Business & Economy

Top 10 most visited theme parks in 2012: Disneyland ranks No. 2

Disneyland in Anaheim was the second most visited theme park in North America in 2012, according to a report by the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM. One of the most popular rides at Disneyland is "It's A Small World."
Loren Javier/Flickr Creative Commons

Wendy Lee | June 18, 2013

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The Walt Disney Co. dominated a list of 2012's most visited North American theme parks, representing six of the top 10 spots, including the Disneyland in Anaheim, which took second place.

In North America, more people visited the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World in Florida, according to the 2012 Theme Index: Global Attractions Attendance Report. Attendance rose 2 percent to 17.5 million people last year, the report said.

Ranking number two was Disneyland in Anaheim. Attendance remained flat at nearly 16 million visitors last year, according to the report.

Several Southern California theme parks also landed in the top 20, including Disney's California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld California, Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

A notable decline in attendance in the top 20 list was at Knott's Berry Farm, the report said. The report explained that Knott's attendance declined 4 percent to 3.5 million visitors last year due to the closure of the water ride, Perilous Plunge, and the redevelopment of that area.

The report was by Burbank-based non-profit Themed Entertainment Association and Los Angeles-based AECOM, a technical and management support services firm.

Top 20 most visited theme parks in North America in 2012

1. Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida)

2. Disneyland (Anaheim)

3. Epcot (Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida)

4. Disney's Animal Kingdom (Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida)

5. Disney's Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida)

6. Universal's Islands of Adventure (Universal Orlando, Florida)

7. Disney's California Adventure (Anaheim)

8. Universal Studios Florida (Universal Orlando, Florida)

9. Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal City)

10. SeaWorld Florida (Orlando, Florida)

11. SeaWorld California (San Diego)