Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park was the most-visited theme park in the world in 2023. (Photo by Matt Stroshane) D isney extended its global domination of the theme park industry in 2023 as the operator of eight of the top 10 most-visited theme parks in world, according to the 2023 Theme Index Report , released Thursday by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and AECOM Economics & Advisory. The world’s top 25 theme parks collectively drew 244.
6 million visitors last year, up 23% from 2022 but below the 253.86 million visitors in pre-pandemic 2019. Disney theme parks around the globe welcomed a combined 142 million visitors last year, eclipsing China’s Fantawild Group, which held the second spot with more than 85 million visitors and Merlin Entertainments, which took third with 62 million visitors.
Universal came in a close fourth, with nearly 62 million visitors. In 2023, Disney’s parks and experiences division was the company’s best-performing segment, generating $32.6 billion in revenue.
That represented 36% of the company’s total revenue but 70% of its operating income. Comparatively, Disney’s entertainment division, which includes its movie and streaming businesses, represented 45% of revenue but only 11% of operating income. Two Chinese companies – Chimelong and Happy Valley Group China – came in at No.
5 and No. 6 globally. Their theme parks drew roughly 36 million visitors apiece last year.