Disney worries SARS fears might hurt attendance

[Lanshark]

Interesting article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8052-2003Apr11.html

Would you be concerned?

Disney: SARS May Worsen Theme Parks Slump

Reuters
Friday, April 11, 2003; 1:20 PM


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fear of SARS, the pneumonia-like illness sweeping Asia, could deliver another blow to already slumping visits to Walt Disney World, No. 1 theme park operator Walt Disney Co. told securities regulators.

Burbank, California-based Disney recently cut its profit target for 2003, citing the effects of the U.S. war on Iraq and terrorism fears on travel as well as the slow economy. It said Walt Disney World in Florida, was particularly vulnerable because it attracted more visitors from foreign countries.

Disney repeated those concerns in the filing with securities regulators late on Thursday, which outlined terms and risk factors to a debt offering, and it also noted the potential for SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, to disrupt business.

"Current concerns relating to severe acute respiratory syndrome, or 'SARS,' and uncertainty surrounding the transmission of this illness, may also contribute to a reluctance to travel," Disney said.

"This tends to adversely affect our resort locations, and in particular our largest resort location, Walt Disney World, where our guests tend to travel from farther away and stay longer."

Disney's main parks are Florida's Disney World and Disneyland in California, and it has interests in parks in Paris, Tokyo and a Hong Kong park that is being built.

Asian travel has declined sharply as SARS, which has no cure so far, has infected more than 3,000 worldwide, primarily in China and Hong Kong, and killing 114.

Disney's ABC television network also faces higher costs and lower advertising due to the war on Iraq, the company said.

 

[one_cat]

I know it has certainly crossed my mind but I don't think it's much of a risk YET.

 

[grinningghost]

It's not stopping me. I think SARS is getting alot of media attention because it's new. It would actually be very irresponsible of the media not to report on it. But the chances of getting it are low and the chances of dying of it are also very low. I've been paying close attention to everything on SARS - we live close enough to Toronto to be concerned - and honestly, I'm not changing my life because of it. I think that maybe the media is creating paranoia - never a good thing.

 

[wld]

Although I haven't done the math, I'm guessing you are more at risk from dying by getting in your car everyday.
I'll be in WDW in May

 

[JESW]

I must admit that it is a concern of mine and we'll see how things are before our trip in June. We always buy trip insurance.

 

[Michelle]

No, just as I was not concerned to travel there a couple of weeks ago during the war and after 9/11.

A fear of a POTENTIAL of something happening will never stop me from living my life to its fullest.

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
No, just as I was not concerned to travel there a couple of weeks ago during the war and after 9/11.

A fear of a POTENTIAL of something happening will never stop me from living my life to its fullest.

Amen, Michelle.

I think that if we were to worry about everything that can kill us we would have to stay in our homes, which, BTW, has more risks than anywhere!

The flu has a worse chance of killing me than SARS and I can't avoid that by not living my life. Just remember to wash your hands!

 

[CarolA]

Well there are something like 11 cases in the US. If you divide that by the population I think the risk factor seems PRETTY LOW! Your risk driving to work of school every day of dying in car accident is s lot higer!

Also, SARS is like the flu in that most people who die from it have underlying conditions. So your average healthy person would recover just like they do from the flu.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by CarolA
Well there are something like 11 cases in the US. If you divide that by the population I think the risk factor seems PRETTY LOW! Your risk driving to work of school every day of dying in car accident is s lot higer!

--------------

I could have swore I read somewhere the other day that the confirmed cases in the United States was more like 154 now - or thereabouts.. I know there are 2 right in my own home town - and a nurse and 3 doctors from our largest medical center are currently under quarantine after coming down with the symptoms themselves..

I can see where Disney World would be an ideal breeding ground - especially since the CDC or whoever - has just confirmed that someone in Florida came down with SARS strictly due to exposure to a co-worker - not to having traveled to the Asian areas as many others have..

Orlando is also not helping themselves (in terms of tourism) when they make statements that indicate they are EXPECTING a major break out in that area due to international visitors..

Look at it this way though - if lots of people DO stay home, think of how short all the lines will be!!

 

[Lanshark]

We're going in May and although I don't think this is a big concern I will make certain that we all wash our hands frequently especially before eating. I wonder if the antibacterial handwash stuff is effective.

 

[jwfla422]

I was just reading some updates about it.

First, it was mentioned that they are having a lot of sucess treating SARS patients with antiviral meds and steriod medication (of course antibiotics don't work on viruses like this but I do believe that the steriod meds can be a big help especially with repiratory illnesses).

Of course, the other main mention which is posted time and time again is the hand washing and if you can't wash your hands, use an "alcohol" based sanitizer like Purrell.

There's been a lot of doubt about the sanitizers being effective with viral germs but if it is alcohol based it does kill viral germs. We're more likely to catch all of these "other" viral sicknesses (Norwalk virus, the flu, etc)...I always use them to fight off those germies!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Florida had 11 cases as of Thursday. One being a 6 year old boy.
Of course I live in FL, we just got seasonal passes and will be making lots of WDW trips soon. Just use common sense and don't worry too much until they tell us to worry!

 

[CarolA]

I checked CNN 154 cases. The US popluation is approximately 290,000,000 . Still pretty low odds you will meet a SARS victim Also, according to the World Health Organization there have been no US deaths.

 

[Talking Hands]

I'm actually more concerned about the possibility of my daughter bringing it home to me. She is in Japan and will be travelling in Thailad before she returns home next month.