Top 10 Best Amusement Parks in the World 2020, Top Amusement Parks | Global Amusement Parks Market Factsheet

1.    Magic Kingdom

What is the best theme park in the world? Ranking number 1 on our list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world is Magic Kingdom Park, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, Florida, that is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division. The amusement park’s slogan is “the happiest place on Earth”, that’s why the Magic Kingdom is also the most visited amusement park in the world and ranks number 1 on our list of the top amusement parks in the world by attendance — with an annual attendance of 20,859,000.

Magic Kingdom has opened 48 years ago in 1971 and is currently divided into six themed “lands.”, including Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. The Walt Disney Company is one of the largest media companies in the world, with a market capitalization of roughly USD 173 billion, as of March 2020.

• Opened: 1971
• Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, USA
• Annual Attendance: 20,859,000

Magic Kingdom Main Attractions

• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Haunted Mansion
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain

2.    Disneyland Park

Ranking number 2 on the list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world is Disneyland Park in Disneyland Resort. Located in Anaheim, California, United States, Disneyland is the 2^nd most visited amusement park in the world with an annual attendance of 18,666,000 people. In terms of cumulative attendance, Disneyland has the largest in the world with over 726 million visits since it opened since the theme park first opened. Main attractions at the park include Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, and Tomorrowland.

• Opened: 1955
• Location: Anaheim, California, United States
• Annual Attendance: 18,666,000

Disneyland Park Main Attractions

• Main Street, U.S.A.
• Adventureland
• New Orleans Square
• Frontierland
• Critter Country
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Fantasyland
• Mickey’s Toontown
• Tomorrowland

3.    Tokyo Disneyland

Ranking 3^rd on BizVibe’s list of the top 10 amusement parks in the world is Tokyo Disneyland, a 115-acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, near Tokyo. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park built outside of the USA and is owned by The Oriental Land Company. Tokyo Disneyland generates 17,907,000 visitors per year, ranking 3^rd also in annual attendance. World Bazaar is the main entry corridor and primary shopping area of Tokyo Disneyland. Other important attractions include Adventureland, consisting of two distinct yet complementary areas: A New Orleans-themed area and a “jungle”-themed area.

• Opened: 1983
• Location: Chiba Prefecture, Japan
• Annual Attendance: 17,907,000

Tokyo Disneyland Main Attractions

• World Bazaar
• Adventureland
• Westernland
• Critter Country
• Fantasyland
• Toontown
• Tomorrowland

4.    Tokyo DisneySea

Also located in Tokyo Disney Resort is Tokyo DisneySea, ranking 4^th on this list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world with an annual attendance of 14,651,000 people. Tokyo DisneySea is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, just outside Tokyo. The park is owned by The Oriental Land Company and licenses themes and characters from the Walt Disney Company. Tokyo DisneySea reached the milestone of 10 million guests in 307 days since its grand opening, which is a record among theme parks worldwide. The main attraction at the amusement park includes Mediterranean Harbor, the entrance “port-of-call” and themed as an Italian port city, with Venetian Gondolas that guests can board and ride. Other attractions include Mysterious Island and Mermaid Lagoon, among many others.

• Opened: 2001
• Location: Chiba Prefecture, Japan
• Annual Attendance: 14,651,000

Tokyo DisneySea Main Attractions

• Mediterranean Harbor
• Mysterious Island
• Mermaid Lagoon
• Arabian Coast
• Lost River Delta
• Port Discovery
• American Waterfront

5.    Universal Studios Japan

Ranking 5^th on this list of the best amusement parks in the world is Universal Studios Japan, one of six Universal Studios theme parks. Universal Studios Japan generates 14,300,000 visitors annually — ranking 5^th on this list. The park opened on 31 March 2001 and 11 million guests visited the park in its opening year, making it the world’s fastest amusement park to have achieved the 10 million milestone. Main attractions at the park include the theme Hollywood, with a section for Shrek 4-D, Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, Universal Monsters Live Rock, and Roll Show, Hollywood Dream – The Ride, and Space Fantasy – The Ride. Other popular themes include New York City, San Francisco, and many others.

