TEA Global Attendance Index is out

[HauntedPirate]

The most attended theme park in the world and still has shuttered shops and restaurants

And more reports than ever of “light” crowds, low wait times, easy walk-up dining for 90% of restaurants… but unless I’m misreading the numbers, MK allegedly is averaging 48.5k people per day, every day (9k/day less than 2019)? There’s a scent of fish in the air…

A way to track In-park hours per guest would be a fantastic set of data to have.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The most attended theme park in the world and still has shuttered shops and restaurants

And mothballed rides…but who’s counting?

 

[Chi84]

And more reports than ever of “light” crowds, low wait times, easy walk-up dining for 90% of restaurants… but unless I’m misreading the numbers, MK allegedly is averaging 48.5k people per day, every day (9k/day less than 2019)? There’s a scent of fish in the air…

A way to track In-park hours per guest would be a fantastic set of data to have.

I don't think most people find the parks to be lightly attended. At least not from what I'm reading.

 

[jah4955]

I never would have guessed that EPCOT would have the best post-COVID recovery...or that AK would be that much lower

But that explains why Tropical Americas is the first to open of these new additions

EPCOT's had the most significant (opened) changes (to date) since COVID. I haven't been yet, but I've heard CR is one of the best rides made to-date. Here's hoping there's NEVER AGAIN a year like 2020.

 

[JD80]

Is this readable? I put major projects and openings in a four year window (year of opening and a 3 year tail) so that you can match that window to attendance. Kind of matches up a bit.

I suspect we'll see flat attendance numbers, if not dips in the next few years (maybe negative growth depending on the economy and world events) until TA opens where you will most likely see a 3%+ growth for that year.

We'll see in 2028.

 

[drizgirl]

The most attended theme park ATM in the world and still has shuttered shops and restaurants

Fixed it for you.

 

[drizgirl]

EPCOT's had the most significant (opened) changes (to date) since COVID. I haven't been yet, but I've heard CR is one of the best rides made to-date. Here's hoping there's NEVER AGAIN a year like 2020.

Wall-cot was a mess during the time frame right before and right after Covid. I'm not surprised attendance is finally back up.

 

[Andrew25]

Walt Disney World - overall benefited from the Epcot overhaul (whether or not you like the changes)
Magic Kingdom +0.7% Tron + the "MK rule" where an increase/addition at another WDW park, increases MK
Epcot +1.3% park with the most "improved" and highlighted additions.
Disney's Hollywood Studios +0.3% wait-times dropped marginally due to DAS updates, assuming the
Disney's Animal Kingdom +0.3%
Typhoon Lagoon -4.3%
Blizzard Beach -1.4%

The downturn in wait-times at WDW are a result of the stricter DAS updates. The "lighter crowds" are generally observed during historically busier periods (summer-holidays) but offset by larger crowds earlier in the year (Jan-Feb) and October, which has become busier over the years. Significant promotions have also benefited the resort in getting bodies in.

Universal Orlando - not surprising to see the parks down, however I am shocked to see IOA drop below USF attendance-wise as both tend to follow the same trend each year. CineSational and DreamWorks were marketed heavily last year.
Universal Studios Florida -2.6%
Universal Islands of Adventure -5.5%
Volcano Bay -8.3% probably why Volcano Bay nights exists this year

California Parks
Disneyland +0.5%
Disney California Adventure +0.5%
Universal Studios Hollywood -9.9% - concerning. Considering Universal has mentioned that attendance continues to decline in 2025 (at least the first half of the year). With it receiving Super Nintendo World in 2023, you'd have imagine their attendance would remain flat or fall marginally. Is the park too pricey? Unsure what's causing the downturn here.

Is this readable? I put major projects and openings in a four year window (year of opening and a 3 year tail) so that you can match that window to attendance. Kind of matches up a bit.

I suspect we'll see flat attendance numbers, if not dips in the next few years (maybe negative growth depending on the economy and world events) until TA opens where you will most likely see a 3%+ growth for that year.

We'll see in 2028.

View attachment 889085

I know it's crazy to say, but we should see continue attendance increases year over year, even with no significant expansions opening until 2027. Disney does a great job at offering promotional offers to get bodies inside their parks. We should see the crazy attendance increases in 2028 as people start coming down for the new stuff.

Next year, I'm expecting a significant amount of DAK-related promotional offers to get locals to "subsidize" any losses in attendance.

 

[DisneyCane]

Pandora can't carry a park for a decade.

True but I'm surprised that AK is lagging the other 4 by so much in recovery. I certainly think it's accurate because prior to 2020, FoP at 1.5 hour standby was a really slow day at AK. Now, it is below 1 hr a lot. Even EE seems to be in the 25-35 minute range much of the time.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I never would have guessed that EPCOT would have the best post-COVID recovery...or that AK would be that much lower

But that explains why Tropical Americas is the first to open of these new additions

For EPCOT, Could it be folks were interested in visiting a non walled up EPCOT and wanted to see the changes?

