Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Management (AECOM) and the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) have published their 2023 Theme Index, an attendance report that covers attractions around the world.
AECOM/TEA 2023 Theme Index Attendance Report
While this report is coming out in 2024, the attendance numbers reflect findings for 2023. In addition, the report returns to its normal ranking process for the 2023 edition; the ranking lists were frozen from 2019-2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on theme park operations worldwide.
Top Theme Parks Worldwide
According to the report, European parks overall performed well in 2023, while American theme parks saw more modest growth. Asian parks experienced “year-over-year rebounds” after being the most affected by pandemic restrictions.
Disney holds 11 of the top 25 spots worldwide for 2023, with Magic Kingdom coming in at #1 once again. Tokyo Disneyland went from the #3 to #4 spot and Tokyo DisneySea fell from the #4 to #7 spot since last year’s report. Shanghai Disneyland moved up to the top 5, reaching spot #5 from #10 in the report for 2022.
EPCOT also dropped from #7 to #8, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from #9 to #10. Both Disneyland Paris and Disney California Adventure climbed up a few spots in the worldwide rankings though, from #14 to #9 and #13 to #11, respectively.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom dropped from #6 to #16, while Hong Kong Disneyland moved up from #21 to #17. Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris also saw a bump from #23 to #20 in this year’s report.
Top Theme Parks in North America
Disney’s hold on the top five theme parks in North America loosened this year, now only claiming four of the five spots.
Magic Kingdom remains number one following last year’s report, seeing a 3.4% increase in attendance over 2022, with an approximate total of 17,720,000 guests in 2023.
Disneyland Park retains its #2 spot, with an attendance increase of 2.2% for 2023 and approximately 17,250,000 guests.
EPCOT moved up from #4 to #3 in 2023’s report, with a nearly 20% attendance increase and approximately 11,980,00 guests.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios takes the #4 spot and the final spot occupied by Disney in this year’s top five. The park saw a decrease of 5.5% in attendance with an approximate total of 10,300,000 guests in 2023.
Disney California Adventure and Disney’s Animal Kingdom still made it in the top 10, at #6 and 9, respectively. The former moved up two spots from 2022, while the latter dropped six spots.
Top Water Parks in North America
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park retains its top spot for 2023 among the top water parks in North America, with an approximate attendance of 1,898,000 and a decrease of nearly 1% from 2022.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, however, fell out of the top 20 ranking for 2023; it held the #2 spot in 2022’s report. This is likely due to both water parks operating seasonally, with only one open at a time.
According to the report, water parks around the world remained “generally solid and reliable” in 2023.
Top Theme Parks in Asia
Tokyo Disneyland was dethroned as number one this year by Universal Studios Japan, though the park saw nearly a 26% attendance increase for an approximate total of 15,100,000.
Tokyo DisneySea fell from #2 to #5 but saw a similar increase to its sister park at 22.8%.
Japanese theme parks have always been very popular, and there is a considerable number of potential guests in the country given its size. It’s also worth noting that Tokyo Disney Resort has yet to bring back annual passes, but Universal Studios Japan offers them and has few ticket restrictions, leading to higher crowds.
Shanghai Disneyland moved up from #5 to take the #3 spot, with a massive attendance increase of 164.2% from 2022, for an approximate total of 14,000,000. This is likely in part due to the opening of Zootopia in December 2023. Watch Tom’s vlogs from Shanghai Disneyland to see more.
Hong Kong Disneyland moved up from #10 to #7, with another large attendance increase of 88.2%, no doubt thanks to the opening of World of Frozen in late 2023. Read our honest review of the new land.
Top Theme Parks in Europe
Disney has one European resort with two parks and retains the top spot this year with Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. It reported a 4.7% attendance increase with an approximate total of 10,400,000.
Walt Disney Studios Park (soon to be renamed Disney Adventure World) bumped up from #4 to #3 with a 6.7% increase.
The full report for 2023 is available online, along with TEA’s methodology for gathering the data. Keep in mind that neither Disney Experiences nor Universal Destinations & Experiences make their attendance numbers public or share them with AECOM/TEA, so these findings may not be a reliable estimation of annual attendance.
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