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

well , when I am out with olls, I usually only birng one so I can take proper care of it . I love my dolls verry much , and I pay allot of attention to them while out and they are allways in my hands or on my lap , but I also sometimes use the method Ice Mutt mentioned when I have the doll(s) in a bag.

 

I honestly don't understand how you lose a doll. Unless you don't pay attention to it and it gets stolen, which would be your own fault.
I understand how you might lose a tiny doll, but still, people need to keep their possessions in check, especially when they are costly. The best way not to lose it is either not bring it, or lock your bag.

 

I was at a meet at a mall, in line behind another who purchased something in the Sanrio store. She set her Catsy down to pay and walked off...Since I was behind her, I grabbed the doll and found her. She was in tears when she realized what happened.

Now bigger dolls? Unless they're stolen it is kind of hard to lose them.

 

1. Don't let them out of your sight.

Seriously... if you are going to be distracted by ANYTHING, even for a second... and are out in public with your doll... keep them in your lap or somewhere where no one can even touch them without you knowing. As happened with the friend of the OP... people can leave a case or doll for a minute and it will be gone! Even sitting somewhere, thieves can take bags and cases from under, beside and from the backs of chairs. The suggestion that you have a strap or string connecting you with the bag is a good one! Anyone who has left a purse somewhere (and this happens), knows how easy it is and how BAD that can be if it is stolen! Same with dolls. People will steal anything that they can get away with. Remember that, and don't make it easier for them...

2. With Tinies and items... Make sure you have a bag that can be securely closed--like a zipper--so nothing can fall out.

If you are in an area with pick-pockets and in a crowded place like a bus or train... make sure you can see or feel it if someone tries to open the zipper. Or put some sort of lock or closure on EVERYTHING that can be opened and have stuff fall out or be stolen. Seriously--you need to know your surroundings and guard valuables... your wallet and your dolls, etc.

3. On a plane--do not put your dolls in check-in baggage if at all possible.

Carry them on. Do not take them in and out of the bags--it's easy to lose things in the cramped airplane. It would probably be better to ship your dolls somewhere rather than check them in in suitcases... Security checks will have those opened and things may get lost or broken. And people have lost whole suitcases or things out of suitcases ALL THE TIME.

4. Going to meetups in public places-- do not bring a lot of dolls or items that can fall off or get lost easily.

Only bring a ton of dolls and stuff to meetups where you know all the people and where if something is left behind, it can be found and returned to you-- like private houses or rooms where the hosts will check for things like that before closing up.

5. Don't leave dolls in cars.

Cars are broken into or stolen a lot in certain areas.

6. Don't leave dolls out in hotel rooms.

Rooms have safes for guests because stuff is stolen from rooms all the time. Don't tempt people by leaving your things lying out in the open. Have a suitcase that you can lock up, if you are really concerned (and it IS a concern)... but at least keep stuff put away in cases that you don't want stolen. This goes for money and laptops and cameras and electronics, too... don't have them just lying about.

7. Don't JUST rely on others.

Friends and other doll-owners will be watchful because they know about BJDs. But don't rely on them--your stuff and your doll are your responsibility. If someone knocks into your doll and it falls... It's partially your fault for having it in a place where someone can knock into it!

8. If you think it's too much trouble to worry about all this stuff... don't bring your doll out in public.

That's the easy answer. Otherwise... you have to always be careful and watchful--even if it spoils the fun a bit. Or just be prepared to have the risk of some bad things happening. I know it's a risk whenever I move my dolls around... or bring them out... they can be damaged or lost or stolen, no matter how careful you are... You just have to be as aware of what can happen as possible and still risk some things if you want (I'll risk things happening because I want to interact with my dolls a lot... I don't want them safe at all costs and staying in a box locked away all the time.) Bad things happen no matter what you do... but just make sure you do what you can so MOST things won't go wrong... Like the OP's friend, who accidentally left his doll and case somewhere! That's VERY easy to do when you're in a group and doing things... We just have to make sure we watch out for our dolls--and for our friends things, too, even when there are crowds and distraction, and it can prevent a lot of things from going wrong. I've had people who kept their eyes out for my things and saved me from losing them... Even the most careful person can have that happen...

