University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

COVID-19 and the “most magical place on earth”: Applying the IDEA model to theme park crisis messaging

Lakelyn E. Taylor, University of Central FloridaFollow
Gaurav Panse, University of WaterlooFollow
Carissa Baker, University of Central FloridaFollow
Deanna Sellnow, University of Central FloridaFollow
Timothy Sellnow, University of Central FloridaFollow
Michael Strawser, University of Central FloridaFollow

Abstract

The global tourism reaches of Orlando, Florida, and the world’s most visited theme park complex, Walt Disney World, provide a unique context for studying global communication in a tourism setting through the crisis messaging efforts. This study explores the reopening of Walt Disney World and subsequent messaging, specifically from a risk and crisis perspective, using the IDEA model to categorize Disney COVID-19 messages. Using a qualitative, etic approach via a codebook based on the IDEA model, the study results determined whether pandemic messages and mentions (the study’s unit of analysis) addressed internalization, explanation, or action.

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.5038/9781955833097

Recommended Citation

Taylor, L. E., Panse, G., Baker, C., Sellnow, D., Sellnow, T., & Strawser, M. (2023). COVID-19 and the “most magical place on earth”: Applying the IDEA model to theme park crisis messaging. In F. Okumus, B. Denizci-Guillet, M. Tuna, & S. Dogan (Eds.), Advances in managing tourism across continents (Vol. 3, pp. 1–18). USF M3 Publishing. https://www.doi.org/10.5038/9781955833097