2024 theme park attendance revealed by Themed Entertainment Association

A collaboration between TEA, Entertainment + Culture Advisors (ECA), The Park Database (TPDB), and Storyland Studios—and considered the definitive resource of attendance information on the world’s most-visited theme parks—the TEA Global Experience Index reports that 2024 theme park attendance in the U.S., Japan, and western Europe saw changes in the low to moderate range, while leading internationally branded parks in China registered record years.

According to Ben Thompson, CEO of Storyland, this year’s index reveals “a strong and evolving global marketplace, with the COVID recovery period now appearing to have finally stabilized across regions.” In addition, he notes, Europe and the Americas have remained steady, while China is “now entering a more mature stage in its theme park market.”

Top 25 Theme Parks Worldwide

Of the 25 parks around the world with the highest 2024 theme park attendance, nine are located in the U.S., with Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort topping the list, followed by Disneyland Park (#2), Epcot (#8), Hollywood Studios (#9), California Adventure (#11), Universal Studios Florida (#13), Islands of Adventure (#14), Animal Kingdom (#15), and the small but mighty Universal Studios Hollywood (#16). Keep in mind that Epic Universe is not included in the index since it was not open in 2024.

Of the international parks in the top 25, two are Universal parks—Universal Studios Japan (#3) and Universal Studios Beijing (#12)—while six are Disney parks, Tokyo Disneyland (#4), Shanghai Disneyland (#5), Tokyo DisneySea (#7), Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris Resort (#10), Hong Kong Disneyland (#17), and Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris (#20). That means that, among the world’s top destinations for 2024 theme park attendance, Disney boasts 12, nearly 50%.

Of the top 20 theme parks in North America, it should be no surprise to anyone that Disney snagged six of the top ten spots, with Universal taking spots #6, #7, and #9. SoCal locals’ beloved Knott’s Berry Farm slid in at #10.

2024 Theme Park Attendance

In terms of the number of guests, the six major theme parks in Florida saw 61.8 million people pass through their turnstiles in 2024, while the three California parks welcomed 36.1 million guests last year.

Also notable are that the three parks in Japan (two operated by Disney and one by Universal), saw a combined attendance of 43.5 million—an average of 14.5 million per park—while the combined 2024 attendance for six theme parks in China (only one of which is operated by Disney and one by Universal) was 51.8 million guests, an average of only 8.6 million per park.

“One consistent story across every region is the enduring strength of intellectual property,” Thompson said. “From blockbuster theme park attractions to entirely new guest experiences, IP continues to fuel investment, capture imaginations, and deliver the kind of immersive storytelling that sets our industry apart.”

You can read the entire 2024 TEA Global Experience Index here.