California Theme Park Attendance Drops in 2025

Regional visitor numbers fell by 1.9 percent throughout 2025 as major parks faced mixed attendance trends.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Theme Parks

Bold vector editorial illustration of a Ferris wheel silhouette, depicting a quiet theme park scene in coastal California. — Southern California theme park attendance dropped by 1.9 percent in 2025, with major attractions recording nearly one million fewer visitors overall. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you plan to visit a theme park in the coming year?

Southern California theme park attendance decreased by 1.9 percent in 2025, resulting in 919,000 fewer visitors across the region. Data from the Themed Entertainment Association Global Experience Index shows varied performance across major parks.

Why it matters

The decline highlights a softening in visitor demand across key Southern California attractions. Tracking these figures helps industry observers understand shifting consumer travel patterns in one of the world's most popular tourist hubs.

Attendance metrics for 2025 show Disneyland at 17.4 million visitors, Disney California Adventure at 10.1 million, Universal Studios Hollywood at 8 million, Knott's Berry Farm at 4.3 million, SeaWorld San Diego at 4 million, and Six Flags Magic Mountain at 3.2 million.

The players

Themed Entertainment Association

This international non-profit trade association represents creators, developers, and designers of compelling places and experiences.

Merlin Entertainments

This British-based global operator manages numerous entertainment venues and attractions across several continents.

Universal Studios Hollywood

This Southern California film studio and theme park is a major destination for tourists visiting the Los Angeles area.

Disneyland

Located in Anaheim, this flagship theme park is the first one designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney.

The details

Universal Studios Hollywood saw the most significant impact among major players with an 8 percent attendance drop, equating to 700,000 fewer guests. While Disney California Adventure managed a slight 0.4 percent increase, parks including Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain both recorded 4 percent declines.

Theme park attendance figures were measured throughout the full year of 2025.
Merlin Entertainments reported its North American attendance data in March 2025.
The Themed Entertainment Association released its Global Experience Index on October 27, 2026.

Travel Outlook

This story serves as an update to the Themed Entertainment Association Global Experience Index by quantifying the 2025 regional downturn. The performance reflects a cooling in the broader Southern California tourism sector compared to previous peak travel years.

Visitors to these parks may experience shorter wait times for popular attractions due to the overall decrease in guest volume. Travelers should check park calendars in advance, as attendance fluctuations can influence operational hours and seasonal events.

The takeaway

Travelers looking to maximize their experience can use these attendance trends to identify parks that may be less crowded. Monitoring annual report data helps vacationers plan trips during periods of lower regional demand.