Disneyland Soars: Nearly 30 Million Visitors Celebrate 70 Years!

Orange Park, USA - The excitement is palpable as Disneyland marks a significant milestone in its history. At the recent 70th anniversary celebration held on July 17, 2025, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that the resort’s annual attendance has reached „almost 30 million,“ reflecting a notable recovery post-pandemic. However, it’s important to note that Iger cautioned against using this figure to measure attendance increases since 2023, as Disney officials have not released detailed year-over-year comparisons. The previous year’s combined attendance for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure stood at 27.25 million, with Disneyland alone attracting 17.25 million visitors.

This impressive increase of about 10% over the past two years is significant, especially as it surpasses the 28.5 million visitor mark from 2019, signaling a return to pre-pandemic levels. Disneyland’s longstanding tradition of exceptional guest experiences has likely played a role in rekindling interest, attracting families and thrill-seekers alike. Interestingly, the park has stopped publicly announcing attendance numbers, leaving the precise calculations to organizations like TEA/AECOM, which have been tracking attendance since 2006. Their upcoming 2024 TEA Global Attractions Attendance Report, expected in September, may shed further light on these evolving trends.

Florida’s Magical Pull

Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida was the most visited park in 2023, welcoming 17.72 million visitors. The park experienced a slight drop in attendance compared to its all-time high of 20.96 million in 2019—a gap of about 3 million. Additionally, Disney’s financial reports indicate that Hurricanes Helene and Milton affected visitor numbers to Walt Disney World in 2024, highlighting the challenges of maintaining attendance amidst natural calamities.

According to MouseNotifier, theme and amusement parks are more than just popular tourist destinations; they are global phenomena. In 2023, the top 85 parks across 23 countries drew over 410 million visitors—an increase of 19% from the previous year. North America alone accounted for 161 million of that total, with Florida emerging as a key player, drawing 76.9 million visitors across its eight parks.

Global Rankings and Local Favorites

The theme park landscape continues to evolve with Disney leading the charge, welcoming 140 million visitors through its parks worldwide, which constitutes a staggering 34% of global attendance. The top three global parks still include Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland, each known for their unique attractions and experiences. In a detailed analysis of attendance and popularity, Theme Park Insider identified the significant gains in visitor numbers for multiple parks, including Shanghai Disneyland and various parks in China that showcased incredible growth following pandemic recovery. Interestingly, Walt Disney World’s EPCOT saw a 19.8% increase in attendance, driven by renewed interest in its offerings.

This growth is a testament not only to the resilience of the theme park industry but also to the clever strategies employed by these parks to draw visitors back in. With their imaginative attractions and immersive experiences, Disney has certainly done their bit to cultivate that enduring allure. As we approach the release of the 2024 attendance report, the anticipation builds for what this year will hold for theme parks around the globe.