Is recreation worth the wait? ǂb An exploration of wait time, satisfaction, and loyalty in recreational experiences

Abstract

People wait in line for roller coasters, to get into concerts, and for the ski lift. While the intentions of recreational activities are to be enjoyable, waiting episodes become major threats to satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to explore the link between (a) wait time and satisfaction and (b) satisfaction and loyalty in recreational experiences. Data included surveys from 151 anglers who visited a fishing float located on the Mississippi River near La Crosse, WI from July through October 2017. Results suggested that waiting pastimes were linked to various measures of satisfaction. Actual or perceived wait time did not appear to have a significant relationship with satisfaction. Satisfaction with services and recreational experience produced significant correlations with loyalty measures. Finally, overall satisfaction was significantly correlated with all loyalty measures used in this study.