Universal's two parks in Orlando, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures, each saw declines of 8.5 percent, while attendance at Universal Studios Hollywood dipped 6 percent. All three parks came off strong attendance increases in 2004 and the parks in 2005 didn't introduce an excitement-generating thrill ride comparable to 2004's Revenge of the Mummy ride.

Tom Schroder, a Universal spokesman, said 2004's highflying attendance figures were a tough act to follow.

"The bar was raised so incredibly high for us by spectacular attendance in 2004, combined with a very competitive environment to higher gas prices," Schroder said. "2005 was just slightly less great than 2004."

Amusement Business also said a worldwide marketing juggernaut highlighting the 50th anniversary of Disneyland at Disney's parks around the world may also have siphoned off some attendance at the Universal parks.

The Walt Disney Co.'s four parks in Florida and two parks in California benefited from the celebration with new rides, stage shows and parades. The Florida parks had attendance increases of between 5 percent and 6.5 percent, while Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim, Calif. respectively saw growth of 8.5 percent and 3.6 percent.

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, with 16.1 million visitors, and Disneyland in California, with 14.5 million visitors, were not only the two most visited parks in North America in 2005, but they were the best-attended parks in the world. In North America, the remaining top 5 spots were filled out with Disney's other Florida parks: Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom.

Disney parks in the United States, Japan and France took up the top eight spots in attendance worldwide.

"We think that certainly the 50th anniversary of Disneyland has resonated with consumers, not just here in California but really all over the world," said Lisa Haines, vice president of strategic communications at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

Six Flags Inc., which invested $135 million in new rides around the nation for the 2005 season, was rewarded with a 5.7 percent increase across the chain, according to Amusement Business. The opening of a water park at its Six Flags Great America park in Gurnee, Ill. helped boost attendance by 24 percent.

Anheuser Busch-owned parks saw sharp increases at locations with new thrill rides. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay added the Sheikra ride this year and saw an attendance boost of 5.1 percent, while Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va. added the DarKastle thrill ride and had 8.3 percent jump.

Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Parks unit had a chainwide increase of 2.2 percent.