While the world reopened its doors in 2022, theme parks threw open their gates to a roaring crowd of millions, signaling a dramatic post-pandemic comeback.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World welcomed 17.7 million visitors, marking a strong recovery post-COVID.
- Disneyland Resort's Disneyland Park in Anaheim had 16.9 million attendees in 2022.
- Universal Studios Hollywood attracted 9.8 million visitors in 2022.
- Everland in South Korea had 6.9 million visitors in 2022.
- Tokyo Disneyland attracted 15.1 million in 2022.
- Tokyo DisneySea welcomed 14.1 million guests in 2022.
- Europa-Park in Germany welcomed 6 million visitors in 2022.
- Disneyland Park Paris had 10.4 million attendees in 2022.
- Walt Disney Studios Park Paris attracted 5.6 million in 2022.
- Global theme park attendance for tracked parks reached 386 million in 2022, up 94% from 2021.
- North American theme parks saw 231 million visitors in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific region attendance totaled 99 million in 2022.
- Magic Kingdom attendance grew 32% from 2021 to 2022.
- Global attendance recovered to 80% of 2019 levels by 2022.
- Disney parks worldwide saw 5% YoY growth in 2022.
Global theme park attendance is still recovering but remains below pre-pandemic peaks.
Asian Theme Parks
- Everland in South Korea had 6.9 million visitors in 2022.
- Tokyo Disneyland attracted 15.1 million in 2022.
- Tokyo DisneySea welcomed 14.1 million guests in 2022.
- Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in China had 11.7 million visitors in 2022.
- Universal Studios Japan drew 14.3 million in 2022.
- Nagashima Spa Land recorded 8.8 million attendees in 2022.
- Lotte World in Seoul had 7.3 million visitors in 2022.
- Shanghai Disneyland attracted 11.7 million in 2022.
- Ocean Park Hong Kong saw 5.9 million guests in 2022.
- Happy Valley Shenzhen recorded 4.8 million visitors in 2022.
- Universal Studios Japan 2019: 14.9 million.
- Shanghai Disneyland 2019: 11.1 million.
- Hong Kong Disneyland 2019: 6.7 million.
- Beijing Shijingshan 2022: approx 4.5 million.
- Window of the World Shenzhen 2022: 3.8 million.
- Tokyo DisneySea daily avg 38,600 in 2022.
- Chimelong daily avg 32,000 in 2022.
- Nagashima Spa 2019: 9.4 million.
- Fuji-Q Highland 2022: 4.2 million.
- Everland 2019: 7.5 million.
- Lotte World 2019: 7.6 million.
- Happy Valley Beijing 2022: 4.2 million.
Asian Theme Parks Interpretation
While Mickey's empire clearly commanded Asia's theme park kingdom in 2022, the region's appetite for thrills—whether from pandas, pirates, or roller coasters—shows a remarkably resilient and competitive market still roaring back to life.
Attendance Trends and Projections
- Magic Kingdom attendance grew 32% from 2021 to 2022.
- Global attendance recovered to 80% of 2019 levels by 2022.
- Disney parks worldwide saw 5% YoY growth in 2022.
- Universal Orlando combined attendance up 25% in 2022 over 2021.
- Europa-Park attendance increased 15% post-reopening in 2022.
- Tokyo Disney Resort total attendance rose 40% in 2022.
- In 2023, global attendance projected to exceed 400 million.
- US parks expected 5-7% growth in 2023 attendance.
- 2021 global attendance was 199 million, down 59% from 2019.
- Projected 2024 global attendance: 450 million.
- US family-owned parks up 10% in 2022.
- International visitors to US parks: 15% of total in 2019.
- Attendance drop in 2020 global: 78%.
- 2023 US attendance up 2% from 2022.
- International parks recovery faster at 85% of 2019 by 2023.
Attendance Trends and Projections Interpretation
While the world collectively emerged from its couch coma with a vengeance, as seen in Disney's 32% surge and Universal's 25% leap, the global theme park industry is still playing a game of catch-up, limping to about 80% of its former, pre-pandemic glory, though it's optimistically hurtling toward a projected 450 million visitors by 2024.
European Theme Parks
- Europa-Park in Germany welcomed 6 million visitors in 2022.
- Disneyland Park Paris had 10.4 million attendees in 2022.
- Walt Disney Studios Park Paris attracted 5.6 million in 2022.
- Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen drew 4.7 million visitors in 2022.
- Efteling in Netherlands recorded 5.4 million in 2022.
- PortAventura Park in Spain had 3.9 million guests in 2022.
- Disneyland Paris total 2019: 15.3 million combined.
- Gardaland Italy 2022: 3.1 million visitors.
- Phantasialand Germany 2022: 2.1 million.
- Liseberg Sweden 2022: 2.3 million.
- Alton Towers UK 2022: 2.5 million.
- Thorpe Park UK 2022: 1.9 million.
- Europa-Park daily avg 16,400 in 2022.
