3. SeaWorld Orlando bounces back in a BIG way

Image: SeaWorld

2017 was a bad year for SeaWorld Orlando, which shed a massive 10% of guests, landing this park outside the top 10 for the first time in over a decade. However, it looks like this park's ill fortunes are turning around, as SeaWorld Orlando was back in the top 10 in 2018, growing huge 16.0% year over year and attracting 4.6 Million guests over the course of 2018. Hopefully SeaWorld can keep this growth up in the years to come as this park continues to try and bounce back after some really hard years. 

4. Universal Studios Florida sees a bump in 2018 while Islands of Adventure (and Universal Studios Hollywood) stay stagnant

Image: Universal Orlando Resort

Though Universal parks have been growing at some really impressive rates thanks to a steady stream of new attractions (as well as the continued popularity of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter), only Universal Studios Florida saw any real growth in 2018, with Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Hollywood essentially staying flat year to year. However, Islands of Adventure is poised to see some big growth in the near future, as the new Hagrid's Magical Motorbike Adventure is set to open at this park in just a few weeks, and work is continuing on an unannounced Jurassic Park roller coaster, expected to debut in 2020. 

This year's TEA/AECOM theme park attendance report was definitely full of surprises, and we have to say that we were stunned both by the continued growth of Disney's Animal Kingdom as well as the attendance boost at SeaWorld Orlando. Of course, next year's attendance report will be even more interesting, as we'll see how the openings of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios not only boost these parks, but others around them as well!