Abstract

Safety perceptions are central to destination choice and visitor satisfaction at tourist venues, yet research on crime and public safety in theme park settings remains sparse. This study examines visitor perceptions of public safety at the two most-attended theme park destinations in the United States—Walt Disney World (Orlando, FL, USA) and the Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, CA, USA)—across three domains: within the parks, in parking lots, and on shuttle buses. Using data from a Qualtrics survey, this brief report compared safety perceptions by gender across both destinations. Findings indicate that visitors overwhelmingly perceive themselves as safe within the parks; however, safety perceptions are somewhat lower in parking lots and on shuttle buses. Importantly, while males and females report comparable perceptions of safety within the parks, females report significantly lower safety perceptions in parking lots and on shuttle buses, especially at Disney World. Implications for future research and practice are noted.

IPC Classification

Keywords