Disney World and Disneyland booted off the “10 Best” list of U. S. theme parks

It seems this “Boycott Disney” thing might be reaching new heights.

Though theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort routinely make the list of the “10 Best Theme Parks” in the U. S., the most recent list doesn’t include a single Disney theme park–not even Magic Kingdom.

Credit: Disney Parks

According to USA Today‘s 10Best most recent list of domestic theme parks, Disney Parks just didn’t make the cut. The list does not include Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the North American continent is home to more than 400 amusement parks and welcomes about 375 million visitors to those amusement parks each and every year.

Here are the top 10 theme parks in the United States, as compiled by USA Today:

1. SeaWorld Orlando – Orlando, Florida
2. Silver Dollar City – Branson, Missouri
3. Kings Island – Mason, Ohio
4. Busch Gardens Williamsburg – Williamsburg, Virginia
5. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay – Tampa, Florida
6. Cedar Point – Sandusky, Ohio
7. Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
8. Six Flags Magic Mountain – Valencia, California
9. Holiday World – Santa Claus, Indiana
10. Hershey Park – Hershey, Pennsylvania

Universal Studios Orlando is often ranked on the USA Today 10Best list in the past, but the 2022 list is devoid of any Universal Studios Florida parks. USA Today publishes its list of the top 10 U. S. theme parks annually and usually, Disney is a natural contender, as is Universal Studios. But the 2022 list is completely devoid of the word Disney, meaning that not a single theme park at Disney World or Disneyland Resort made the list.

Credit: Becky Burkett/Disney Dining

Because the list only includes amusement park and theme park resorts in North America–specifically in the United States, none of Disney’s overseas parks were included in the list either, whether Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disneyland Resort, or Hong Kong Disneyland Resort.

Again, not even Magic Kingdom.

The absence of a Disney theme park on the USA Today 10Best list leads readers to wonder if the most recent #BoycottDisney efforts led to the lack of Disney theme parks on the list.

While the Disney theme parks are full to the brim with Guests, a major boycott is brewing in the background and has been since Disney CEO Bob Chapek first made a public statement denouncing Florida’s passing of the Parental Rights in Education law in late March.

Many groups have called Disney out, accusing the entertainment giant of indoctrinating children on the topics of gender identity and sexual orientation. While “indoctrination” might be taking things a bit far, it is true that Disney World and Disneyland recently ended the practice of addressing Guests with “Ladies and Gentlemen” as the company has begun steering clear of titles that assume a person’s sexual identity.

Credit: Disney Parks

Following the signing of the bill into law, Chapek said that Disney will work to help see that Florida’s new law is repealed. In response, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis said that Disney’s “woke ideology” could cost Disney its special privileges in Florida.

Since those events, a culture war has been taking place between Disney and Gov. DeSantis, leading many to “take sides,” and while many have sided with Disney, many have taken a side against Disney.

While there’s no way to know whether these events have any bearing on the USA Today list, the absence of a Disney-owned theme park is, to put it lightly, noticeable.