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

You should have no problem. I brought two of my girls with me last summer to Kansas. They were in my purse, not my carry on, which is what I'd prefer. I had them wrapped in my large purse (more carry on size, but big purses are in nowadays! so it helps a lot) and they went through the scan with no question. I was more worried over them throwing away pieces of makeup than calling out my dolls. They didn't mention a thing with them!

 

Depends on how we move, if that ever happens, they're going in the car with me, if I have to drive.

 

As a military brat that has moved everywhere I have seen all kinds of 'movers'. They steal things, break things, etc. I would carry on or ship ahead.
If you ship use lots of bubble wrap and they should be fine. You can also get tracking so you know where your dolls are.

 

My favorite carrier for my dolls is the Volks hard violin case. .straps your doll in nicely and even has a lock and key..

 

At the end of May my friend and I are planning a trip to Canada to visit our friend. We're currently trying to pull her into the hobby. However, we're flying there and I was on the wondering if anyone's actually flown with their dolls before or what you might think of doing so. What sizes would you consider taking? Carryon or check-in? I figured it would be a good topic to get some oppions on.

 

I have two times from and to Canada. I suggest you bring them in the plane with you as carry on. Personally I had a small suitcase and I had put my doll in it padded with a change of clothes(for me and her). Both time I flew, I had an Msd with me. I haven't tried a SD but I am sure it would be the same.

I wouldn't recommend check-in because accident happend and since you won't be able to make sure the bag is well cared for and not trown around. You could check in if you padded the doll reallllly well or maybe unstrung it. Also please know that in the case of lost luggage there is a maximum amount that they cover so no exspensive doll in check in.

Last time I flew to Florida, my friends had 3 sd, 1 msd and 2 puki packed in one bag that they brought on the plane.

Are you going to Anime North(Doll North)?

 

This past October was the first time I had ever taken a doll on an airplane. I had Beatrice my SD10 Mimi in my carry-on bag. She ended up getting me pulled aside for additional testing. Turns out the sillicon discs in her joints had read funny on the x-ray scan. They ended up pulling her out and swabbing her legs and arms. The TSA guy was rather amused about the whole thing. I didn't have any problems on the way home. Got through security with no problem.

 

My friend and I just got back from a trip to San Francisco, CA and while my first doll hasn't shown up yet. She took her two dolls Reno and Calibri. We had no problem they did get checked once, but the personel was nice and was very gentle. They just sat on our laps on the plane and the strange thing is it really didn't bother anyone else around us. Normally it does most people never gave them a second look.

 

Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｎｏｔ　ｔａｋｅ　ｍｙ　ｄｏｌｌｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｐｌａｎｅ　ｙｅｔ，　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｏｌｋｓ　ｃａｒｒｉｅｄ　ｂａｇｓ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｗｏｒｋ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｆｉｎｅ。　I think just have to be carefull that the doll might get damage if some other luggage hit on it. That is somehow my concern.

 

There's no problem with my 60cm dolls, since I use the bag that lets them sit up, so it's well within the size limit of carry ons, my larger dolls however is a much bigger problem. I think it would be best to bring them in pieces, I bring the most important and delicate bits as my carry on, (the head and hands) and stash the rest in the luggage.

 

Personally i haven.. but started this thread since someone who i dont know posted and say he lost his volks dollfie, in Singapore, Serangoon Nex mall.

Here is the link to his lost Mari-Chan: http://www.alafista.com/2011/03/31/help-i-lost-mari-chan/

I am also trying to help the owner find back his doll.. but please contact him if you do..

He's using his LOST DOLL as a joke for April Fools day.. http://www.alafista.com/2011/04/01/happy-april-fools-mari-chan-returns-home/




So has anyone went out and suddenly realise you lost your doll? Is there any way to prevent losing your doll?

For me i always hand held my doll.. letting her sit on my arm, and if i stop by at some cafe or places, i will place her on my lap. So i wont forget to take her along with me.

Any methods to stop losing your doll?

 

Thread about lost dolls/parts right here, active as of two days ago: http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?436810-Losing-Misplacing-Doll-Parts-or-Dolls

 

Cynthiain FlintHills, thanks for telling me i couldnt find the thread through search with the keywords lost doll. I changed the title cause i am wondering if there is anyway to prevent losing them. When we are travelling outside, be it to a near by store or meeting up with friends for a day out.

 

Maybe, when carrying a case like that, put a thread around your wrist and attach it to the case.
Here in the Netherlands, it's done with kids that get lost very often.. xD

I don't know any other way of preventing losing dolls, other than just think about your stuff when you're somewhere.

I once lost my Damiën in a restaurant, (he had a totally different color wig on that day xD) and I kinda panicked when I couldn't find him. I only later realized it was the doll my grandma was holding. xD *hugs his poor dolly*

 

Here's another great thread about traveling with dolls; lots of helpful ideas and stories there!
http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?197-Travelling-with-your-dolls-issues-ideas-etc.

 

Only absolutely foolproof way? Leave them at home - short of someone breaking in (whereupon your main concern should not be your toys) they won't get lost.

 

Bad as it may sound? The only surefire way not to lose your dolls when out (aside from leaving them home of course) is taking responsibility for that several-hundred-dollar piece of resin. Same as you take responsibility for your $300-400 cellphone (they DO, after all, cost that much when purchased off plans usually...) and same as you take responsibility for not losing the keys to your car...

You've got to remember that these aren't toys, these are collectors pieces and, when you're out with them, accessories and conversation pieces as much as your purse, wallet, laptops, cellphones, etc are. You wouldn't walk away and leave your wallet/purse on the table - why would you walk away and leave a $600 doll?

 

When taking them out, I suggest not bringing out more than you can handle, and while your doll should solely be your responsibility, while you are out with friends' dolls, do keep an eye on them too.
If you're carrying a case, I really suggest sitting with it on your lap, or touching you in such a way that when you get up, it will slide or fall off of you and alert you to it. It's an odd habit, but something I've learned from traveling is to keep a strap from whatever case wound around you when you are sitting (or attached to something that is) so you can't get up without it and someone can't walk off with it. I tend to be seated with my case straps wound around my ankle or the case across my lap, they're always touching me in some way.
As a group at a restaurant, we keep the dolls visible and together so we can't leave one behind.

 

Problem is that BJDs LOOK expensive, and they draw attention, which might not always be positive. You have to keep that doll in your line of sight 24/7. Personally I would just leave mine at home.

 

I don't carry multiple bags, so everyone goes into one bag. They get shoved properly into the bottom of that bag. That way, I don't have to try keeping track of many things.

That said, a friend of mine really did lose a doll recently in Singapore. It was a tiny, and it dropped out of her bag while she was on a public train. D8