Walt Disney Co.’s marketing push for Disneyland’s 50th anniversary paid off with an 8.5% surge in 2005 visitors, the biggest gain of any amusement park in the past year.
Disneyland saw 14.5 million visitors in the past year, according to trade publication Amusement Business and the researcher Economics Research Associates.
The park was second in visitors to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, which drew 16.1 million visitors, up 6.5% from 2004.
Disneyland’s surge helped adjoining Disney’s California Adventure, which saw 3.6% more visitors for a total of 5.8 million. California Adventure ranked No. 7 among parks based on visitors.
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park saw a 3% decline in visitors to 3.5 million. The park got off to a slow start with rain early in the year and likely was bypassed by some visitors in favor of Disneyland. It ranked No. 15 by attendance.