 

I am flying out saturday for our new temporary home and was looking through here for tips on how to pack my big 70 CM Resinsoul boy (my Grandmother doesnt want me to have him sitting out on my lap...shes a bit weirded out by him ><) I think I am going to warp him really well and buy a purse big enough for him to fit in (I dont own a case) I thought I was going to have the problem of carrying him and his wife but she will be riding up on a train with my fiancee later. Does anyone know if United Airlines (US based Airline company) Counts a backpack as a "purse" ?

 

I'm going to be flying to Japan in the next few weeks and I want to take my Yosd Kanon with me, but my boyfriend does.not.want. me to. I thought it would be fine initially, but now his paranoia is rubbing off on me. She will be traveling in a Soom pillow in my purse. Any suggestions?

 

Skittlez22 - Most airlines allow you to have one purse and one carry on. Normally this would be a purse and a small suitcase. I've taken trips where I've used my backpack as a "purse" and nobody said anything. United Airlines' carry on luggage page has more information.

 

I'm traveling to Europe with my family, specifically to Switzerland, France and Italy. I really want to bring Shiori, my Volks SD Sara, but I'm torn. It'll be my first time in Europe, and I'm not sure how she'll fare through airport security and such. I'll be carrying her in a yoga mat bag, if ever. My mother is concerned that it might raise suspicion that I'm sneaking drugs into the country or something.

While part of me tells me to leave her behind and see how I personally fare through Europe, another part of me wants to bring me with her for a personal, sentimental reason.

I guess, when it comes right down to it, I'm concerned with the different culture and possibly culture shock. I've read the old threads about traveling with your dolls, but if anyone can tell me about how BJDs fare through Europe or these specific countries, particularly in airport security and the trains, and anything else I may need to know, I'd really appreciate it.

 

Well, I'm from Europe - Bavaria, to be exact - and I've been travelling with my doll(s) quite some time. You say you will carry her in a bag. As far as trains go, there shouldn't be any problem. I've been taking a doll home (in a doll-carrier) quite some times, using the train. The biggest problem you'll probably come across there is where to store the doll. I don't know about other countries but here in Germany, trains can be quite cramped when you carry a lot of luggage. There's simply not enough space to put all your stuff. -.-

I never took a doll with me on a plane but when I returned from New Zealand/Australia several years ago, I had bought a Lord of the Rings elf bust that I was carrying in my carry-on luggage. They put the luggage through security check in Australia and then, we all had a good laugh (security personnel and me) about me "kidnapping an elf and don't you hear him scream for help?" *gg*

I don't know about Philipin airport security but I guess they should be able to see that it's a doll you're carrying in your bag. Maybe you'll have to open the bag to show them the doll or so they can take a closer look at what else you got in the bag. I can't imagine it would be a problem at German airports. I've been flying out of Munich airport several times and the security personnel there seemed to be quite smart enough to realize a doll's no danger. They might think it strange or odd or even interesting but I guess that's all.

As for BJDs in Europe in general, well, it's not a very wide-spread hobby. So if you plan on taking Shiori out in public, be prepared for looks, maybe questions and some people might want to take a pic of you, your doll or the two of you together. So far, the reactions I got on my doll(s) were of the "gee, how interesting" kind.

Hope this helps!

 

I've only traveled with my BJDs between college and home so far (which is only a 3-hour car ride), but I'll be graduating next month and traveling farther away to visit my boyfriend for a couple of weeks. This will be the first time I'll travel by plane with a BJD (a mnf), but I'm not too worried as I will be keeping her carefully in my purse for most of my traveling (with a facemask, of course).

 

I've just come back from the Bahamas and I took my tiny, Haniel, with me. I made him a carry pillow and because he is a tiny, he fit in my purse. I had no trouble at either Customs stops and got some great vacation shots of him on the beach and enjoying the local scenery.

 

my husband tells me to leave my JID, Kloey home when I wanna go traveling (mainly just a couple states away by train) but that's because where I go, there is smoke (yuck) and my family might... either damage her, or other stuff... iuno.

i say take your doll but be super careful. that's all you CAN do right? i'd hate to be anywhere without mine!

