Disney Parks has once again proven its prowess in the global theme park industry, solidifying its place at the top of the leaderboard according to the latest TEA/AECOM Theme Index and Museum Index. This annual report, a gold standard for benchmarking within the themed entertainment industry, highlights how Disney continues to captivate audiences and drive attendance growth even as the world emerges from the pandemic.
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Disney’s dominance is clearly reflected in the numbers. The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World remains the most visited theme park in the world, boasting a 3.4% increase in attendance to reach 17.7 million visitors. Disneyland in Anaheim follows closely with 17.25 million visitors, up 2.2% from the previous year. These figures underscore Disney’s ability to consistently draw massive crowds, maintaining its position as the leading operator in the industry.
Globally, Disney’s portfolio of parks saw a 17% increase in attendance from 2022 to 2023, bringing in over 142 million guests across its parks. This impressive growth is a testament to the enduring appeal of Disney’s storytelling and the strength of its brand, even as other operators in the industry also experience post-pandemic rebounds.
While the North American market has continued to be in a state of flux since the pandemic, Orlando remains the #1 theme park destination in the world, with 7 of the top 25 theme parks in the world calling Orlando home. These 7 parks (Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, Magic Kingdom Theme Park, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal Islands of Adventure) drew a combined 68.5 million visitors in 2023.
While Disney continues to lead the global theme park industry, Universal Destinations & Experiences is also making significant strides, showcasing its resilience and growth in 2023. Universal’s global portfolio saw an 18% increase in attendance, bringing in over 60.8 million visitors across its parks. This impressive growth was driven by the strong performance of Universal Studios Japan, which saw a 29.6% increase in attendance, and Universal Studios Beijing, which experienced a remarkable 109.3% growth as it continued to establish itself as a major player in the Asian market.
Despite some challenges in North America, where attendance at Universal Orlando’s parks saw slight declines (both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida saw an attendance decline of about 9% in 2023, with both remaining in the top 25 theme parks in the world), the company is poised for a major boost with the highly anticipated opening of Epic Universe in 2025. This new park is expected to create substantial buzz and draw even more visitors to Universal’s already popular destinations, solidifying its place as a formidable competitor in the global theme park landscape and likely increasing the Orlando markets influence on the world-wide them park marketplace.
As the industry looks to the future, Disney is not resting on its laurels. With a $60 billion investment plan over the next decade, Disney is poised to expand its offerings even further. This includes a significant investment in the Orlando Market including the installation of two new lands at Magic Kingdom, a Monsters, Inc. expansion at Hollywood Studios, as well as the re-imagining of Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland with new attractions inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones.
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The 2023 TEA/AECOM Theme Index highlights Disney’s unmatched ability to adapt, innovate, and grow in the ever-competitive world of themed entertainment. As the global market stabilizes and looks to the future, Disney remains the leader, setting the standard for what a world-class theme park experience should be.
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