Update on the BRAND NEW KONE Elevator Modernization @ Hyatt Regency I-Drive South Tower, Orlando, FL

Filmed in May of 2021.
Well guys, I'm sure you all recognize these elevators...Or do you?? Well, if you've watched my videos, you would know that as of last year, these now 35 year old elevators, which are likely the LAST Otis Elevonic 401 Elevators are now being fully modernized by none other than KONE with ReVolution and Innovation Prestige fixtures, and I believe these are now Alta.
Well, fast forward almost 1 year later, and 1 bank of elevators in the tower is now fully modernized and completed, and the other bank of elevators is now well underway modernization.
The New Elevators have COMPLETELY BRAND NEW Cabs, Motors, Controllers, fixtures, DOORTRACKS and basically EVERYTHING was replaced except for the outer doors (which were replaced in the lobby but are the same on the other floors). The existing elevators had MAD BS Moon fixtures and EPCO Lanterns installed by Thyssenkrupp in 2010, but they are otherwise totally original from when Otis installed the elevators in 1986.
So, now that you guys have gotten the chance to see both the BRAND NEW and the Existing Elevators here, which ones do you prefer?
I will say, as much as I don't normally like KONE Elevator Modernizations or Installations, the New Elevators look WAY NICER than the old elevators, and they're still actually pretty fun to ride! The MAD BS COPs just looked really tacky looking and didn't match the old cabs from the Series 1 era and the Old TK COPs won't be missed IMO, but the Old Elevators are still more fun to ride and have more character thanks to the original motors and controllers!!!
It is unfortunate the last original Elevonic 401 elevators in Orlando are now biting the dust and while I wish they stayed original, the New Mod is by no means bad and it does look more aesthetically pleasing than what was here before.
All in all, KONE is actually doing a pretty good job with the modernization, although the existing elevators will still be missed nonetheless. Of course, there are always grief counselors if you need them!
And with that out of the way, I hope you enjoy my first video showing off the BRAND NEW Elevators here, as well as what will probably be my final ride on the existing elevators!
Installed in 1986. (Otis Elevonic 401 with Older Series 1 fixtures)
Modernized:
1st Modernization: 2010 (New Thyssenkrupp MAD BS Moon fixtures, New call stations and New EPCO Lanterns. Cabs, motors and controllers left original, Service Elevators still retain all of their original fixtures.)
2nd Modernization/Replacement: 2020-2021 (KONE ReVolution with New Alta? Motors, New Controllers, Innovation Prestige fixtures, New lanterns, New Doortracks, etc. Only the outer doors on every floor but the lobby left as is.)

[@PNWElevatorAviation]

Aye!! PB 47!! Reminds me of one of my COP's!!

[@elevatorstrainsandmore8313]

My first time watching the old elevators.

[@TechNerdNolan]

These aren’t the old elevators

[@EvergreenElevators]

Wow, those elevators were very nicely modded! I love the lanterns and the fixtures. The Portland airport elevators were modded by Schindler in 2017-2018, and they use the same Innovation Prestige fixtures as these do, but with different brailles. They're either TXpress or 6400NA (I'm pretty sure they're 6400NA because of the newer Schindler voices they have). Anyway, these look very nice for a KONE mod, despite how cheap they can be

[@NeilPrasad_1905]

I like the KONE Voice but sadly we will miss the Elevonic 401s due to Florida being a hurricane zone :(

[@TechNerdNolan]

What does Florida being in a hurricane zone have to do with elevators being replaced

[@TheElevatorandAirplaneFinder]

Still gonna miss the old ones. They were really unique

[@FloridianElevators]

Agreed.

[@jamesc.6367]

Just rode these like a week ago while in Orlando, the modded ones were actually pretty nice! I liked em. Still like the old ones more though. But it was a good mod.

[@DylanR99]

Yep. One question, how come floor 27 was unlocked in one bank of elevators, but 27 is locked in the other bank?

[@jackx.cassway]

This is a first seeing a ThyssenKrupp elevator being modded. And also, that voice is a lot better than the previous voice.

[@FloridianElevators]

The elevators had the grandma voice a really long time ago, but they didn't have a voice as of recently prior to the new mod. Also, these were technically still Otis, the Thyssenkrupp mod was just a slap on

[@jackx.cassway]

Interesting.

[@ElevatorGuy7200]

You have to book a room on the 13th floor. Lol!

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

Why didn’t they mod this to destination dispatch like kone Polaris, Otis compass, or Schindler port

[@elevatorkid4814]

jimlielevators filmed these when they were original

[@FloridianElevators]

He sure did!

[@elevatorkid4814]

@@FloridianElevators do you like prestige

[@TechNerdNolan]

4:01 LOL

[@PlanetEscalators]

And btw yes these are Alta motors as they go 800 fpm.

[@TechNerdNolan]

These are probably MX32 motors then

[@PlanetEscalators]

@@TechNerdNolan oh

[@michaelwalterselevatorsrob5009]

Question of the day: Was getting rid of MAD BS Moon worth it? My Answer: I'll take this one but I hate to see MAD go.

[@PlanetEscalators]

I’m gonna miss the old ones. The redone cabs are nice tho. I’m also mad they downgraded the speed.

[@FloridianElevators]

I'm not 100% sure that they did downgrade the speed, but the old ones do feel faster. That said, they're not quite as smooth as the new elevators, but that gives the old ones character IMO.

[@PlanetEscalators]

@@FloridianElevators I 100% like the old ones better.

[@PlanetEscalators]

@@FloridianElevators a few good things I’ll say about the new ones are 1. They’re very fast for 27 floors 2. That clear voice is sick 3. The new cabs are well done 4. Smooth as hell

[@FloridianElevators]

@@PlanetEscalators Yeah, the old ones were more fun to ride in and more unique

[@PlanetEscalators]

@@FloridianElevators I know they were 800 but it seemed like it was 1200. It made it so much more fun & I hate that I only got 1 ride & I was rushed.

[@stuffonstuffonstuff3237]

It’s a ok mod

[@NWIndianaElevators]

I like the new KONE mod better since the TK mod was so tacky!

[@FloridianElevators]

Honestly, I wish they could've just replaced the COP again and redo the cab but leave the motor and controller and the other good parts about the previous elevators alone. Oh yeah, and also re-enable the Grandma voice. But the New ones do definitely look nicer, it's just a shame the original Otis equipment behind the scenes is gone