocket in my bag with face protectors and there was no problem Take them in your hand luggage though!! I suppose having tiny dolls isn't such of an issue though :P

 

I have only ever traveled with my girl. Since she was a yo-sd, I would simple slip her in my purse and get on the plane. However, about 8 months ago, I upgraded her to an msd. I haven't tried traveling with her yet and I am not sure how I will go about it, since there is the issue with how many bags you can take on the plane and the fact that they cost a ton.

 

I've traveled quite a bit this past year, and I've taken Loki with me plenty of times. I just take him as a carry on item :] I've never had a problem with it. The security personelle didn't mind at all, and I think Loki probably had fun riding through the x-ray XD
There were security guards and staff though that stopped me to have a look at him and ask questions because they were curious lol it was cute.
I just had him in my lap for the entire trip in the plane, and then carried him out of the airport with me. So, no problems there. Depending on where I was going I'd either leave him in the hotel room (hidden away of course...because I'm paranoid) or I'd take him with me. Mostly because I'm either too afraid to leave him in the hotel, or I want to take pictures.

 

Well, for shorter trips by car, I usually put my doll in he seat beside me with a few pillows and a seat belt.. But for a plane I'd probably put her either in my lap or in a carry-on.. I wouldn't dare to trust her going through normal baggage stuff, because with my luck she'd get lost!! I don't even want to think about that!!

Also, when I go to anime cons I normally feel safe leaving her in the hotel room, but I always remember to keep the "do Not Disturb" door thingie on, so the cleaners don't come in to mess with her. (thinks"Oh what a cute doll!! Lets WINDEX HER FACE!!!" AHHH!!!!!!!!)

 

Hm... agreed for airplane trips definitely want it carry on with you in a bag. Only experience was bringing a doll back from Japan, though she was still in her original box so less worries there. So for conventions, I've considered simply sticking her inside a large backpack and having her peeking out. Might need to readjust to make sure nothing might happen to her in a crowded convention hall.

 

I recently took my MSDs with me on a cruise. No problems there. Except that I didn't take them out of the room. And of course there was no going up on deck at all - since the winds were so strong.

On the ship, I just left my doll carrier inside my luggage and locked it. So I didn't need to worry about anyone pawing through my dolls.

(Except that now I think I need to finetune my doll carrying methods. Since 1 personal bag, 1 doll carrier & 1 camera bag is over the limit for plane rides.)

But going through Hong Kong Airport on the way back, the x-ray scanner people wanted to check my bag. Apparently because of the dolls.

 

For roadtrips, they ride on my lap, plane trips in the carry-on luggage