Coronavirus: Impact on Theme Parks

[cookie]

Note that with SARS there is no vaccine partially because the last outbreak dropped off so fast that trials never got past phase one before it was already over, and so most incentives to continue developing a vaccine dropped off as well. COVID-19, on the other hand, is expected to stick around for a long time.

 

[Matt N]

Also, with the amount of damage COVID-19 is doing to life as we know it for the entire world, I'd suggest that there's perhaps far more riding on a vaccine for it than there perhaps would have been in the case of past epidemics!

 

[Professor]

Also, with the amount of damage COVID-19 is doing to life as we know it for the entire world, I'd suggest that there's perhaps far more riding on a vaccine for it than there perhaps would have been in the case of past epidemics!

For sure.
What baffles me though is how many experts we have now going by the media.

I'm still a bit bemused by the whole environment thing that isn't addressed much.
The virus has been in South Africa for about as long as in The United Kingdom yet there are far fewer deaths over there and cases.
Is this only due to lack of testing? Is it (partly) due to a more prominent sunny climate? Is it (partly) due to less Vitamin D deficiency?
Sweden hasn't gone as far as lockdown as the UK either. Again far fewer cases.
Is that due to better average health and a lower BMI average for men? 27.5 vs 26.7
But Belgium has a lower average BMI than Sweden even at 26.2 but more than 3 times as many deaths per million population.
Is it more of a genetic reason? Or more down to people's average hygiene / habits and thus the amount exposure to the virus?

Really strange what is going on.

But with cases still so high in the UK and the USA I could see it being likely theme parks opening elsewhere far sooner than over here, that's for sure.

If a link between health or lack of Vitamin D etc is found and certain, I really hope this is addressed whilst we wait on a possible vaccine.

 

[Professor]

So what does that title mean? It cost the economy 40 billion? Wouldn’t that mean people would just spend that money somewhere else or later? The money doesn’t evaporate because it wasn’t spent in theme parks right now.

For some people who can they will probably be quite interested in keeping a bit more money in their saving accounts during uncertain times. Not wanting to splash out on moving to a more expensive house or buying a new car. Even though banks' near zero interest rates on savings are there to try to deter people from doing just that.

Theme parks COULD do well out of this eventually when they are allowed to open IF international travel is still muted (either by choice or restrictions) and people don't mind being in crowds.

It will also be interesting if there will be more telecommuting jobs from now on even when the pandemic is over. Again that could have an effect on the economy. Less car buying perhaps, people moving less but spending more in other areas (furniture and electronics) etc.

 

[Nicky Borrill]

They have NEVER successfully created a vaccine for any coronavirus, despite decades of effort (common cold, SARS)

And @cookie that is not entirely true, there were serious issues with the SARS vaccine.

Immunization with SARS Coronavirus Vaccines Leads to Pulmonary Immunopathology on Challenge with the SARS Virus

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) emerged in China in 2002 and spread to other countries before brought under control. Because of a concern for reemergence or a deliberate release of the SARS coronavirus, vaccine development was initiated. Evaluations of an inactivated whole...

journals.plos.org

Yes these were ‘supposedly‘ fixed before it was shelved due to the virus burning out, but we don’t know for sure as testing was never completed.

Until I start seeing successful data coming out of human trials, I’m not holding my breath for a vaccine ever... Never mind 18 months... Or 6 months for that matter!

However, it’s not all bad news... The SARS vaccine was incredibly successful at introducing antibodies, so IF the issues are ironed out I could be proved wrong... And this is one of those times where I’d be happy to be proved wrong, I WANT to be proved wrong, I’d literally jump for joy... As once we’ve got one, it can be a much easier and quicker process to adapt an existing vaccine, potentially protecting generations to come.

 

[Ben]

I wrote over one thousAND pounds, not thousands.

I never attacked workers at a bank. I've worked at a bank myself.

Point is the Bank of England has reduced interest rates to near zero yet many people do not see that reflected in mortgage payments and especially loans, mostly in their saving accounts. Never said they can't make money, I don't believe in socialism but profiteering out of a pandemic doesn't seem right.

Over one thousand pounds is still way too high for an overdraft - and isn’t how the product is meant to be used.

All products that have an interest rate tied to the base rate will have had their repayments change - they have to - it’s just the change was actually so small many didn’t see a difference in monthly payments.

None of them are ‘profiting’ from the pandemic - but of course there are plenty of industries that will - don’t see you going after the hand sanitiser or toilet roll companies for ‘profiting’.

 

[Matthew Fair]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1251309820705148930

wow! pretty extreme measures!

 

[Ethan]

Wow, sounds like a fun day out!

 

[Adventurer]

Lockdowns everywhere are not a strategy, but a panic reaction.

They didn't prepare, and didn't know what to do when the illness and deaths started to spread.
So they all decided to imprison the entire population.

Its not a that bad of an idea for a few weeks to figure things out.
But the problem is that some countries (china) had to deal with it much earlier.
But no government decided to learn from them.

Nobody is 100% safe, but the statistics do show who definitely are at risk of getting hospitalized and even dying.
The statistics say that you should be safe if your under 40, and the risk really starts to rise after 50.
Half of the deaths in the Netherlands are above 75.
Most of them are overweight and often have other illnesses.

Most people agree that it's not going away, and that (all) most people are going to get it.
With the current measurements it would mean; killing the economy for 1-2 years.

IMO the intelligent strategy would be to protect the endangered population by strict quarantine, while the rest continues their lives. But with some distancing and hygiene rules. Also getting herd immunity (if that's really possible)
This until there is a better solution like medication, vaccines, etc.