For AK, for folks it could have been seen it, did it, done it, moving on?

 

[JD80]

Walt Disney World - overall benefited from the Epcot overhaul (whether or not you like the changes)
Magic Kingdom +0.7% Tron + the "MK rule" where an increase/addition at another WDW park, increases MK
Epcot +1.3% park with the most "improved" and highlighted additions.
Disney's Hollywood Studios +0.3% wait-times dropped marginally due to DAS updates, assuming the
Disney's Animal Kingdom +0.3%
Typhoon Lagoon -4.3%
Blizzard Beach -1.4%

The downturn in wait-times at WDW are a result of the stricter DAS updates. The "lighter crowds" are generally observed during historically busier periods (summer-holidays) but offset by larger crowds earlier in the year (Jan-Feb) and October, which has become busier over the years. Significant promotions have also benefited the resort in getting bodies in.

Universal Orlando - not surprising to see the parks down, however I am shocked to see IOA drop below USF attendance-wise as both tend to follow the same trend each year. CineSational and DreamWorks were marketed heavily last year.
Universal Studios Florida -2.6%
Universal Islands of Adventure -5.5%
Volcano Bay -8.3% probably why Volcano Bay nights exists this year

California Parks
Disneyland +0.5%
Disney California Adventure +0.5%
Universal Studios Hollywood -9.9% - concerning. Considering Universal has mentioned that attendance continues to decline in 2025 (at least the first half of the year). With it receiving Super Nintendo World in 2023, you'd have imagine their attendance would remain flat or fall marginally. Is the park too pricey? Unsure what's causing the downturn here.



I know it's crazy to say, but we should see continue attendance increases year over year, even with no significant expansions opening until 2027. Disney does a great job at offering promotional offers to get bodies inside their parks. We should see the crazy attendance increases in 2028 as people start coming down for the new stuff.

Next year, I'm expecting a significant amount of DAK-related promotional offers to get locals to "subsidize" any losses in attendance.

I think you'll see just enough promotional offers to keep the park even with or just slightly negative, especially with the construction in full swing.

 

[Nevermore525]

Universal Orlando - not surprising to see the parks down, however I am shocked to see IOA drop below USF attendance-wise as both tend to follow the same trend each year. CineSational and DreamWorks were marketed heavily last year.
Universal Studios Florida -2.6%
Universal Islands of Adventure -5.5%
Volcano Bay -8.3% probably why Volcano Bay nights exists this year

And it doesn’t look like they’ll be including Epic for Annual Passes next year either. I’m sure there will be a bump for Universal overall this year, but they’re still doing what they can to insulate the drops at IOA/USF.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I think you'll see just enough promotional offers to keep the park even with or just slightly negative, especially with the construction in full swing.
I just don't think we'll see 3

Agreed, Disney can use promotional offers to keep folks coming while at the same time Disney is able to continue to keep raising the regular prices.

 

[CoastalElite64]

Disney parks still held strong in 2024 just like many of us were saying all year.

2025 is a different story but we all knew what was coming.

 

[Andrew25]

Disney parks still held strong in 2024 just like many of us were saying all year.

2025 is a different story but we all knew what was coming.

2025 is still relatively strong.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m not gonna convince anyone (as always)…but just consider this:

Epcot had a reported 11-12 in annual attendance 15 years ago…
And if you understand travel history…you can track that it has increased on an upward trend for decades (like since ww2) on a steady arc unless there are widespread economic disruptions…

So having 12 now…when you are 5 years behind the plague that was compensated for buy trillions of money being printed out of thin air…and 16 since the last actual recession hit…is in no way “good” or showing “strength”

Don’t expect anyone with a nametag to hold a presser on it though

Yet those parks are still gonna look semi evacuated today, tomorrow…and as they have for the last 3 years

Enjoy the magic

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney parks still held strong in 2024 just like many of us were saying all year.

2025 is a different story but we all knew what was coming.

2025 is still relatively strong.

Have either of you two been in a park?

 

[UNCgolf]

EPCOT's had the most significant (opened) changes (to date) since COVID. I haven't been yet, but I've heard CR is one of the best rides made to-date. Here's hoping there's NEVER AGAIN a year like 2020.

Cosmic Rewind is a fine roller coaster but it's not a great themed attraction -- you might be disappointed if you go in expecting one of the best rides ever.

Obviously it's all subjective, but for me it wouldn't even be one of the top 5 rides at 1994 EPCOT (if I ranked every Future World pavilion at that time and added Cosmic Rewind to the list, I think CR would actually come in last).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Cosmic Rewind is a fine roller coaster but it's not a great themed attraction -- you might be disappointed if you go in expecting one of the best rides ever.

It’s a good coaster…on the Disney scene for sure…beyond that may be too generous

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think you'll see just enough promotional offers to keep the park even with or just slightly negative, especially with the construction in full swing.
I just don't think we'll see 3

Their gimmicks are as extreme as they have ever been in “good times”

You’re gonna see the same problems next year…with the same rhetoric running cover

Watch it play