Would you go to Toronto right now?

[madonna31]

You mean Toronto has a SARS problem - just like the US has a terrorist problem...

I think I've changed my mind - don't want to *infect* any Americans of our disease. I think I'll take the money that I was GOING to go to New York with for a holiday and spend it here in Toronto instead..I don't want to chance being in a building in New York and it be hit by a crazed lunatic in a plane...

From the CNN website:

By Wednesday Canada had reported 140 probable cases of SARS -- severe acute respiratory syndrome -- including 16 deaths.

140 out of 5 million??? I think if it were really somewhere I wanted to visit - I would most definitely take my chances!

Someone has to educate me - where would a traveller exchange bodily fluids with these "social contacts" of those infected at Canada's Wonderland, CN Tower, or Niagara Falls?!?

...and WDWoltimer - what the heck are you talking about?!? That was Detroit and Washington mentioned - NOT Boston..

 

[damo]

For those of us who live here, it is very difficult to be told that our city is an unsafe place to visit. I have yet to see a person wearing a mask and I do not know of anybody or of anybody who knows anybody who has SARS. However, many US papers are showing front page pictures of people in Toronto wearing masks. These reporters are obviously not too afraid to get SARS and are visiting health care centers to get these pictures. Remember, these reported cases are suspected or probable. There is no instant test for SARS. Recent results showed that in genetic tests done on "probable cases" , only 40% were showing the genome. This either means that only 40% actually had SARS or that the virus cannot be found after a certain period of time.

Personally, I feel that this is being blown way out of proportion. However, I can definately understand why people would stay away after the coverage it has received.

We were told this morning that you are more likely to die in your sleep from snoring than of SARS.


Stopping people from coming to Toronto and visiting normal tourist venues will do nothing to curb the spread of SARS. Every case can be directly linked to the original case, health care workers and visitors to the affected hospitals. It has not spread into the community. Only if you visit health care centres are you at risk. That is what is so silly about the WHO warning.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Oh great!!! I better go stock up on No-Doze now.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I have not read this entire thread, so perhaps this has been said. We can all see what has happened with SARS in China and I think some safeguards should be utilized to prevent the same spread in Canada.

 

[madonna31]

We can all see what has happened with SARS in China and I think some safeguards should be utilized to prevent the same spread in Canada.

...without me saying something that would be taken the wrong way; let's just say the *ways* of the 2 different countries are much, much different...

But for starters - we only have 1 superinfector...China has lots; that makes an enormous difference on the numbers!

 

[damo]

Hey Madonna31, I hear Mel needs an assistant.

 

[madonna31]

Hey Madonna31, I hear Mel needs an assistant.

What are you insane?!? If I were to assist Mel - I would have to travel to Toronto - haven't you heard; the WHO is advising people not to travel there!!!

I'm going to WDW instead hoping that Mike needs an assistant instead!

 

[hpsauce]

If anyone's interested, the CDC briefing is being carried live on CNN right now. The spokeswoman just stated that there is no reason not to visit Toronto, and that all the cases can be linked back to the hospital outbreak here. They disagree with the WHO.

Sorry -- CNN moved on. I should have known better!

 

[madonna31]

Thanks for that HP! That was one of the things I was trying to say that all along in this thread - the CDC said that Toronto is SAFE...I for one believe them first because THEY visited Toronto on Tuesday - the WHO has yet to come here!!!

 

[madonna31]

Without saying "I told you so" this is to all those who thought the WHO knew more then the CDC (who were physically here to witness what was REALLY going on in Toronto)

http://hispeed.rogers.com/news/world/story.jsp?cid=w042963A

THIS is EXACTLY what I meant by "separating facts from media hype"... I think that Toronto should sue the WHO for the serious problems that they caused our city; not only was their decision of the travel advisory based on information that was 10 days old - but they have completely destroyed our economy which will take a long time to recover from...

What was shown on CNN about Toronto was nothing short of *laughable*, everyone here still went about their daily business - no one was wearing masks...don't people know that those shots were taken at hospitals - where people NORMALLY wear masks?!? Man - they made it out like Torontonians were "dropping dead in the streets"...rotflmbo...

 

[POLLY ANN]

I, for one, am GLAD that I did not postpone our trip this past weekend to Niagara Falls. We had a GREAT weekend! The weather was fantastic for this time of year. (Although I did come home with a wicked cold ie., swollen glands, headache, etc.!)

I'm also glad that this has been cleared up. I really love Toronto and look forward to bringing the kids up there sometime in the future!

 

[madonna31]

Pollyann - Glad to hear you liked Niagara Falls!!

