If you’re went to a Disney theme park last year, it may have felt quieter than usual.
According to the Global Attractions Attendance report released Thursday, attendance numbers at Disney theme parks in the United States showed an overall decline of about 1% for 2016, compared with 2015. Attendance at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Bay Lake, Florida, was down by about 0.5% and Disneyland in California was down by 1.8%.
However, the report showed that Universal did not have the same problem. Attendance at Universal parks in the U.S. increased by 7.4% in 2016, led by a nearly 14% increase at Universal Studios Hollywood (USH).
The report suggested that the dip in attendance could be due to increased ticket prices, as well as Disney focusing its resources in Asia, with the Shanghai Disney Resort having opening in mid-2016.
And although attendance was down, Disney theme park revenue increased by 5% in 2016 compared with 2015, reflecting “increased guest spending, reportedly driven by higher average prices for admissions to theme parks and cruise line bookings, increased food, beverage, and merchandise spending, and higher room rates,” the report said.
