Disney Maintains Global Theme Park Attendance Lead as Universal Sees Decline in 2024

Disney’s theme parks once again topped global attendance rankings in 2024, continuing to dominate the industry as Universal experienced a dip, according to the latest Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Global Experience Index, the definitive annual report tracking theme park attendance worldwide.

Disney remained the world’s most popular theme park company, welcoming an estimated 145 million visitors across all its parks in 2024, a 1.2% increase from the previous year. The company continues to hold the top spots across the globe, with Magic Kingdom leading as the most-visited theme park in the world at 17.8 million visitors (+0.7%), followed by Disneyland Park in California with 17.3 million (+0.5%).

Other Disney parks also posted strong results: Tokyo Disneyland ranked fourth globally with 15.1 million visitors (+2.6%), while Shanghai Disneyland saw a 5% increase to 14.7 million. Tokyo DisneySea grew by 2.9% to 12.4 million visitors, and EPCOT rose 1.3% to 12.1 million, making it the third most-visited park in North America and eighth worldwide.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios ranked fourth in North America and ninth worldwide with 10.3 million visitors (+0.3%), and Disney California Adventure followed closely behind at 10.1 million (+0.5%). Disney’s Animal Kingdom saw a modest 0.3% increase to 8.8 million visitors. Internationally, Hong Kong Disneyland reported a 3.3% rise to 7.9 million, while Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris experienced a 1.8% dip to 10.2 million, and Walt Disney Studios Park (soon to be renamed Disney Adventure World in 2026) also fell 1.8% to 5.6 million.

By contrast, Universal’s theme parks, which ranked fourth globally with nearly 59 million visitors, saw an overall decline in attendance of 0.7%, making it the only major theme park company to report a drop in 2024. Universal fell behind Fantawild Group (87.2 million) and Merlin Entertainments (62.8 million), though it remained ahead of the newly merged Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which reported 50.3 million visitors.

All of Universal’s U.S. parks saw decreases last year. Universal Studios Florida attendance dropped 2.6% to 9.5 million, while Islands of Adventure fell 5.5% to 9.45 million, sliding three spots to 14th worldwide and seventh in North America. Universal Studios Hollywood had the sharpest decline, down 9.9% to 8.7 million, ranking 16th globally and ninth in North America.

However, Universal’s international parks performed better: Universal Studios Beijing surged 8.6% to 9.8 million visitors, and Universal Studios Japan held steady at 16 million, maintaining its position as the third most-visited park worldwide. Universal Studios Singapore was not included in the report.

It’s uncertain whether anticipation for upcoming attractions, particularly the opening of Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe, contributed to the overall decline in attendance at Universal’s U.S. parks, and it remains to be seen how the park will impact Universal’s attendance in the future. Since Epic Universe opened in May 2025, its attendance figures are not reflected in the current report and will be included in next year’s release.

Below are the Top 20 theme parks in North America by attendance in 2024:

1. Magic Kingdom – 17.8 million (+0.7%)
2. Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort – 17.3 million (+0.5%)
3. EPCOT – 12.1 million (+1.3%)
4. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 10.3 million (+0.3%)
5. Disney California Adventure – 10.1 million (+0.5%)
6. Universal Studios Florida – 9.5 million (−2.6%)
7. Universal Islands of Adventure – 9.45 million (−5.5%)
8. Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 8.8 million (+0.3%)
9. Universal Studios Hollywood – 8.7 million (−9.9%)
10. Knott’s Berry Farm – 4.5 million (+6.5%)
11. SeaWorld Orlando – 4.4 million (+0.1%)
12. SeaWorld San Diego – 4.0 million (+0.8%)
13. Busch Gardens Tampa – 4.0 million (−0.6%)
14. Cedar Point – 3.8 million (+5%)
15. Kings Island – 3.5 million (+5%)
16. Six Flags Magic Mountain – 3.3 million (+0.5%)
17. Canada’s Wonderland – 3.3 million (+1%)
18. Dollywood – 3.1 million (+0.8%)
19. Six Flags Great America – 3.1 million (+5.0%)
20. Hersheypark – 3 million (0%)

Below are the Top 20 theme parks worldwide by attendance in 2024:

1. Magic Kingdom – 17.8 million (+0.7%)
2. Disneyland Park at Disneyland Resort – 17.3 million (+0.5%)
3. Universal Studios Japan – 16 million (0%)
4. Tokyo Disneyland – 15.1 million (+2.6%)
5. Shanghai Disneyland – 14.7 million (+5%)
6. Chimelong Ocean Kingdom – 12.6 million (+0.9%)
7. Tokyo DisneySea – 12.4 million (+2.9%)
8. EPCOT – 12.1 million (+1.3%)
9. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – 10.3 million (+0.3%)
10. Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris – 10.2 million (−1.8%)
11. Disney California Adventure – 10.1 million (+0.5%)
12. Universal Studios Beijing – 9.8 million (+8.6%)
13. Universal Studios Florida – 9.5 million (−2.6%)
14. Universal Islands of Adventure – 9.45 million (−5.5%)
15. Disney’s Animal Kingdom – 8.8 million (+0.3%)
16. Universal Studios Hollywood – 8.7 million (−9.9%)
17. Hong Kong Disneyland – 7.9 million (+3.3%)
18. Europa-Park – 6.2 million (+3.3%)
19. Efteling – 5.6 million (+0.7%)
20. TIE: Walt Disney Studios Paris – 5.6 million (−1.8%) & Everland – 5.6 million (−4.8%)

The complete attendance reports are available on the Themed Entertainment Association’s (TEA) website.