Disneyland is the world's 2nd most visited theme park.

[VeganPrincess]

From Mouse Planet:
Magic Kingdom again world's most-visited park; Animal Kingdom closes gap on Studios

While Amusement Business magazine has gone out of business, the annual theme park attendance listing is too much anticipated to have gone away completely. Economics Research Associates (ERA), the group that put the highly regarded estimates together for the magazine, has found a new partner. The rankings will now be distributed through the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) and InPark and Park World magazines.
Once again, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom finds itself atop the heap, with 2006 attendance of over 16.64 million visitors. Disneyland Park in California duplicated last year's #2 finish at 14.73 million guests. Tokyo's Disneyland and Disney Sea parks finished third and fourth with 12.9 million and 12.1 million, respectively.
Disneyland Paris had its lead over Epcot halved, as it held onto fifth place with 10.6 million visitors. Epcot had 10.46 million to stay right behind. While the lure of Expedition Everest didn't enable Disney's Animal Kingdom to overtake the Disney-MGM Studios, as originally thought, it did close the gap by 59 percent as the Studios welcomed 9.1 million guests to the animal park's 8.91 million.
The top-ranked non-Disney park was Universal Studios Japan, with 8.5 million visitors. Disney's California Adventure showed up at number 13 on the list, with 5.95 million, and Hong Kong Disneyland showed up at number 18, with 5.2 million guests. Way off of the charts was the Disney Studios Paris, which only pulled in 2.2 million visitors, good for 11th place in Europe. The world top 25 list was cut off at 3.91 million for Nagashima Spa Land in Japan.
Attendance again grew at all U.S. Disney parks, with Disney's Animal Kingdom leading the way at 8.6 percent. Epcot saw a 5.5 percent increase and the Studios followed with 5 percent. The Magic Kingdom saw a 3 percent hike in guests, while Disney's California Adventure managed a 2.1 percent bump. Recovering from the initial burst of the 50th anniversary celebration in 2005, Disneyland still managed a 1.2 percent rise. The U.S. Disney parks took six of the top seven domestic spots, with Universal Studios Florida sneaking in at 6 million visitors, topping DCA by 50,000.

How is it, I wonder, that MK gets more visitors than DL? DL really has no true "off season" and they also have so so so many local visitors. It it just because WDW gets more visitors because of its size?

[lazyboy97O]

Think of all of those days where Disneyland has to close its doors. The capacity of the Magic Kingdom is much higher. Magic Kingdom is also the main park ("Disneyworld park") at the Resort that Disney advertises around most of the country and abroad.

[VeganPrincess]

Think of all of those days where Disneyland has to close its doors. The capacity of the Magic Kingdom is much higher. Magic Kingdom is also the main park ("Disneyworld park") at the Resort that Disney advertises around most of the country and abroad.

I've always thought that the reason DL and really, DLR as a whole, is not advertised nearly as much as WDW is because DL has such a local fan base that they do not need to beg for visitors as WDW might need to.

[lazyboy97O]

Disney wanted (and still does) to expand the scope of Disneyland, thus the Disneyland Resort. The problem though is 1) Disneyland's local base and 2) the lack of Disney attractions on par with Disneyland. There is no place to put people from the rest of the country besides Disney's California Adventure.

[VeganPrincess]

Disney wanted (and still does) to expand the scope of Disneyland, thus the Disneyland Resort. The problem though is 1) Disneyland's local base and 2) the lack of Disney attractions on par with Disneyland. There is no place to put people from the rest of the country besides Disney's California Adventure.

So are you saying that DCA detracts from DL attendance and, if not for DCA, DL might increase attendance over the MK?

[almandot]

The first response was more accurate. WDW has a larger capacity and more to offer as a complete vacation destination and gets more visitors because of that. DLR hits the capacity and people leave rather than go to DCA perhaps. And the only reason DLR hits such high numbers is because of the influx of locals, not simply out of town vacationers like most of wdw's is from.

[BigPigletFan]

How is it, I wonder, that MK gets more visitors than DL? DL really has no true "off season" and they also have so so so many local visitors. It it just because WDW gets more visitors because of its size?

While Disneyland has more regulars, it can also allow more guests in the park. Annual passes don't make up the key attendence at WDW as guests tend to visit every 2-5 years with a smaller amount of locals and APs compared to DLR's 80% repeat guests.

Also, WDW has four parks. When guests visit they might not visit all four parks - but they are probably going to visit the Magic Kingdom! Then, depending upon the amount of days, interests of the party, and ages of the group they will plan out the rest of their visit to the other parks, if at all.

