Magic Kingdom was once again the world’s most visited theme park last year, according to attendance reports. According to the TEA Global Experience Index, Walt Disney World’s original attractions will attract 17.84 million guests in 2024, an increase of 0.7% compared to 2023.
Disneyland Park in California ranked second in the world with 17.34 million visitors, an increase of 0.5%.
Other Disney World theme parks also recorded increases. Attendance at Epcot increased 1.3% to 12.13 million, and attendance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios increased 0.3% to 10.33 million. These numbers put Epcot at No. 8 in the world and Hollywood Studios at No. 9. Disney’s Animal Kingdom came in at No. 15 with 8.8 million visitors, an increase of 0.3%.
Magic Kingdom estimates it will host an average of more than 48,800 guests per day in 2024.
Attendance at both Universal Orlando theme parks will decline in 2024, according to the report. Attendance at Universal Studios Florida fell 2.6% to 9.5 million, outpacing Islands of Adventure’s 5.5% decline to 9.45 million. These parks are ranked 13th and 14th respectively on the world list. They held opposite rankings in 2023.
Epic Universe was not yet operational during the period covered by the report.
The biggest increases on the list were Beijing Universal Studios (9.78 million people, 8.6%), Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park (4.73 million people, 10.3%), and Changzhou Dinosaur Park (5.38 million people, 25.1%).
China’s Hengqin’s Chimelong Spaceship, touted as the world’s largest indoor theme park, recorded a 241.1% increase, although the attraction only began trial operations in mid-September in 2023. According to the index, Spaceship recorded 4.62 million visitors in 2024, placing it in 25th place in the world ranking.
SeaWorld Orlando will have 4.35 million visitors in 2024, an increase of 0.1%, according to the report. This fell short of the global list, which ranks up to 25 parks. SeaWorld ranks 11th on the U.S. list for park attendance.
The biggest increase in the country was at Knott’s Berry Farm in California, where attendance increased 6.5% in 2024, putting the park in the top 10 on the U.S. list with 4.5 million attendees.
The world’s top 10 list includes, from top to bottom, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, China Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Tokyo DisneySea, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Disneyland Paris.
Other holiday activities at SeaWorld, Legoland, and Disney’s Jollywood Nights
The TEA Global Experience Index (formerly known as the TEA/AECOM Theme Park and Museum Index) is produced by The Themed Entertainment Association in collaboration with research partners Entertainment + Culture Advisor and Park Database, Storybook Studio and InPark Magazine. The index is compiled using statistics provided by park management, historical figures, financial reports, local tourism organizations, national and international attraction associations, mobile location analysis and “expert estimates where appropriate,” the report states.
“This year’s edition reveals a strong and evolving global market as the coronavirus recovery appears to be finally stabilizing across regions,” Storyland Locations CEO Ben Thompson said in the report.
“Strong performance prevails in Europe and the Americas, with North America growing more slowly than the global average as carriers focus on revenue strategies,” Thompson said.
Magic Kingdom has held the top spot in the world rankings for over 25 years. When the now-defunct Amusement Business trade publication compiled this report in 1996, Tokyo Disneyland topped the list, followed by Disneyland in Anaheim. 3rd place goes to Magic Kingdom.
Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda, Orlando Sentinel
Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon water parks have been closed since March. The company says one is expected to reopen in spring 2021. (Orlando Sentinel Files)
In 2024 water park numbers, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon topped the U.S. list with 1.82 million visitors, down 4.3% from 2023. Universal’s Volcano Bay came in second with 1.65 million viewers, down 8.3%. SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica, the third most visited attraction in the country, fell 0.1% to 1.44 million.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach was fifth on the list with a 1.4% decline to 897,000 guests, and Discovery Cove was down 1.9% to 369,000 guests. SeaWorld Day Resort was number 18 on the list.
The world’s most visited water park in 2024 was China’s Chimelong Water Park, with 2.81 million visitors, an increase of 0.1%. Aquaventure World in the United Arab Emirates took second place on the list with 2 million visitors and a jump of 11.1%.
Orlando theme park has more animatronics, making it more realistic
The index also monitors museum attendance. Five of the top six most visited facilities in 2024 were in China, including the top Beijing Palace Museum, which saw a 17.2% increase in visitors to 17 million. The most visited art museum in the United States was the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, with 5.73 million visitors in 2024, ranking 12th in the world.
The complete TEA Global Experience Index is available at teaconnect.org.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
