Credit: Jess Colopy, Inside the MagicIt is arguable that Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the other Disney parks are the top theme parks in the world and that, as a company, Disney has the ultimate theme parks when it comes to attractions, demand, theming, and overall popularity. So, naturally, it is not shocking to hear that the House of Mouse may have some others wanting to compete for that top spot.
Now, a new contender has entered the ring with a plan to wipe Disney out.
Disney Dominates Theme Park Attendance
Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world, with an average annual attendance of over 58 million.
Per Google, in 2023, Walt Disney World theme parks welcomed millions of visitors. Magic Kingdom, the world’s most visited amusement park, attracted over 17.7 million guests.
Other parks saw significant attendance, with Animal Kingdom drawing around 8.7 million visitors, Hollywood Studios welcoming approximately 10.3 million (a 5.5% decrease from the previous year), and EPCOT attracting nearly 12 million guests.
To maintain guest safety and satisfaction, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom limits daily attendance, even though it can accommodate over 100,000 visitors.
On the other hand, Disneyland in Anaheim, California, saw 17.25 million visitors in 2023, making it the second most visited amusement park in the world.
If we compare those numbers to a more regional California theme park just minutes away from Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, we can see that Disneyland nearly quadrupled that number, as Knott’s had around 5 million guests last year, which is on the higher side when we look at the Cedar Fair (now Six Flags) theme park attendance records.
Disney Puts Families into Debt
Disney is also the one theme park that the majority of families have taken on debt for.
Many parents are willing to go into debt to provide their children with the Disney experience. According to a LendingTree survey, over 45% of parents with children under 18 have incurred debt for Disney vacations.
The survey found that adults without children or with adult children were less likely to take on debt for Disney trips. Only 16% of adults without children and 10% of parents of adult children went into debt.
Parents of young children, on average, incurred $1,983 in Disney-related debt. Despite the high costs, 59% of parents considered the debt worthwhile, and 90% viewed it as a special treat.
The survey also revealed that 25% of respondents had never visited a Disney park, with three out of five citing the expense as a barrier.
According to the LendingTree survey, in-park food and beverages were a significant contributor to Disney-related debt. A report by FinanceBuzz highlighted the substantial increase in food prices at Walt Disney World, surpassing overall inflation rates.
While food costs can be a major expense, Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, suggested bringing outside food and nonalcoholic drinks to the park as a way to save money. Disney parks allow visitors to bring their own food and beverages, with some restrictions.
Schulz advised prioritizing what matters most on a Disney trip to manage costs effectively. By carefully considering expenses and making informed choices, travelers can enjoy a memorable Disney vacation without breaking the bank.
A New Theme Park Competitor Has Entered the Ring
Seeing the overall success and popularity of Disney makes it easy for new theme parks entering the market to look at Disney as inspiration.
A brand-new European theme park is set to open in Poland, featuring 50 thrilling rides and attractions that may rival renowned parks like Energylandia and Disneyland. Hossoland, first announced in 2017, will span 400,000 square meters and offer four distinct themed lands: Mermaid City, the Kingdom of Baltambrya, the Land of the Vikings, and Dragon Valley of the Mines.
Publications have called it the next “Disneyland”.
The park will include a variety of rides, including the high-speed steel rollercoaster, GhostRider, which reaches up to 72 mph. Visitors will enter through a striking shipwreck, with early images hinting at a water attraction near the entrance, though further details are yet to be disclosed.
Hossoland will feature 20 food and drink venues, per Express. Originally scheduled to open in 2024, the launch has been postponed to June 2025.
Karen Hovsepyan, vice president of the park’s operator Hosso Group, emphasized Hossoland’s significance as the largest amusement park of its kind on the Polish coast. She expressed confidence that it would become a prominent landmark and popular destination in the region.
For British visitors, the most convenient way to reach Hossoland is by flying to Szczecin. Ryanair offers flights from Liverpool and London starting at £14.99. The park is located approximately an hour’s drive from Szczecin and a short 30-minute drive from the Baltic Coast’s popular seaside resorts.
While Hossoland is under construction, visitors can explore Energylandia, another renowned theme park in Poland. Opened in 2014, Energylandia is Europe’s largest theme park, boasting 125 rides, including Europe’s biggest wooden rollercoasters and a 7D cinema.
While Poland is a long way from competing with American Disney theme parks, it could dent the European theme park market, affecting the success of Disneyland Paris.
Do you think that there will ever be a theme park corporation that will be more successful than Disney?