Dolphin removing balconies

[weasel5053]

We are staying at the Dolphin and there are crews removing the balconies with angle grinders. You can feel/hear the grinding all day long. Anyone know what the goal is?

 

[weasel5053]

https://www.reddit.com/r/disneyparks/comments/wh2g6r

 

[DLgal]

Maybe they are replacing the railings? Could be a liability issue to make them safer?

 

[nancipants]

I hope they're not taking them away permanently!

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

We are staying at the Dolphin and there are crews removing the balconies with angle grinders. You can feel/hear the grinding all day long. Anyone know what the goal is?

I'd ask the front desk. I hope there are no guests in those rooms but I"m going to take a wild guess that they are booked. I'd be less than thrilled to have metal grinding noises and no balcony.

 

[Mattrg_2000]

I hope they replace them.

 

[Meglen]

They would also have to replace the doors with windows.. so untill they start doing that im gonna assume railing replacements.

 

[DLgal]

They would also have to replace the doors with windows.. so untill they start doing that im gonna assume railing replacements.

All the platforms are also still there, which makes that the most likely scenario.

 

[Mattrg_2000]

Thank goodness, I like those little balconies. Started to book that room type directly versus trying for an upgrade.

 

[SteveH]

I reached out they said they are "reimaging our hotel and balconies" but balconies are not going away permanently. Each wing will be done one at a time and during that phase balconies will not be available. Construction sounded like it's slated until September, and runs 8:30AM to 6:30PM.

I assume that if you paid for a balcony you will still get one. Figure we'll see pictures soon of the new railing soon. I do wonder if a new paint job might be coming, but I didn't ask.

 

[HopperFan]

My folks had to have their balconies on their high rise condo in FL reworked.

- They had to cover the sliding glass doors with plywood so the fact that there is nothing on those windows I'm sure there is no one staying in those rooms.

- The rails and the concrete infrastructure are two different projects, two different crews so what you can see there isn't really a nod either way.

- Marriott Swan Reserve = no balconies. Marriott Bonnet Creek = no balconies.

- Not all of the rooms at Swan & Dolphin have balconies.

Not saying they are doing anything more than new rails BUT given that most their rooms on property do not have balconies, there is likely additional liability, there is ongoing maintenance necessary and it eliminates a category making filling rooms easier .... I wouldn't be surprised if they remove them, when they are done, we will know.

 

[ezma]

I reached out they said they are "reimaging our hotel and balconies" but balconies are not going away permanently. Each wing will be done one at a time and during that phase balconies will not be available. Construction sounded like it's slated until September, and runs 8:30AM to 6:30PM.

I assume that if you paid for a balcony you will still get one. Figure we'll see pictures soon of the new railing soon. I do wonder if a new paint job might be coming, but I didn't ask.

Thanks for calling ...We love the balcony with an Ecopt fireworks view!!

 

[SteveH]

@HopperFan Good point about not being occupied. I did specifically asked if the balconies would remain, and they said "Yes, that is correct." If they were removing them I think it would take longer then a month to replace them with new windows, exterior and cutting away the railing & decking. I think it was probably just time to replace the railing - metal in humid places like that eventually needs to replaced. I guess we'll see.

@ezma you're welcome, I just shot them a quick text and got a reply in a couple minutes. I am a bit suprised there was no announcement but it also explains why some were finding the hotel was unenviable in August too.