It can be scary to travel to a new city. It can also be dangerous. According to the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing at Arizona State University, tourists make particularly good targets for crimes like theft, credit card fraud, and scams. Vacationers are known to carry cash and valuables like cameras and other electronics that make them lucrative marks. They also tend to be easily caught off guard since they’re more focused on relaxing than keeping track of their surroundings.
But Orlando is the home of Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. Surely it’s safe.
It might come as a surprise that Orlando is the 164th most safest city in America. Another way to phrase it is that it is the 19th least safest city, at least as ranked by WalletHub. However, that ranking includes more than just crime, it also factors in natural disasters like hurricanes, and economic factors like unemployment and poverty rates. Is it dangerous for tourists?
The short answer is no. Over 75 million travelers visited Orlando in 2018 according to the official tourism association for Orlando. That’s enough to make O-Town the number one destination in America. And according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, it’s also one of the safest.
The local Sheriff's Office has declared the tourist corridor surrounding International Drive and Lake Buena Vista an area of focus. For those unfamiliar with Orlando geography, the corridor incorporates the theme park and hotel districts, including Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. The Sheriff’s Office calls them Tourist Oriented Policing Sectors, or TOPS for short.
That’s not to say the area is crime free. According to a study released by the University of Texas at Dallas, crime increases with proximity to the theme parks, specifically Universal Studios. How much? By 198%, and that number decreases by 14% for every kilometer one moves further away from the park. While that sounds like a lot, and it is, not all of those crimes are committed against tourists, and given the large number of tourists in the area, the chances of each tourist getting victimized is still very, very small. Orlando is still one of the safest tourist destinations in the country.
So what can tourists do to protect themselves? The study shows distance, not the type of facility, that correlates most strongly with crime. Statistically speaking, not lingering in the vicinity of the parks will increase your safety. The Sheriff's Office recommends tourists avoid displaying large amounts of cash, always travel in groups or pairs, use the main entrances to businesses, and staying on the sidewalks.