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2020: General Discussion

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They will try and open the park, the only thing that will stop them is government telling them not to. They have sold advance tickets, annual passes and accomodation. If the park doesn't open, they will have to refund most of that. If they open the park, and people choose to stay away they won't be liable for that.

Merlin will be able to survive - they are diverse enough. I worry about the smaller parks - can you really see Lightwater Valley re-opening if they are forced to stay closed for a few months?
 
Just seen that the screens from within the wicker man statue have been removed, and it is currently unknown as to whether these will be replaced before the start of the season. Merlin are already bracing themselves for the financial impact of COVID-19 ;)
 
Walt Disney World coronavirus measures, vs Alton Towers coronavirus measures :tearsofjoy:

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This country survived two world wars and the blitz.

Unfortunately, that was then and this is now. 5 minutes with Facebook down and you would think it was the coming of the apocalypse.

Panic buying, stripping shelves, fighting over toilet rolls. It's pathetic. If we had been like this in 1939, we would all be speaking German.

Take sensible precautions, maintain personal hygiene, avoid association with vulnerable people, the elderly, the infirm, etc. Wash your hands, use sanitisation gel.

Same with terrorist attacks. They might get you, but they probably won't. If you let them change your lifestyle, there is a 100 percent chance they've won.

None of it will change me. Nemmie wouldn't back down and neither will I.

Fortunately, I am not part of the snowflake generation.

Above all, remember we're British and keep a stiff upper lip. I'm keeping mine stiff!
 
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Altonadvocate1 said:
This country survived two world wars and the blitz.

Unfortunately, that was then and this is now. 5 minutes with Facebook down and you would think it was the coming of the apocalypse.

Panic buying, stripping shelves, fighting over toilet rolls. It's pathetic. If we had been like this in 1939, we would all be speaking German.

Fortunately, I am not part of the snowflake generation.
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Spoken like a true Snowflake.

I do feel sorry for places that have made large investments for this year, like flamingo land, who will suffer more than a large multinational company
 
Since it is almost certain now that the government are about to announce measures that would force the parks to close, it is likely that Merlin are now waiting for that milestone before making the move, so the closure essentially becomes 'an act of god'.

It's likely the be similar to what just happened on Broadway. Everyone had been waiting for the theatres to announce closures but they waited until the official restriction from the governor, which meant that rather then the individual theatres taking on full liability for lost revenue, their insurance kicked in to lighten the load.

I would be very surprised in Merlin don't have a similar insurance policy in place, which would mean the closures won't be financially catastrophic for the parks.
 
Dar said:
Spoken like a true Snowflake.


Dar said:
Spoken like a true Snowflake.

I do feel sorry for places that have made large investments for this year, like flamingo land, who will suffer more than a large multinational company
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We will agree to differ. We have always had challenges, and we have always overcome them. The sooner we roll up our sleeves, do what needs to be done and get on with it, the sooner we will succeed.

The Japanese are a shining example today, of what we were decades ago.
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It all depends how strictly the government restricts mass gatherings, certain things could leak through. And with their approach it wouldn’t surprise me if certain parks do remain open for the next week or two but I can definitely see them having to close during the peak, Guest numbers could be so low merlin see it more financial viable to close throughout it all!
 
Altonadvocate1 said:
This country survived two world wars and the blitz.

Unfortunately, that was then and this is now. 5 minutes with Facebook down and you would think it was the coming of the apocalypse.

Panic buying, stripping shelves, fighting over toilet rolls. It's pathetic. If we had been like this in 1939, we would all be speaking German.

Fortunately, I am not part of the snowflake generation.

Above all, remember we're British and keep a stiff upper lip. I'm keeping mine stiff!
Click to expand...

During the blitz crime increased 5 fold as people looted shops. There was a huge black market in rationed goods as well.

We like to think that everyone drank their rationed tea and got on with it all but history tells us that wasn’t always the case.
 
Dave said:
During the blitz crime increased 5 fold as people looted shops. There was a huge black market in rationed goods as well.

We like to think that everyone drank their rationed tea and got on with it all but history tells us that wasn’t always the case.
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Fair do's, I suppose. Putting my umbrella and financial times away.

Now where did I put my tinfoil hat?
 
Dave said:
I would suspect they have some level of loss of earnings insurance but it’s a risk.
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This is the absolute crux of why they are continuing to operate as normal. It's exactly why holiday companies were flying people out to imminently closing ski resorts.

Government says don't do something, follow that advice, claim on your insurance.

Company decides to do something against government advice, that's up to the company then, no valid claim.

That's all that'll ever happen here, they'll remain open until any point that the government advice (although unlikely to be theme park specific) is against something that being open causes. That's when an announcement will be made with little notice.
 
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