According to CEC’s research of 1,878 U.S. parents, child preference ranks first — rated extremely important by 55% of parents, with 80% reporting they will act on their child’s venue request. Safety and security ranks second at 69% extremely important, but functions as a threshold qualifier rather than a differentiator. Experience quality, activities range, price and value, booking ease, birthday-child centrality, and food quality follow in order.
