News Expect closure of Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland to impact Walt Disney World

WDW Pro

Well-Known Member
This afternoon the CDC posted an "Alert level 2" for travel to Japan and South Korea, indicating special precautions should be taken for high risk individuals.


With the outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, Iran, etc, many companies are bracing for significant economic impact. It is important that the disease not spread in the United States, as right now the world economy is being buoyed by America's growth in the face of the pandemic.
 

techgeek

Well-Known Member
With the outbreaks in Italy, South Korea, Iran, etc, many companies are bracing for significant economic impact. It is important that the disease not spread in the United States, as right now the world economy is being buoyed by America's growth in the face of the pandemic.

As someone that has been following this story since the very beginning, I personally believe it’s only a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ we see significant spread in the States. There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to the scope of impact of that though, and the extremity of measures that may be deemed necessary to react to it on local or national levels.

The CDC has actually said as much in their telebriefing on Friday. Here’s the full text, but I’ll pull out a few lines:

We’re not seeing spread here in the United States yet, but it is possible, even likely, that it may eventually happen. Our goal continues to be slowing the introduction of the virus into the U.S. This buys us more time to prepare our communities for more cases and possibly sustained spread. This new virus represents a tremendous public health threat.
...
if you’re watching the news, you may be hearing about schools shutting down and businesses closing in countries in Asia to reduce the potential spread of this virus. The day may come where we need to implement such measures in the U.S. communities.


Italy, South Korea, and Japan are essentially a wake up call that localized outbreaks are possible almost anywhere at this point. Without being alarmist, ‘anywhere’ includes Anaheim and Orlando. At this point businesses and individuals should absolutely start preparing for that possibility.
 

Nubs70

Well-Known Member
As someone that has been following this story since the very beginning, I personally believe it’s only a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ we see significant spread in the States. There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to the scope of impact of that though, and the extremity of measures that may be deemed necessary to react to it on local or national levels.

The CDC has actually said as much in their telebriefing on Friday. Here’s the full text, but I’ll pull out a few lines:




Italy, South Korea, and Japan are essentially a wake up call that localized outbreaks are possible almost anywhere at this point. Without being alarmist, ‘anywhere’ includes Anaheim and Orlando. At this point businesses and individuals should absolutely start preparing for that possibility.
The biggest issue I see is being asymptomatic and contagious combined with unreliable testing.

I see confirmation of supply chains being AFU in about 7 days.
 

Josh Hendy

Well-Known Member
Besides the personal health danger, I believe that a financial recession is now "baked in" to the near future. China's economy is 80-90% shut down and there is not a single sector of any industry in any country that is not dependent on China as a supplier or customer. Directly or indirectly, from hi tech to low tech. There will be bailouts galore for billionaires, banks, hedge funds and govts carrying too much debt but ordinary folks with credit card debt, auto loans, etc are vulnerable IMHO.
 

Touchdown

Well-Known Member
The only thing that might save the worsening spread is if this coronavirus still acts like most respiratory viruses and goes dormant in May. It would allow the world 4-5 months to come up with treatment/vaccine before it reactivates in the fall.
 

celluloid

Well-Known Member
As of today, the China Parks, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong DIsneyland have been closed for more than 30 days, including some of their resorts and shopping districts.
 

seascape

Well-Known Member
As of today, the China Parks, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong DIsneyland have been closed for more than 30 days, including some of their resorts and shopping districts.
China will need to take some action soon to help Disney and Universal with their themeparks and movies. Besides the themeparks, it is important to remember both companies make a significant amount of filming in China. The best and easiest step China can make quickly and won't cost too much is let both companies start their streaming services. I know that Universal Universal Beijing is not open yet but with Covid19 hitting Beijing, it is likely to cause th he opening to be delayed even though Universal issued a press release it is on time.
 

WDW Pro

Well-Known Member
As of today, the China Parks, Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong DIsneyland have been closed for more than 30 days, including some of their resorts and shopping districts.

And there is extreme concern that if the recent outbreak in Italy reaches France... Paris could be shut down as well. There are several industries hit hardest by potential pandemic situations, and public entertainment is definitely one of those. At this point, the company is planning for the absolute worst: if American parks eventually need to be shut down. The chances of that are extremely low, but if it occurs it would be devastating. The loss of all theaters in China, and almost all in Asia, is already becoming a significant monetary issue.
 

monothingie

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop
Premium Member
And there is extreme concern that if the recent outbreak in Italy reaches France... Paris could be shut down as well. There are several industries hit hardest by potential pandemic situations, and public entertainment is definitely one of those. At this point, the company is planning for the absolute worst: if American parks eventually need to be shut down. The chances of that are extremely low, but if it occurs it would be devastating. The loss of all theaters in China, and almost all in Asia, is already becoming a significant monetary issue.

Meanwhile in the US, the flu has already caused an estimated 26 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

techgeek

Well-Known Member
And there is extreme concern that if the recent outbreak in Italy reaches France... Paris could be shut down as well. There are several industries hit hardest by potential pandemic situations, and public entertainment is definitely one of those. At this point, the company is planning for the absolute worst: if American parks eventually need to be shut down. The chances of that are extremely low, but if it occurs it would be devastating. The loss of all theaters in China, and almost all in Asia, is already becoming a significant monetary issue.

Even if a full shutdown of the American parks is avoided, it’s becoming obvious there will likely be widespread impacts to travel. At what point do people begin cancelling trips?
 

techgeek

Well-Known Member
Meanwhile in the US, the flu has already caused an estimated 26 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I am not entirely sure why people keep making this comparison. The Covid-19 virus has its own characteristics that may not follow those of a typical flu season.
 


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