One other point is that WDW doesn't really have an off-season either. While it does tend to have its slow times, it does remain busy with many international visitors, especially from Europre, Canada, (it was, if not still #1 for where international guests come from) and South America (Brazilian tourist groups anyone?)

Unlike Southern California, much of Central Florida was built upon theme parks. Disney, Sea World, and Universal are all quite close together. Put that into the equasion with International Drive - another tourist location, including many hotels, shopping locations, etc. and it usually makes for an easier commute for the average tourist from park to park instead of hours in Southern California traffic.

That could easily be some of the reasons behind WDW's high attendence, besides the obvious marketing to go visit a Disney Park - and then give Walt Disney World as the name and the number (although you now can promt from 407-W-DISNEY to DLR information) to get information and make reservations. (More Disney hotels, resorts, DVC, etc.)

[stinkerbell]

Living up here in the Northwest, I know plenty of people who opt to fly to WDW instead of Disneyland. We know a LOT of families that have never been to Disneyland, but have been to WDW.

It's often cheaper to fly to Orlando than to LA or Santa Ana. The hotel rooms aren't more expensive, and if you've got a week's vacation, most people aren't going to burn it at Disneyland, they're going to go to a resort that offers a little more action.

That said, we return to Disneyland each year for a week and I have no real desire to go to WDW, because I've been before as a teen. And I can't stand humidity and if I'm flying across the country, it won't be to a theme park. Go grouchy mom!

[merlinjones]

>>So are you saying that DCA detracts from DL attendance and, if not for DCA, DL might increase attendance over the MK?<<

I think if Disneyland had added lands and attractions and kept all the classics open to increase capacity - rather than building DCA - Disneyland would be the top theme park. As it is, DL must close the gate early during peak seasons and send people across the esplanade.

[Treat]

Disney wanted (and still does) to expand the scope of Disneyland, thus the Disneyland Resort. The problem though is 1) Disneyland's local base and 2) the lack of Disney attractions on par with Disneyland. There is no place to put people from the rest of the country besides Disney's California Adventure.

so are you saying that WDW can send u to anyone of there 3 other parks if lets say MK gets to capacity. But DL cant do this because all they have is DCA???

[sediment]

Main reason is that "off-season" at WDW still means 20000+ in attendance. On Season means 60000+ in attandance. "Close the gates" means about 90000+ in attendance.
DL's comparative numbers are pale.

The only way to increase DL attendance is to make admission cost even lower than it is now for almost half the guest count. Or, that demographic can simply go twice as often. I don't think that is the best action, increasing attendance without substantially increasing revenue.

[Ride Warrior]

As has been brought out in this thread, the Magic kingdom does indeed advertise more, flights tend to be cheaper, and more stateside people opt tp travel to WDW over Disneyland. Also, it is an international destination and is therefore less dependent on AP's, locals and other repeat guests.

All of this aside, Disneyland seems to have been catching up with the magic Kingdom in terms of annual attendance stats. There's certainly been more finacial invrestment in "the old girl" than her East Coast sister oin recent years. With continued improvements and additions, I believe that DL will claim the top spot soon.

[XCLIPSE129]

I believe if DL had the same capacity as WDW then DL would always be on top. my opinion dont hate eastcoasters.

[WDW Monorail]

As seen here, Orlando and MCO owe themselves to Walt Disney. This area in Central Florida relies on companies such as TWDC, Universal, and Anheuser. Orland has become the theme park center of the world. More and more business conventions are being held here and businessmen/women bring along their families. BPF stated the exact reason perfectly. Sooo many tour groups are coming to the Orlando area, mainly because of not only WDW but the Magic Kingdom itself.

Another reason is that MK has a much greater capacity than DL. Also, WDW guests have the option of leaving the park at any time and re-entering as they please. This is a reason why the attendance numbers tend to get inflated.

Now if we could only get EPCOT to increase it's attendance.

[Ride Warrior]

As seen here, Orlando and MCE owe themselves to Walt Disney. This area in Central Florida relies on companies such as TWDC, Universal, and Anheuser. Orland has become the theme park center of the world. More and more business conventions are being held here and businessmen/women bring along their families. BPF stated the exact reason perfectly. Sooo many tour groups are coming to the Orlando area, mainly because of not only WDW but the Magic Kingdom itself.

Another reason is that MK has a much greater capacity than DL. Also, WDW guests have the option of leaving the park at any time and re-entering as they please. This is a reason why the attendance numbers tend to get inflated.

Now if we could only get EPCOT to increase it's attendance.

I wholeheartedly agree. If EPCOT increased it's attendance, perhaps Disney would be more likely to bring the long talked abour WesCOT to the Disneyland Resort as it's theme park numero three.