• Opened: 2001
• Location: Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan
• Annual Attendance: 14,300,000

Universal Studios Japan Main Attractions & Themes

• Hollywood: Shrek 4-D, Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, Universal Monsters Live Rock and Roll Show, Hollywood Dream – The Ride, Space Fantasy – The Ride
• New York City: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man: The Ride, T2-3D: Battle Across Time
• Backdraft
• Minion Park: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Freeze Ray Sliders
• Jurassic Park: The Ride
• The Flying Dinosaur
• Jaws

6.    Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Ranking 6^th on this list top 10 amusement parks in the world is Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a zoological theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products division. The amusement park generated 13,750,000 last year, ranking as the 6^th most visited theme park in terms of annual attendance. Most popular attractions at Disney’s Animal Kingdom include Oasis — The Oasis is the park’s logistic equivalent to Main Street U.S.A. and provides the transition from the park’s entrance to the world of animals. Other attractions include Discovery Island and Pandora – The World of Avatar.

• Opened: 1998
• Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, USA
• Annual Attendance: 13,750,000

Disney’s Animal Kingdom  Main Attractions

• Oasis
• Discovery Island
• Pandora – The World of Avatar
• Africa
• Rafiki’s Planet Watch
• Asia
• DinoLand U.S.A.

7.    Epcot

Ranking 7^th on BizVibe’s list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world is Epcot, a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. Epcot was originally conceived by Walt Disney during the early development of Walt Disney World, as an experimental planned community that would serve as a center for American innovation and urban living. In terms of attendance. Epcot ranks 7^th in the world with an annual attendance of 12,444,000 people. Main attractions include Future World, a variety of avant-garde pavilions that explore innovative aspects and applications including technology and science, with each pavilion featuring self-contained attractions and distinct architecture in its design.

• Opened: 1982
• Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, USA
• Annual Attendance: 12,444,000

8.    Shanghai Disneyland Park – Shanghai Disney Resort

Shanghai Disneyland Park ranks 8^th on this list of the top theme parks in the world with an annual attendance of 11,800,000 people. Shanghai Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Pudong, Shanghai, China, that is part of the Shanghai Disney Resort. The park is operated by Disney Parks, Experiences and Products and Shanghai Shendi Group, through a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Shendi. The main attraction at Shanghai Disneyland Park includes Mickey Avenue — the entrance of the park, is the park’s equivalent to Main Street, U.S.A. Other attractions include Gardens of Imagination and Fantasyland.

• Opened: 2016
• Location: Shanghai Disney Resort, Pudong, Shanghai, China
• Annual Attendance: 11,800,000

Shanghai Disneyland Park Main Attractions

• Mickey Avenue
• Gardens of Imagination
• Fantasyland
• Treasure Cove
• Adventure Isle
• Tomorrowland
• Toy Story Land

9.    Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios ranks 9^th on this list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world with an annual attendance of 11,258,000 people. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. The theme park is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences, and Products division. The part is 35 acres and dedicated to the imagined worlds from film, television, music, and theatre, drawing inspiration from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Main attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios include Hollywood Boulevard — serving as the park’s main entrance and operates in the same vein as Main Street, U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom. Other attractions include Echo Lake and Grand Avenue.

• Opened: 1989
• Location: Walt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, United States
• Annual Attendance: 11,258,000

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Main Attractions

• Hollywood Boulevard
• Echo Lake
• Grand Avenue
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Toy Story Land
• Animation Courtyard
• Sunset Boulevard

10.  Chimelong Ocean Kingdom

Rounding out BizVibe’s list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world is Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a theme park situated in Hengqin, Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China. It is part of the Chimelong International Ocean Tourist Resort, which aims to become the “Orlando of China”. Among its attractions are a wide range of amusements rides, animal shows, as well as the world’s largest oceanarium with a total of 48.75 million litres (10.72 million UK gal; 12.87 million US gal) of water. The theme park currently has five Guinness World Records under its name.

• Opened: 2014
• Location: Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China
• Annual Attendance: 10,830,000

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Main Attractions

• Ocean Avenue
• Dolphin Cove
• Amazing Amazon
• Animal exhibits
• Polar Horizon
• Hero Island
• Mount Walrus

This is BizVibe’s list of the top 10 best amusement parks in the world in 2020, ranked by visits. These amusement parks are innovating the way rides and attractions are enjoyed at these magical destinations where fairy tales become real.