The Themed Entertainment Association has released their 2021 Index, which evaluates attendance at themed attractions around the world. The latest report indicates that Universal Studios Florida & Universal’s Islands of Adventure may have possibly surpassed three Walt Disney World theme parks in annual attendance.
While the TEA Index is widely referenced within the industry, it should be noted that neither Disney Parks nor Universal Parks & Resorts release attendance numbers to any outside party, so these numbers are based on estimations and other methodologies. Internal sources at both Disney & Universal have indicated to WDWNT.com in the past that these numbers can be off by anywhere from thousands to millions of guests. For more information about how TEA arrives at their concluded data, refer to the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of the Index.
U.S. Parks
It should be noted that the growth percentage reflects the difference in attendance between 2021 and 2020. Most domestic theme parks were closed for part or all of 2020, and this results in a larger-than-average year-over-year increase.
Taking first place, with an estimated total attendance of 12,691,000 people, Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited theme park in the country (and world).
Universal’s Islands of Adventure reached the second spot for most visited theme park in the world, surpassing every Disney park other than Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. An estimated 9,077,000 visitors came to the park, with an increase of 127% since last year. With recent passholder benefits and without a park reservation system, the increase in guests may be due to convenience. Recent rides such as Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure have undoubtedly been big draws.
Universal Studios Florida at Universal Orlando Resort comes in third place, with an estimated visitor count of 8,987,000 guests, an increase of 119% since last year.
In fourth place, Disney’s Hollywood Studios had an increase in visitors of 134%, leading to a total visitor count estimated at 8589,000 people.
With over 4 million less visitors, Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort is the fifth most visited theme park in the world, with an increase in attendance of 133% and a total number of visitors reaching 8,573,000.
In terms of domestic parks, the next park featured is EPCOT, with a total attendance of 7,752,000 visitors. A 92% increase in attendance shows that this park is helping to bounce back. This walk around the world shows the best Walt Disney World Resort has to offer.
The next highest attended park in the United States is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with an increase in attendance of 73%, leading to a total of 7,194,000 guests estimated to enter the park.
Being the second most visited theme park in California, Universal Studios Hollywood had an increase in visitors of 324%, leading to a total of 5,505,000 visitors entering the park.
The next most visited domestic park is Disneyland California Adventure. With an increase in visitors of 159%, and reaching 4,977,000 guests, this is the third most visited theme park in California, following Disneyland Park and Universal Studios Hollywood.
Read the AECOM Theme Index here.
International Rankings
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
But sure Disney. Keep that ASININE reservation policy in place and watch your attendance drop even further.
Check out this quote from the report. See anything inaccurate here?
Tokyo DisneySea’s
20th anniversary celebration buoyed
attendance significantly by the end of the
year. Though only at 40% of pre-pandemic
levels, guests are eager to return to the
parks as attendance caps are lifted. The
largest expansion ever for Tokyo DisneySea
is well underway. This new land, Fantasy
Springs, will feature Frozen Port, Alice in
Wonderland, Beauty & the Beast, and more.
The expansion is an indication of the on-
going confidence of the Japanese market
as well as the Asian regional destination market.
universal would love to give a hardy shout out to their benefactor bob chapek for his generous increase in customers disney finds not desirable enough for their parks.
Just sign of the times. People are slowly turning away from Disney (for a number or reasons) and are putting their vacation dollars elsewhere.
It is hard for me to fathom that crowd levels are lower for 2021 than they were in 2019. The parks seem jam packed with nowhere to move and the wait times are so much longer than I remember them being Pre 2020. Something seems off to me. IDK – not an expert just based on my personal observations from visiting the parks.
Hopefully everyone at the top of Disney will be gone if everyone keeps putting the pressure on Disney & getting the word out. Tell everyone to call or e-mail Disney Guest Services and tell them how upset they are and have them pass the word to where it will snowball to be much larger! Then have people who are more like Walt, Roy and all the original imaginers who helped put in charge and put Disney back in the right direction!
I wonder how many of those people are counted multiple times. If you go to USF and then cross to IOA you are counted for both parks. (This probably accounts for the drop at WDW – no park hopping). A more useful number would be the number at each resort. Also I wonder how many are local passholders dropping in for an hour or two, rather than guests staying the whole day.