- Tivoli Gardens daily avg 12,900.
- Efteling daily avg 14,800 in 2022.
- PortAventura daily avg 10,700.
- Blackpool Pleasure Beach 2022: 1.5 million.
- Gardaland 2019: 3.3 million.
- Parque Warner Madrid 2022: 2.0 million.
- Futuroscope France 2022: 1.9 million.
- Legoland Windsor 2022: 2.4 million.
- Chessington World Adventures 2022: 1.7 million.
European Theme Parks Interpretation
It appears the Disney magic across the channel is a powerful draw, as the combined might of its Paris parks nearly doubles the attendance of its impressive continental rivals, proving that while Europe boasts many enchanting kingdoms, the one with the most famous mouse still wears the crown.
Global and Regional Totals
- Global theme park attendance for tracked parks reached 386 million in 2022, up 94% from 2021.
- North American theme parks saw 231 million visitors in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific region attendance totaled 99 million in 2022.
- European parks recorded 49 million visitors in 2022.
- Latin America theme park attendance was 5.6 million in 2022.
- Worldwide attendance in 2019 was 485 million pre-COVID peak.
- US parks accounted for 60% of global top 20 attendance in 2022.
- Middle East attendance totaled 1.2 million in 2022.
- Australia/New Zealand parks: 13.5 million in 2022.
- China's tracked parks reached 57 million in 2022.
- Japan's top parks totaled 53 million visitors in 2022.
- Attendance at top 100 global parks was 257 million in 2022.
- Global water park attendance 2022: 112 million.
- Top 20 amusement parks worldwide 2022 total: 215 million.
- SEA attendance 2022: 1.8 million.
- Global attendance 2018: 492 million.
- North America 2019: 299 million.
- Europe 2019: 66 million.
Global and Regional Totals Interpretation
While the world remains 99 million visitors shy of its pre-pandemic rollercoaster peak, it seems North America, making up a giddy 60% of the top 20, has decided to simply scream "YOLO" and drag everyone back toward normalcy.
US Theme Parks
- In 2022, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World welcomed 17.7 million visitors, marking a strong recovery post-COVID.
- Disneyland Resort's Disneyland Park in Anaheim had 16.9 million attendees in 2022.
- Universal Studios Hollywood attracted 9.8 million visitors in 2022.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain saw 3.8 million visitors in 2022.
- Knott's Berry Farm recorded 4.1 million attendees in 2022.
- In 2019 pre-pandemic, Magic Kingdom attendance peaked at 20.9 million.
- Disney's Animal Kingdom had 12.2 million visitors in 2022.
- Epcot at Walt Disney World drew 11.7 million in 2022.
- Hollywood Studios attendance reached 10.3 million in 2022.
- Universal's Islands of Adventure had 11.3 million visitors in 2022.
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay attracted 4.8 million in 2022.
- Cedar Point in Ohio welcomed 3.8 million guests in 2022.
- Kings Island recorded 3.7 million visitors in 2022.
- Hersheypark saw 3.6 million attendees in 2022.
- Magic Kingdom 2018 attendance was 20.6 million, down slightly from 2017.
- Disneyland California 2019: 18.6 million visitors.
- Universal Studios Florida 2019: 17.6 million.
- Islands of Adventure 2019: 12.5 million.
- SeaWorld Orlando 2022: 4.4 million.
- Legoland Florida 2022: 2.4 million visitors.
- Six Flags Great Adventure 2022: 3.4 million.
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg 2022: 3.7 million.
- Disney California Adventure 2022: 9.9 million.
- Magic Kingdom daily average attendance 48,500 in 2022.
- EPCOT daily average 32,000 visitors in 2022.
- Animal Kingdom 2022 daily avg: 33,400.
- Hollywood Studios daily avg 28,200 in 2022.
- Cedar Point 2019: 4.3 million.
- Kings Island 2019: 3.9 million.
- Carowinds 2022: 2.7 million.
- Worlds of Fun 2022: 2.2 million.
- Valleyfair 2022: 1.9 million.
- Hersheypark 2019: 3.8 million.
- Dollywood 2022: 3.0 million.
- Silver Dollar City 2022: 2.2 million.
- Canada's Wonderland 2022: 3.8 million.
US Theme Parks Interpretation
While Disney still rules the theme park kingdom, the post-pandemic crowd has clearly made the universal judgment that a thrilling recovery is best spread across many lands, not just a single mouse.
Sources & References
- Reference 1AECOMaecom.comVisit source
- Reference 2BLOOLOOPblooloop.comVisit source
- Reference 3THEPARKDBtheparkdb.comVisit source
- Reference 4IAAPAiaapa.orgVisit source
- Reference 5NTAONLINEntaonline.comVisit source
- Reference 6THEMEPARKINSIDERthemeparkinsider.comVisit source
- Reference 7ORLANDOSENTINELorlandosentinel.comVisit source