Did you know that in an attempt to boost the tourism once again in Toronto (it has been seriously slaughtered thank's to the moron's at WHO) Toronto is offering some AMAZING package deals on The Lion King and Mama Mia!; for $125 Canadian you get:

• a ticket to either show
• 3 course meal at one of Toronto's top restaurants (including the one that revolves INSIDE the top of the CN tower!!!)
• An overnight stay at one of Toronto's top hotels (including the Westin Harbour Castle!!!)

If I wasn't going to WDW this weekend I would TOTALLY be taking advantage of this and going to see Mama Mia! for a second time...hopefully they will still be running these deals when I get back!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Polly Ann, I'm glad you had a great trip! We are going to NF for Memorial Day weekend and I can't wait. Would you post a trip report to get me even more excited?

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by madonna31
Pollyann - Glad to hear you liked Niagara Falls!!

Did you know that in an attempt to boost the tourism once again in Toronto (it has been seriously slaughtered thank's to the moron's at WHO) Toronto is offering some AMAZING package deals on The Lion King and Mama Mia!; for $125 Canadian you get:

• a ticket to either show
• 3 course meal at one of Toronto's top restaurants (including the one that revolves INSIDE the top of the CN tower!!!)
• An overnight stay at one of Toronto's top hotels (including the Westin Harbour Castle!!!)

If I wasn't going to WDW this weekend I would TOTALLY be taking advantage of this and going to see Mama Mia! for a second time...hopefully they will still be running these deals when I get back!

Where is this deal being offered?

 

[Steve H.]

That's a great deal!! I've seen both those shows in Toronto and loved each of them!!

Our company cancelled all non-essential travel to Toronto this week, so we're in our home offices, but I'll likely be back up there in another week or two (trying to add to the economy )

 

[madonna31]

This deal is taking place in Toronto...(thought that was clear when I mentioned Toronto in my post)...by Mirvish Productions, just call:
toll free 1.800.461.3333 and ask about their $125 Lion King or Mama Mia! package promoting Toronto tourism...

There is also an $85 one - provided that you don't need overnight accomodations...

 

[grinningghost]

I'm very glad to hear that the travel restriction has been lifted. I hope that Toronto gets back on it's feet very soon.

 

[madonna31]

I still maintained that the WHO should be sued by Toronto for their "accidental travel advisory" I can NOT believe that they originally made their decision 10 days before it was recommended. We haven't had a new case of SARS since I believe April 14th - they are estimating that it will take the city about 2 years to recover from the hit it took by this (once you deem a city as "not safe to travel to"; advisory lifted or not lifted, unfortunately most people will still *Scarlett Letter* that city for good!)

 

[POLLY ANN]

crazyme, I was thinking of you when I was up at the Marriott Fallsview, because you said you had booked a 2room suite, which was what we had. We were in rooms 1529 & 1530. And it was a fabulous view! We could see for miles, literally. And you are going to be up there when they have fireworks on Friday night which will be the best seat in the house for those!

Just to let you know a little bit about the suite: It was located at the end of the hall, but not too far from the elevators or ice machine! The first door you come to is the one you use your room key with, which leads you into a little hallway with 2 doors next to each other. One door leads to the 2queen bedroom, which was the room with the view and when you opened the door to that room you went down a little hallway. The closet and the bathroom were on the right and after that, obviously the room. The beds are very SOFT! I loved it but if you prefer a harder mattress, you are going to be uncomfortable. The other door obviously led you into the kingsized bedroom. We were there with our friends and their 16 month old, and we couldn't hear anything from their room, and they said they couldn't hear anything from our room (which was good, because my 19 month old was up hollering in the middle of the night!) There were 2 windows in the king room, but only through one could you see the falls, and it wasn't a very direct view. But both rooms were nicely appointed. They had a mini fridge that is stocked, but you can request at check-in to have someone come up and take all that stuff out and you can use it for whatever. I needed it for my son, who is still on whole milk. Plus the older kids liked having juice, and cheese, and yogurt available to them when we were in the room.

My favorite part was finding Starbucks located in the lobby! Yum, a Mocha Chocolate Grande every morning was great! Also in the lobby are services to do tours of the area, for a price. We didn't do that because our kids are too young to go on a 5 hour tour, but my dh ran into someone that said the tour was great! They saw the Butterfly Conservatory, The Journey Under The Falls, Maid of the Mist, and 2 other things that I can't think of off the top of my head. Maybe the Skylon Tower, but I can't remember.

One thing that surprised me when we arrived at the Marriott was that they had valet service, and basically you had no choice because they park the cars a block and a half away. They offered that we could drive the car over there ourselves, but we still had to pay the same price. Plus they don't cover anything that you leave in the car if it gets broken into, so don't leave anything in the car! The cost was $13.00 a day canadian.

Oh, I have so much more to tell you, maybe I will have to do it in an email! lol Gotta go now!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

NOPE, I wouldn't go but then again I am not going to Disney either, Sars scares me and Disney is a tourist attraction and people come from all over, not just from certain states.