Universal fans held off visits to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure in anticipation of the grand opening of the new Epic Universe this summer that has boosted attendance across the Orlando theme park resort, according to data from a new report.
Universal’s three Orlando parks saw significant attendance declines in 2024, according to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association.
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Attendance in 2024 dropped 2.6% at Universal Studios Florida, 5.5% at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and 8.3% at the Universal Volcano Bay water park, according to the TEA Global Experience Index.
Universal’s 2024 woes followed even bigger attendance declines in 2023 at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure (both down 9.3%) and Volcano Bay (down 2.7%), according to the TEA Index.
The Themed Entertainment Association released its annual Global Experience Index for 2024 in late October that serves as the definitive attendance rankings for the theme park industry.
Epic Universe loomed over Universal’s performance for the past two years even though the new park that opened in May won’t show up in the TEA attendance report until next year, according to Theme Park Insider.
“It appears from the TEA report that many Universal fans held off visiting in the years leading up to the park’s debut,” according to Theme Park Insider.
Universal owner Comcast previously acknowledged smaller crowds in 2024 as visitors delayed Universal Orlando visits in anticipation of the Epic Universe opening in 2025, according to Florida Politics.
Comcast officials blamed the lower attendance at the Orlando parks in part on a lack of new attractions at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure in anticipation of the Epic Universe grand opening. Universal’s last major new ride in Orlando: VelociCoaster in 2021.
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Attendance at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure could be impacted again in 2025 following the opening of Epic Universe, according to the Disney Tourist Blog.
“Historically, new gates have come at the short term expense of existing ones,” according to the Disney Tourist Blog.
The short term pain could lead to long term gains for Universal’s Florida parks.
Comcast reported strong attendance and revenue gains across its Orlando resort after Epic Universe opened in May, according to Theme Park Insider.
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Comcast officials have said Epic Universe has had “minimal impact” on attendance at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure since the summer debut of the new park, according to Blog Mickey.
Universal attempted to insulate the existing parks from the Epic Universe impact with a two-part strategy, according to the Disney Tourist Blog.
- Tickets to Epic Universe were bundled into a multi-day package that forced visitors to go to the legacy parks.
- Annual passes were limited to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure to keep locals backfilling the existing parks while crowds flocked to Epic Universe.
Any attendance cannibalization at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure may not become evident until 2026 when ticketing rules relax for Epic Universe — especially if the legacy parks don’t add any new attractions.
Epic Universe crowds have already boosted Orlando-area hotel tax revenues by millions, according to Florida Politics.