Disneyland, Lighter on Magic, Drops a Notch in Attendance

Mickey Mouse Jr. has outdistanced the original Mickey.

Disneyland, the Anaheim theme park, has slipped from its perch as the continent’s most popular theme park, surpassed by The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. An estimated 17 million people visited the Magic Kingdom, up 23%, versus 14.2 million at Disneyland, down 5%, or about 700,000 people, according to Amusement Business, a Nashville-based trade journal.

Disneyland’s attendance declined for a couple of reasons. First, the Anaheim theme park was competing against attractions that drew record attendance the last two years: the Main Street Electrical Parade that was making its much-publicized exit in 1996, and the Indiana Jones thrill ride that opened to rave reviews in 1995. Second, this year’s new Light Magic Parade failed to generate larger numbers. Disneyland closed the highly hyped but much maligned $20-million combination parade and street show, saying it would return in the summer of 2000.

But 1997 was still the theme park’s third-best year, said Disneyland spokesman Tom Brocato. “We look forward to Tomorrowland’s opening in 1998,” he said of the refurbished area of the park with a futuristic theme.

Knott’s Berry Farm, which was acquired Monday by Ohio amusement park operator Cedar Fair LP, also inched up a notch to 11th in the rankings, as attendance gained 3% to an estimated 3.65 million. A new twin-track racing roller coaster, the Windjammer, helped draw bigger crowds. The Buena Park theme park has been improving its rankings, climbing from 13th in 1995.

Despite Disneyland’s dip, Walt Disney Co. theme parks dominated the rankings, taking the poll’s top four spots. Epcot at Walt Disney World finished third, with an estimated 11.8 million visitors, and Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World had about 10.4 million people.