 

I've never traveled with my larger dolls by plane- just tinies because they fit into the purse easily. When I go somewhere out of state, or just a day trip, I will take the bjd's and sometimes a non bjd doll as well,depends on what type of photos I want with the dolls. I have never had any problem taking Gracie about with me.

 

Some time in the next 9-12 months I'm emigrating from the UK to Australia (Perth, to be exact) and I've been wondering how to get my dolls down under... I'm happy to take one or two with me on the flight so I have immediate dollage in the new place, but I can't decide if it would be better to put the rest in the shipping container with all my family's other belongings (there are six of us going!!) or if I should ship them individually. I'm worried about customs, as I know they open and check everything that comes in a big shipping container and I don't especially want to get charged again for my dolls, since I've already been hit pretty hard by customs on most of them here in the UK. Anyone moved to Aus able to give me advice, or anyone already there know what the best plan would be? I don't mind sending all my books, games, consoles and dvds etc in the shipping container (they're going ahead of time, by boat) but a) I don't want to pay again as I said and more importantly b) what if they get broken??

I've still got almost all of their original boxes though, so I'm sure it wouldn't be too much of a problem to ask a trusted friend or family member to look after them and ship them slowly to me over time, but if I can avoid inconveniencing someone else that would be better...... I just don't know

 

I took one of my dolls to Chicago for a short trip. We just went by car so I kept my doll in his doll carrier until we got there. I had no problems, but it was just me and my boyfriend that went. I took some of my best pictures of that doll in Chicago. I don't think I'd bring a doll on a trip involving family.
Oh, I've also took one of my girls up north (about the same distance away from Chicago for me) to my boyfriend's cabin. It was really fun, I wish I had gotten more pictures.

I usually travel by car if I'm going anywhere so traveling with my dolls is less difficult for me that it would be if I took another mode of transportation.

 

I go to China every summer to visit family there, so travel has been something that I think about a lot. This thread is really helpful! ^^

Personally, I wouldn't feel safe unless I had a doll carrier, and I'd take it with me on the plane for sure. I've seen firsthand how rough the workers are in loading and unloading the luggage. The ones I saw pretty much slammed/threw the suitcases from one conveyor belt to another. D8

I'm not sure how they would treat items labelled "Fragile", but we have these huge sturdy suitcases (That can carry over 70 pounds), and we need to replace them every other trip because they get beat up, and the frames crack, and so on.

 

We made it safe to our new home, first flight he stayed in the big beach bag i carried on til i had to put it in hte overhead, i pulled him out and the res of the trip he was on ly lap ><

 

I can't wait to bring my doll with me to China! (Once I get them, that is.)

I'm a bit worried about the humidity/heat there, but I'm pretty excited about the plane trip...

13 hours of sitting on a plane is miserable, but it'll be much better with a bjd friend, I'm sure. ^^

 

I've only had the opportunity to travel with one of my dolls once so far, and that was to Japan this past summer. Nothing was mentioned about her while going through security, and everything went well overall (made for great photography opportunities and it was fun taking her to Tenshi no Sato, haha ). I'm going to take another one with me next time I travel long distance, and I'd definitely encourage anyone else to do the same.

 

I have a question @_@ should be going florida next year and by then i should have 2 dolls and a floatng head and not sure what to do with them exacly @_@ really hate the thought of leaving them alone in the house because of whereabouts i live >x< I mean i KNOW the chances of them being stole is slim but being messed up and broken if someone breaks in is pretty much on the dot x.x (yeah i had to live in the house behind a house ful of kids where their mother can't control them at all =.=) and not sure if should take them on the plane as hand luggage and change the S hooks to something plastic so don't have trouble with customs or find someone i can trust (and own dolls) to look after them while I'm away and pay them to look after them x_x wuld like to knw what others think X.x its a pain because could pack them in asuit case (would constantly panic about them being broken and stuff ) also customs only allow 15KG(if i remember correctly ^^U) of luggage unless pay extra to make it 20 KG X.x even though i won't be taking that much i dont take my whole wardrobe on holiday with me LOL