2007 Park Attendance
http://www.inparkmagazine.com/2007report.pdf
TOP 25 WORLD THEME PARKS - 2007
1. Magic Kingdom 17,060,000
2. Disneyland 14,870,000
3. Tokyo Disneyland 13,906,000
4. Tokyo Disney Sea 12,413,000
5. Disneyland Paris 12,000,000
6. Epcot 10,930,000
7. Disney Hollywood Studios 9,510,000
8. Disney's Animal Kingdom 9,490,000
9. Universal Studios Japan 8,713,000
10. Everland 7,200,000
11. Universal Studios Orlando 6,200,000
12. SeaWorld Orlando 5,800,000
13. Disney's California Adventure 5,680,000
14. Blackpool Pleasure Beach 5,500,000
15. Islands of Adventure 5,430,000
16. Ocean Park Hong Kong 4,920,000
17. Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Yokohama 4,770,000
18. Universal Studios Hollywood 4,700,000
19. Busch Gardens Africa - 4,400,000
20. SeaWorld California - 4,260,000
21. Hong Kong Disneyland 4,150,000
22. Tivoli Gardens - 4,110,000
23. Europe Park - 4,000,000
24. Nagashima Spaland - 3,910,000
25. Port Aventura - 3,700,000
TOP 20 AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS - North America 2007
1. Magic Kingdom 17,060,000 +2.5%
2. Disneyland 14,870,000 +1.0%
3. Epcot 10,930,000 +4.5%
4. Disney Hollywood Studios 9,510,000 +4.5%
5. Disney's Animal Kingdom 9,490,000 +6.5%
6. Universal Studios Orlando 6,200,000 +3.3%
7. SeaWorld Orlando 5,800,000 +1.0%
8. Disney's California Adventure 5,680,000 -4.5%
9. IOA 5,430,000 +2.5%
10. Universal Studios Hollywood 4,700,000 0.0%
11. Busch Gardens Africa 4,400,000 +1.0
12. SeaWorld California 4,260,000 0.0%
13. Knott's Berry Farm 3,630,000 -1.0
14. Canada's Wonderland 3,250,000 +0.5%
15. Busch Gardens Europe 3,157,000 +12.5%
16. Cedar Point 3,120,000 +1.5%
17. Kings Island 3,050,000 0.0%
18. Hersheypark 2,940,000 +9.2%
19. Six Flags Great Adventure 2,720,000 -0.5%
20. Six Flags Great America 2,630,000 +0.5%
BGE had the biggest increase of all North American theme parks at 12.5% and its the first time the park went over 3 million visitors for a season! And they surprisingly beat CP which only had a 1.5% increase in attendance even after installing a new coaster. Hersheypark's new Boardwalk definitely brought crowds in to Chocolateland. And all the Orlando parks saw increases. And two of Six Flags bigger parks in SFGAd and SFGAm are definitely not performing like they use to even though SFGAm saw a slight increase.
at 3/14/08 8:25:23 PM
>> TOP 20 AMUSEMENT/THEME PARKS - North America 2007
19. Six Flags Great Adventure 2,720,000 -0.5%
Maybe if I had made a DOZEN visits instead of a HALF-dozen..
-0.5% may not seem like a high figure, but it represents a lot of people. These kind of figures have to be looked at the way movie box office grosses are. For example, Titanic made tons more money than Gone With The Wind, but considering the difference in ticket prices, they're actually close in terms of the pure number of patrons who bought tickets. It may not be the best analogy, but the fact that SFGAdv even makes the top 20 is a testament, considering the fact it's not a year-round park like many on the North American list. GA's total patrons visited over the span of seven months, not twelve. GA was doing a good job last season, and considering there was no new coaster as a drawing card, they shouldn't be embarrassed by a .5% drop in the first P.E.T(Post El Toro) season. While I realize Disney numbers are unattainable for regional parks like GA, it's a respectable showing.
Mike
at 3/14/08 8:42:52 PM
The 0.5 drop is probably not anything to worry about. But their performance as a seasonal park is nothing to be proud of either, considering they fell below other northern parks such as BGE, CP, KI, HP, and far below the most northern of all, Canada's Wonderland.
at 3/14/08 9:28:38 PM
> The 0.5 drop is probably not anything to worry about. But
> their performance as a seasonal park is nothing to be proud
> of either, considering they fell below other northern parks
> such as BGE, CP, KI, HP, and far below the most northern of
> all, Canada's Wonderland.
>
True, that. BGE and CP both had new coasters, so their numbers went up, especially BGE's...not implying that's the only reason, put a prominent factor. Wonderland and HP will open new coasters this season, as will SFGAdv. So, I'd expect a continued uptick on the former two, and slight increase in the former, back to 2006 levels.
Mike
at 3/15/08 2:59:49 AM
> The 0.5 drop is probably not anything to worry about. But
> their performance as a seasonal park is nothing to be proud
> of either, considering they fell below other northern parks
> such as BGE, CP, KI, HP, and far below the most northern of
> all, Canada's Wonderland.
