Anyone see the danger in the BLT balcony?

[Donna M]

We checked out the BLT model and loved it, I can't wait to try it out.

But, the first thing that jumped out at me was the construction of the balcony. Look at a picture and you'll see a cement structure about 18" high that supports the metal posts for the railing. The whole railing system looks to be a standard height but there will be plently of kids stepping up onto the cement to get a better look over the railing and then they are in a position to fall over the railing. I couldn't believe it.


I sure hope nothing ever happens or they modify it somehow.

 

[spiceycat]

there is more to it than that - go look at the model pictures - that is how it will look when finished.

 

[spiceycat]

see the bars in her pictures

http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php...sk=view&id=262&Itemid=65&limit=1&limitstart=3

 

[spiceycat]

there is a bottom bar really close to the cement post that I think will stop even little feet from doing this.

 

[Muhlenberg]

To me, it doesn't look much different than the current arrangement at the Contemporary. I wouldn't allow little feet out there without supervision.

 

[Donna M]

Look at the picture again. See the white cement strip? The bottom of the white section is flush with the floor. That's the part that kids can step on, then the railing section is only about 2 feet maybe 2 and a half feet higher. If you can check out the Disney pictures that show the balcony you'll get a good view of what I mean. I might not be able to describe it well enough but a six year old boy would love to check out the view better by standing on the cement.
Any railing should not have sections that permit climbing. The Contemporary has straight bars that cannot be stepped on. We were down there last week and I checked out the railings.

 

[spiceycat]

there is a bottom rail that is close enough to the cement bar that even little kids would have a problem getting their feet into it.

 

[pyrxtc]

I'm sure it is just as safe as the rest of the balconies at WDW. I would never let little ones be out there alone any way.

 

[nbodyhome]

Thanks, that is my site - I'm working on a new update now with the CR BLT included. I am scared of heights, so I'd be overprotective on any balcony if I had kids - the ones that make me the most nervous (not sure why) are on the DCL.

 

[Sammie]

Balconies as others have stated can be very dangerous if children who are want to climb, are allowed to be on them unsupervised regardless of the design.

All balconies will have chairs and probably a table, if they are going to climb, you best watch for that possibility too.

 

[fishermouse]

Balconies as others have stated can be very dangerous if children who are want to climb, are allowed to be on them unsupervised regardless of the design.

All balconies will have chairs and probably a table, if they are going to climb, you best watch for that possibility too.

So let me get this straight your suggesting that parents have to watch their children......NOW STOP THAT!

 

[Donna M]

We saw three close calls while sitting at the VWL quiet pool. First, a three year old fell off the step and went under the water while mom turned around to get the one year from dad who was standing at the edge. Then while she was pulling the three year old out the one year old went under. Dad grabbed him while mom got the three year old. After that they all got out and left the area, shaken I'm sure.
Then I look up at the lodge and see two kids, about two and six. The two year old gets her leg out between the railing, wiggling up to her hips when her big brother sees her, pulls her back, brings her into the room and closes the slider.
I couldn't believe it.

Kids are quick and accidents do happen, even with parents around! I guess that's why we have eyes in the back of our heads!

 

[Dee77]

Is there a lock at the top of the slider doors or are they all the standard middle of the door, any 3 year old can reach kind?

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I'd guess that there are very strict codes for railings and height requirements for a balcony so a kid couldn't just accidentally fall over. There is going to be a risk for a kid that's a climber regardless of how it's built unless they went floor to ceiling with a cagelike appearance.

Because it's a railing and not a concrete wall the kids won't have to climb higher to see better though. And I'd guess MOST kids that are going to be able to climb over that wall would also be tall enough to see over the railing anyway, so if a kid is climbing it wouldn't be for the view.

 

[keishashadow]

Balconies as others have stated can be very dangerous if children who are want to climb, are allowed to be on them unsupervised regardless of the design.

All balconies will have chairs and probably a table, if they are going to climb, you best watch for that possibility too.

despite always having the slider closed/locked, when my DSs were small & a balcony was encountered wherever we traveled, I'd would ask housekeeping to either remove them or drag them into the room (sure would be a tight fit in the studios)

 

[kaffinito]

What about bringing a shower curtain tension rod or something like that to a act as a high up lock for the slider? I have a climber too and he kept going on the railing at Jambo last year.

 

[lisah0711]

Disney has an army of lawyers to look out for issues like these but even an army of lawyers is not better than good old parental supervision.

 

[anna08]

Thanks to the Disboards cruise line forum, I learned ahead of time that an "adventuresome" child could push the table on the balcony to the edge, and to ask the steward to store it elsewhere. Our son took about 30 seconds to figure this out on our VWL balcony too. Thanks to everyone for suggesting this, I would not have thought of it so quickly.

 

[fishermouse]

Most people who have been to any Disney hotel can atest the sliding doors are a pain to open. "most" toddlers will have trouble with them when locked. The tension bar is a good idea and should fit in most suit cases. There are also e=inexpensive temp locks available at Lowes or home depot as well as most travel accessory stores, pretty sure Brookstone at the aitports have them.