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

[Missing20K]

Those same scientists report finding a cure for cancer and will be able to eradicate all cancer starting within a year.....

 

[JohnD]

When the defined contributions plan was offered back in the early 2000s, I ran the numbers and said no. I was getting too close to my 30 years and didn't want to take the risk, as I was going to go into the DROP. I had to do so by 57 years of age, as I would reach 30 years of service first and not turning 62.

My first job in state government was with the Governor's Office in 2002. That's the inaugural year of the defined contributions (investment) plan. Who knew I would still be with the state in a state agency 18 years later? So, now I'm giving serious consideration to making my 2nd election to the defined benefits (pension) plan.

 

[Parker in NYC]

My BIL retired just before the Crash of 87, and his portfolio recovered. He survived the Crash of 2000, and his portfolio recovered. He survived the recession of 2008, and his portfolio recovered. He may not have time to recover from this one, but that just means his children will have a smaller inheritance.

By recovered, I mean that his retirement account not only went back to where it started, but also made gains. I have a Mutual Fund that I started around 1990 that is worth 6x as much now - it did go way down with each market drop, but recovered.

It is still scary to see your account balance keep dropping - even though you've been through it before.

Thanks for addressing this, @The Mom . I don't know anything about the market and was just going from what my father was telling me (in drips and drabs). I'm getting a better understanding now.

 

[The Mom]

Well, the whole retirement investment conversation was interesting, and I am also guilty of continuing the drift off topic, so does anyone have any further info about any US Disney cutbacks, etc?

 

[Parker in NYC]

Please let us know when he cashes out of the market and switches to gold and bullets.

I should never have opened my mouth this thread today. But if it provided some entertainment, not a complete loss.

 

[Coaster Lover]

Hearing Tokyo is closing down as well now starting tomorrow through (at least) mid-March. That means for at least two weeks, 1/3 of all Disney (dry) parks worldwide will be closed.

 

[larryz]

Those same scientists report finding a cure for cancer and will be able to eradicate all cancer starting within a year.....

The article I saw said they were about to begin a several-year human trials period.

And the basis of the MiGal group's optimism on the coronavirus vaccine is direct work on other coronaviruses... so if they can fast-track a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, I'd say it will lessen the impact on US parks and speed re-opening of closed Asian parks (to keep this comment on topic).

 

[Andrew C]

And the basis of their optimism on the coronavirus vaccine is direct work on other coronaviruses...

yep...essentially, they did not have to start from scratch. Issue is...trials take forever so any vaccine will likely have no affect on this particular outbreak. But if they can prevent future outbreaks...that would be awesome...

 

[durangojim]

Well, I've seen 9 cases of confirmed cases of influenza since this morning so why the heck aren't the markets worried about that instead?

 

[britain]

Well, I've seen 9 cases of confirmed cases of influenza since this morning so why the heck aren't the markets worried about that instead?

Because society (in general) already gets their flu shots on a regular basis.

 

[durangojim]

Because society (in general) already gets their flu shots on a regular basis.

It's too bad this years immunization was quite ineffective.

 

[Missing20K]

It's too bad this years immunization was quite ineffective.

Would you still recommend getting a flu vaccine each season?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Would you still recommend getting a flu vaccine each season?

 

[LAKid53]

It's too bad this years immunization was quite ineffective.

From what I read on the CDC's website, part of the issue with the shot's efficacy earlier in the season was that the vaccine wasn't effective in preventing infection from the prevalent strain at the time, B/Victoria. But is effective against H1N1, which is the dominant strain at this time.

 

[Piebald]

I don't recall world wide economies drastically being impacted from the previous illnesses.

Social media and how news gets around is playing a huge role in that IMO

 

[Jrn14]

I'm sensing Paris closure within three days.

 

[Piebald]

I'm sensing Paris closure within three days.

Do you have inside info or just assuming that'll happen? I'd be shocked to see it come to that. The Asian parks make sense as they're at the mercy of the respective governments/majority ownership. Japan especially is just being very careful with this because them losing the Olympics will be catastrophic from a societal standpoint as well as economically.

 

[Jrn14]

Just a gut feeling The government in Switzerland has banned any events with more than 1,000 people...I'm expecting the numbers in Germany and France to continue to grow significantly. I know absolutely nothing... I just have a feeling (take everything I say with a grain of salt)

 

[WDW Pro]

Just a gut feeling The government in Switzerland has banned any events with more than 1,000 people...I'm expecting the numbers in Germany and France to continue to grow significantly. I know absolutely nothing... I just have a feeling (take everything I say with a grain of salt)

I'm told Chapek is in meetings this weekend about potential Paris closures. It's not there yet, but it could be forced by the French government or even the EU in the days to come (if crowd sizes become part of government mandates). Disney is particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak due to its public entertainment nature; the damage to the company cannot be overstated given that it makes its largest revenues on theme parks and movies. While you shouldn't panic due to the coronavirus, Disney as a company could take major financial hits over the next few months.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Just a gut feeling The government in Switzerland has banned any events with more than 1,000 people...I'm expecting the numbers in Germany and France to continue to grow significantly. I know absolutely nothing... I just have a feeling (take everything I say with a grain of salt)

Did your gut tell you that after reading about the cancellation of the Geneva Car Show for that very reason?