(LA Times) – Propelled by the 50th-anniversary promotion of its flagship Disneyland theme park, Walt Disney Co. increased its share of the North American theme park market this year. All six US Disney theme parks logged gains in attendance, with Disneyland growing the most of any of the major North American attractions, according to estimates released Monday by trade journal Amusement Business and consulting firm Economics Research Associates.
- About 14.5 million visitors passed through Disneyland's gate, an 8.5% jump from 2004. Only its Orlando, Fla., cousin Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World had greater attendance, with 16.1 million visitors, a 6.5% gain.
- Disney's California Adventure, Disneyland's younger sibling in Anaheim, was the nation's seventh-busiest park, logging 5.8 million visitors, a 3.6% rise.
- Universal Studios Hollywood drew 4.7 million visitors, 6% fewer than last year. Its sister parks in Florida also lost attendance.
- Mostly because of Burbank-based Disney, attendance at North America's 50 most popular amusement parks rose 4.2% to an estimated 176 million visitors in 2005.
"Throughout the lean years following 9/11, Disney continued to invest at a heavy pace in its parks as it anticipated this turnaround in the market," said James Zoltak, editor of Amusement Business. In Anaheim, for example, Disneyland opened a completely rebuilt Space Mountain roller coaster, added a "Toy Story"-themed Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride and unveiled its most elaborate fireworks display. During the last month, a "Monsters, Inc."-themed ride quietly opened at California Adventure and will be heavily promoted in the new year. Disney also has opened or will open new rides at each of its Florida parks this year and next. Disney also juiced its attendance with heavy spending on both coasts for its 50th-anniversary celebration. Disney, however, declined to comment on the attendance estimates except to confirm that the numbers were up.
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