Disney and Universal See Big Gains in Orlando After Major Expansions
Photo Credit: Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom is shown in this promotional photo. Disney opened the new land in 2017, and attendance at the park jumped more than 15 percent, a new report shows. Walt Disney World Resort / David Roark
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Orlando remains a battleground for the world's largest theme park operators, but attendance is growing around the world — and the biggest companies are trying to win audiences all over.
During the same week last year, Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort opened new additions meant to draw bigger crowds to their theme park complexes.
A new report out Thursday indicates the openings did the trick. The 2017 TEA/AECOM Theme Index showed strong gains at both theme park companies. The index is compiled by the Themed Entertainment Association and the economics practice at engineering firm AECOM,
The results came in a year when attendance at the top 25 parks worldwide increased 4.7 percent to nearly 244 million. That's a stark difference from 2016, when attendance at the top 25 parks dropped 1.1 percent.
“The industry resumed its historic pace of growth in 2017,” John Robinett, senior vice president for the Americas at AECOM, said in a statement. “Major theme park operators had an outstanding year with significant overall growth led largely by pr
