http://www.latimes.com/business/investing/wire/sns-ap-parks-list,1,1306649.story?coll=sns-ap-investing-headlines

QuikQuote: Here is a list of the top 25 best-attended North American amusement parks in 2004, their attendance and the percentage change from last year.

1. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 15.1 million, 8 percent increase
2. Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., 13.3 million, 5 percent increase
3. Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 9.4 million, 9 percent increase
4. Disney MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 8.2 million, 5 percent increase
5. Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, 7.8 million, 7 percent increase
6. Universal Studios in Orlando, 6.7 million, 14 percent increase
7. Islands of Adventures in Orlando, 6.3 million, 13 percent increase
8. Disney's California Adventure, 5.6 million, 6 percent increase
9. SeaWorld Orlando, 5.6 million, 4 percent increase
10. Universal Studios Hollywood, 5 million, 8 percent increase

I figured that DLR would be #1..I wonder why it wasnt?? ANd I am surprised to see that Knott's wasnt on the list.

I figured that DLR would be #1..I wonder why it wasnt?? ANd I am surprised to see that Knott's wasnt on the list.
The link to the LA Times (or the side column from the San Diego Union-Tribune link of the AP article) has the full list...

Knott's Berry Farm was 14th, with 3.5 million in attendance, a 3% increase....

I figured that DLR would be #1..I wonder why it wasnt?? ANd I am surprised to see that Knott's wasnt on the list.

WDW is a major powerhouse. It captures more of the international crowd than DL.

My theory being that international tourists, and even some of those in the states, figure if they're gonna pay for a trip, goto WDW which is overall larger. Then, the difference between the parks themselves at WDW is basd on hopping tendencies. MGM and AK are somehow split with another park for the day - often Epcot, and even moreso, MK, and then Epcot and MK thrive off one another via that wonderful monorail connection they have.

That's cool. I really dont like knotts at all. i'm glad DCA so well, i am suprised.

Cool, they know how many people will show up for the next three weeks. How do they do that?

The next 3 weeks wont throw them that far off - the only time there's ever been a major hoopla ove rthe number was last year when Epcot did indeed exceed their projection.

Well, it will be some of the busiest weeks of the year. Is it possible that some other 12-month period was used?

Its based on bookings and such too - and they know the bookings for the rest of December as nothing is available ;)

Alright then, we'll need another 2 million or so PAP holders to go to Disneyland in the next three weeks. Who's up for it?

A new, related article was published in Tuesday's Orlando Sentinel...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-asecparks14121404dec14,1,1478745.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

My theory being that international tourists, and even some of those in the states, figure if they're gonna pay for a trip, goto WDW which is overall larger.

I suspect another factor is that more people live east of the Mississippi than live west of it, and that most people who want to go to "a Disney park" pick whichever one is closest.

Then, the difference between the parks themselves at WDW is basd on hopping tendencies. MGM and AK are somehow split with another park for the day - often Epcot, and even moreso, MK, and then Epcot and MK thrive off one another via that wonderful monorail connection they have.
When one park closes early, it's always beneficial to park-hop and get your money's worth. AK often (always?) closes at 5:00, so there's plenty of time to take in EPCOT or MK the rest of the day. Meanwhile, MK and EPCOT are full-day parks in themselves. So, someone doing the above would pass thorugh AK once on his trip, and twice through MK or EPCOT. Multiply by 5 or 6 million and there you go.