Just a few years ago SFGAd was the most visited seasonal park in North America. Now they are well below 3 million annual visitors. Figures I'm sure the company want to see improve. El Toro didn't help their gate for 2006 as attendance actually fell 8.0% overall.
at 3/15/08 9:54:41 AM
>> El Toro didn't help their gate for 2006 as
> attendance actually fell 8.0% overall.
>
I don't know the figures, but I'm sure attendance HAD to fall from '05...Kinda Krap, I'm sure, boosted the '05 attendance. Sad that attendance went DOWN in '06 when they opened a FAAAAAARRR better ride.
Mike
at 3/15/08 10:30:34 AM
> > El Toro didn't help their gate for 2006 as
> attendance actually fell 8.0% overall.
> > I don't know the figures, but I'm sure attendance HAD
> to fall from '05...Kinda Krap, I'm sure, boosted the '05
> attendance. Sad that attendance went DOWN in '06 when they
> opened a FAAAAAARRR better ride.
> Mike
Yes Kinggda Krap did boost attendance in 2005 by 6.0% over 2004. But the overall figure was at 2.9 million visitors for 2005, which is still low considering the figures they use to get that was well into the 3 millions.
at 3/15/08 12:09:50 PM
I knew HP attendance grew, it was horrible on weekends this past year, ugh. I'm not looking forward to this season, let the pain begin.
at 3/15/08 12:51:59 PM
> I knew HP attendance grew, it was horrible on weekends this
> past year, ugh. I'm not looking forward to this season, let
> the pain begin.
I went on the first Monday last August and it was very busy then. The lines for the coasters weren't too bad but the Boardwalk was MAD packed!
And with the continued popularity of the Boardwalk and the addition of Fahrenheit I'm sure you will have your work cut out for you this season! Good Luck!
2006 also saw huge price increases at Great Adventure. Factor this in with decreased show options as the season progressed, and ride closure/removals. You're now paying even MORE for LESS to do. Shapiro promised more "balance" at Six Flags; yet this park has become devoid of shows and non-coaster related attractions under his watch. I'm certain people tried the "new" Six Flags and simply decided it's a depreciated entertainment value.
Mini-rant: Kingda Ka and El Toro make Great Adventure a destination park. I seriously doubt TDK will be a factor for a 2009 repeat trip. I'd trade TDK in a second for a Sally dark ride, themed tilt-a-whirl, or "flat" ride package. Burke's strategy is still better IMO, and had 9/11 never happened; Six Flags would still been under his control.
at 3/16/08 5:30:57 PM
One other thing to realize- these numbers are all completely unofficial as Disney, Busch, and Universal all do not release any of their attendance figures. In fact Busch put out a release disputing some of the figures for their parks, saying that these numbers are all on the low side for their parks.
So keep in mind that these are all estimates and may or may not be accurate.
at 3/16/08 7:21:25 PM
> I went on the first Monday last August and it was very busy
> then. The lines for the coasters weren't too bad but the
> Boardwalk was MAD packed!
> And with the continued popularity of the Boardwalk and the
> addition of Fahrenheit I'm sure you will have your work cut
> out for you this season! Good Luck!
Oh gee thanks, there's a very good chance that I'll be stuck in the group that has both Fahrenheit and Storm Runner. =(
at 3/16/08 11:16:30 PM
> And with the continued popularity of the Boardwalk and the
> addition of Fahrenheit I'm sure you will have your work cut
> out for you this season!
Hershey initially did good putting in Boardwalk but I don't see it maintaining the attendance they achieved in 2007. As a passholder since 2000 I made the fewest trips last year because of the overcrowding. Fahrenheit was a must this year in an attempt to keep the attendance up. Without it I think they'd have a drastic fall in attendance. Boardwalk is entirely too small for the attendance they pulled. People that visited Hershey may now avoid it and visit a park such as Dorney where the waterpark covers more land and has more to offer. They'd have been better off if they took over some of the parking lot next to the park and put in more water attractions than they now have. I can't see many of the vacationers coming back just because of Boardwalk. They've been there and have seen firsthand it's not worth the time.
at 3/17/08 4:45:18 PM
> Hershey initially did good putting in Boardwalk but I don't
> see it maintaining the attendance they achieved in 2007. As
> a passholder since 2000 I made the fewest trips last year
> because of the overcrowding.
Then you underesitimate the draw of a waterpark if you don't think the Boardwalk isn't gonna keep attendance up. There is no beach hear Hershey, PA and the closest other water park is how far from there?
at 3/17/08 8:08:06 PM
> Then you underesitimate the draw of a waterpark if you
> don't think the Boardwalk isn't gonna keep attendance up.
> There is no beach hear Hershey, PA and the closest other
> water park is how far from there?
Well I'm assuming that Dorney is the closest place with a water park and it's about an hour and a half, give or take. It would be nice if attendance decreased, lol.
Not surprised at all by Wonderlands small increase with no additions. The parks is going to be PACKED this year. I wouldn't be surprised if we see double digit (or close to) growth for this year with the addition of Behemoth.