Even with the much less strict lockdown in the Netherlands; Millions will lose (have lost) their jobs and tenths of thousands of businesses are going bankrupt.
It's just not sustainable.

 

[Heth]

If indoor rides at Universal Studios are closed, there's not an awful lot left to do!

Hollywood RIP Ride Rockit?

 

[Nitefly]

Parks are just going to be a bit crap until this has all blown over. Just going to a shop for food causes enough anxiety as it currently stands.

 

[BlueSonicHD]

Parks are just going to be a bit crap until this has all blown over. Just going to a shop for food causes enough anxiety as it currently stands.

2025 season it is then ?

 

[Matthew Fair]

If indoor rides at Universal Studios are closed, there's not an awful lot left to do!

Hollywood RIP Ride Rockit?

At Studios there would only be Rip Ride Rockit and Kang and Kodos.
Island's Of Adventure does slightly better with Flight of the Hippogriff, Pteranodon Flyers, Hulk, Fearfall, One Fish Two Fish, The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride, Popeye and Storm Force Accelatron.
The big problem is that most of these rides have indoor queues so....?‍

 

[Heth]

I do not realistically think USO park would open if that were the criteria.

 

[Benenen]

Take the survey with a huge pinch of salt, I'm sure they're not actively considering some of those options.

 

[Nicky Borrill]

IMO the intelligent strategy would be to protect the endangered population by strict quarantine, while the rest continues their lives. But with some distancing and hygiene rules. Also getting herd immunity (if that's really possible)
This until there is a better solution like medication, vaccines, etc.

So the plan originally advised by UK scientists then... that was cried down by the world’s media and shown to kill 250,000 people by models which completely ignored the “shield the elderly” part!!!

It possibly relies too much on common sense for many folk in the UK, too many would break the rules on contact with the elderly, or not adhere to simple social distancing and cause the spread to be too quick... But we’ll never know now.

On the subject of the survey... If they have the resources to test everyone on entry, wouldn’t that be enough? The logistics of it blow my mind but if they can do it, then the risk on park is almost zero.

 

[Nitefly]

Take the survey with a huge pinch of salt, I'm sure they're not actively considering some of those options.

I anticipate they are finding out which options people will NOT tolerate (rather than the other way round).

 

[Benenen]

I anticipate they are finding out which options people will NOT tolerate (rather than the other way round).

This was my thinking too, it's possibly a way of justifying a closure to investors/higher ups/etc once certain restrictions are lifted. Eg 'we couldn't possibly only open outdoor rides, no one would visit'.

 

[Professor]

Over one thousand pounds is still way too high for an overdraft - and isn’t how the product is meant to be used.

Well it is what is. I've never used it or had to use it but I noticed it was there.

All products that have an interest rate tied to the base rate will have had their repayments change - they have to - it’s just the change was actually so small many didn’t see a difference in monthly payments.

I don't think this statement is necessarily true for everyone. Banks haven't always passed on BOE interest rate changes straight away on mortgages. Plenty of evidence out there. https://moneyfacts.co.uk/news/mortgages/coronavirus-impact-delays-mortgage-rate-reductions/
My worry with banks mostly stems from the fact they often are the ones supplying money to theme parks. Blackpool Pleasure Beach I know still owes millions.

None of them are ‘profiting’ from the pandemic - but of course there are plenty of industries that will - don’t see you going after the hand sanitiser or toilet roll companies for ‘profiting’.

Well actually I have stated that giving supermarkets a monopoly in this time seems unnecessary to me when a shop such as Pets at Home can manage social distancing better than my local supermarket. Other shops will have to reopen soon or end up like a Debenhams scenario for all of these. Supermarkets are also benefiting from the fact that over the last 20-25 years they have become small full retail outlets themselves (the larger ones) selling clothes, homeware products, electronics etc. If online buying and the modern day supermarket didn't exist the UK government wouldn't be able to get away with the lockdown structure as it stands for this amount of time.

 

[Ben]

Well it is what is. I've never used it or had to use it but I noticed it was there.


I don't think this statement is necessarily true for everyone. Banks haven't always passed on BOE interest rate changes straight away on mortgages. Plenty of evidence out there. https://moneyfacts.co.uk/news/mortgages/coronavirus-impact-delays-mortgage-rate-reductions/
My worry with banks mostly stems from the fact they often are the ones supplying money to theme parks. Blackpool Pleasure Beach I know still owes millions.


Well actually I have stated that giving supermarkets a monopoly in this time seems unnecessary to me when a shop such as Pets at Home can manage social distancing better than my local supermarket. Other shops will have to reopen soon or end up like a Debenhams scenario for all of these. Supermarkets are also benefiting from the fact that over the last 20-25 years they have become small full retail outlets themselves (the larger ones) selling clothes, homeware products, electronics etc. If online buying and the modern day supermarket didn't exist the UK government wouldn't be able to get away with the lockdown structure as it stands for this amount of time.

You know that link refers to new mortgages/remortgages - not existing. And states that the rate has fallen beyond the base rate reduction now, so not sure what you’re proving with that one.

Also you’ve both argued for and against supermarkets in the same paragraph - are they giants with a monopoly, or are they keeping us going through this crisis?

Pets at Home is open so yknow animals don’t die - Debenhams isn’t quite the same thing. And let’s face it, Debenhams were screwed long before this - the fact that supermarkets can sell clothes and food in this time isn’t what has caused Debenhams to close.