Universal Studios Hollywood drew about 8 million guests in 2025, down from 8.7 million, in the new TEA attendance report. Can its new Fast & Furious coaster turn things around?
Universal Studios Hollywood had a rough 2025.
The park drew about 8 million visits in 2025, down 8% from about 8.7 million, according to the Themed Entertainment Association’s new TEA Global Experience Index. The report came out Tuesday, Oct. 27.
That kept the Hollywood park at No. 16 among the world’s 25 most-visited theme parks, the same spot it held a year earlier. In North America, Disney and Universal parks fill the top nine spots, and Hollywood comes in ninth.
It’s the second drop in a row. Last year’s report had the park down almost 10% from 9.66 million visitors in 2023, WDW News Today reported.
“USH dropping like a rock!” Theme Park Wizard (@PermitWizard) posted on X Tuesday. The account is hoping a fire-free year, the new coaster and a strong Halloween Horror Nights help it bounce back.
Here’s a front-seat ride on that new coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, from Theme Park POV:
Why did Universal Studios Hollywood attendance drop?
The fires are the obvious suspect. Some coverage of the report says it blames the Los Angeles wildfires for Hollywood’s dip. We haven’t seen that line in the report itself, but Universal’s parent company made the same connection last year.
The Palisades and Eaton fires broke out on Jan. 7, 2025. They burned about 37,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures and killed 31 people, according to Cal Fire’s final figures reported by FOX 11.
Universal Studios Hollywood closed Jan. 8 and 9, 2025, because of high winds and fire conditions, and reopened Jan. 10, ABC News reported.
That April, Comcast said its theme park revenue fell 5.2% to $1.88 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Comcast President Mike Cavanagh said the main reason was lower attendance at Universal Studios Hollywood after the fires, Travel Weekly reported.
How did other California theme parks do in 2025?
Disneyland held steady, and most of the state’s other big parks slipped:
Disneyland: about 17.4 million (up 0.4%), No. 2 worldwide
Disney California Adventure: about 10.1 million (up 0.4%)
Universal Studios Hollywood: 8 million (down 8%)
Knott’s Berry Farm: about 4.3 million (down 4.2%)
SeaWorld San Diego: about 4 million (down 0.2%)
Six Flags Magic Mountain: about 3.2 million (down 4%)
Together, they drew about 47 million visits, WDW News Today reported. Every Six Flags park on the North American top 20 lost guests. The report points to weather as a big factor at several regional parks, Attractions Magazine reported.
How did Universal’s other parks do?
Better, mostly. Universal Studios Japan held steady at about 16 million, good for No. 3 in the world.
In Orlando, Epic Universe added about 4 million visits in its first seven months. Universal’s three Orlando parks drew about 22.5 million visits, up from about 18.95 million at its two parks in 2024.
Can Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift turn things around?
Universal sure hopes so. The coaster soft-opened July 27 and officially opened Sept. 16, 2026, on the park’s Upper Lot, across from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
It packs about 4,100 feet of track, four launches and a top speed of 72 mph. The cars are themed to the Fast & Furious movies, and they can spin and drift a full 360 degrees. The height minimum is 51 inches.
Comcast is counting on it. On the company’s Oct. 22 earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Jason Armstrong said, “Hollywood should benefit from the recent opening of the new Fast & Furious coaster.”
“That coaster is fantastic, and we’ll be bringing a version of it to Orlando,” Cavanagh said on the same call.
The parks could use a lift. Comcast’s theme park revenue fell 4% in the third quarter of 2026, which Armstrong said mainly reflected “continued pressure in Orlando” and in Japan.
When does Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood end?
Soon. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood runs select nights through Sunday, Nov. 1, according to Universal.
This year’s lineup has eight haunted houses, including Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness. The Terror Tram stars Art the Clown.
Whether the coaster and a strong Halloween season pull Hollywood back up won’t be clear until next fall, when TEA puts out its numbers for 2026.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Attractions Magazine (Oct. 27, 2026), the TEA Global Experience Index tables
WDW News Today (Oct. 2025 and Oct. 27, 2026), earlier attendance, the North American rankings and California’s total
Theme Park Wizard on X (Oct. 27, 2026), the tip
FOX 11 Los Angeles (Jan. 7, 2026), the wildfire figures
ABC News (Jan. 10, 2025), the park closure
Travel Weekly (April 2025), Comcast’s first-quarter results
Comcast (Oct. 22, 2026), the third-quarter earnings call
Inside Universal and MiceChat (Aug. and Sept. 2026), Hollywood Drift and Halloween Horror Nights
Theme Park POV on YouTube, the coaster ride-through
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