Universal Studios Hollywood Lost About 700,000 Visitors in 2025 as California Theme Parks Struggle

UNIVERSAL CITY, Los Angeles County — November 5, 2026. New industry figures show that Universal Studios Hollywood lost approximately 700,000 visitors in 2025 compared with 2024, an estimated 8% decline and the largest percentage drop among California’s major theme parks. The numbers were published in the Themed Entertainment Association’s Global Experience Index, released October 27, and analyzed in a SFGATE report on October 30. These are 2025 attendance comparisons released recently, not a measurement of November 5 attendance or final 2026 performance.

How Universal compares with neighboring attractions

According to the industry comparisons, Knott’s Berry Farm saw attendance decline by roughly 4.2% (nearly 200,000 people), Six Flags Magic Mountain by around 4% (more than 130,000) and SeaWorld San Diego by 0.2% (about 7,000). Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure each recorded a marginal 0.4% increase, essentially flat attendance. Taken together, the four parks with declining attendance drew roughly a million fewer guests in 2025 than in 2024. The decline should not be attributed exclusively to one cause without a direct study of visitor behavior.

What’s driving the drop?

Higher costs for travel, tickets, food and household essentials are among the pressures cited by tourism analysts. However, a single annual attendance dataset does not prove that inflation alone caused the decline. Attraction cycles, school calendars, operating schedules, marketing, tourism patterns and other factors may also matter. The report noted that Universal had gone several years between major additions before the new Fast & Furious roller coaster opened in September 2026.

Why this matters to workers and local businesses

Visitor spending affects more than park ticket sales. Hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic, retail, transportation, seasonal staffing and small businesses around Universal City and nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods can be affected when visitor patterns change. Local residents should distinguish a falling visitor count from proof that a named business is closing or laying off employees; no particular layoffs are established by these park-wide figures.

What is changing for guests in 2026–27?

California58 previously reported that Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift attraction opened in September. The resort’s holiday program is scheduled to begin November 21. Those are more recent operating developments than the 2025 attendance period, and their effect on 2026 visitation cannot be known until reliable later data are released.

Sources: Themed Entertainment Association Global Experience Index released October 27, 2026; SFGATE October 30 comparative report; California58 local coverage of the 2026 attraction and event schedule.

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