By Ken Storey
The Themed Entertainment Association has published their annual Global Attractions Attendance Report. Orlando has once again cemented itself as the leading theme park destination in the world with half of the Top 10 theme parks worldwide being found within Central Florida. While none of the major theme park groups publish their attendance numbers the TEA report is viewed within the industry as the most accurate report of its kind. Magic Kingdom once again takes the top spot worldwide with 17,536,000 guests, an increase of 2.3%. EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios each saw an increase of 2.2%. Islands of Adventure had 7,981,000 guests, an increase of 4.0%. Last year Islands of Adventure saw an incredible 29% jump with it being the first full year of Harry Potter being in the park.
The Themed Entertainment Association has published their annual Global Attractions Attendance Report. Orlando has once again cemented itself as the leading theme park destination in the world with half of the Top 10 theme parks worldwide being found within Central Florida. While none of the major theme park groups publish their attendance numbers the TEA report is viewed within the industry as the most accurate report of its kind. Magic Kingdom once again takes the top spot worldwide with 17,536,000 guests, an increase of 2.3%. EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios each saw an increase of 2.2%. Islands of Adventure had 7,981,000 guests, an increase of 4.0%. Last year Islands of Adventure saw an incredible 29% jump with it being the first full year of Harry Potter being in the park.
SeaWorld Orlando, coming in at 19, trailed the other
Central Florida parks but still has an increase of 3.0% in 2012 welcoming
5,358,000 guests.
Looking ahead this year Universal Studios recently
introduced Transformers ride and a Simpsons land, both are expected to help
increase attendance. Next year the park
will introduce the long awaited Diagon Alley Phase 2 of Harry Potter that is
expected to draw record crowds to the park.
Over at Magic Kingdom this will be the first full year of operation for
most of New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom while the Seven Dwarfs Mine Coaster
should open by late Winter 2013 or Early Spring 2014 helping to increase
attendance there. EPCOT opened TestTrack in December 2012 so the 2013 report will be the first with a full year of
operation for the updated attraction.
SeaWorld Orlando also recently opened Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin
which will likely help increase attendance at that park.
While Legoland Florida didn't make the list, in fact
no Legoland anywhere made the list, their parent company Merlin Entertainment
came in as the second largest group attendance wise in the world. Locally the company is currently
building the Southeast’s first SeaLife Aquarium and Madame Tussauds wax museum
as part of the I-Drive Live complex where they will also operate the Orlando
Eye observation wheel. Disney made both top of the groups list and had the top eight theme parks in the world.
Here is the full list of top theme parks worldwide
