Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Schedule of estimated useful lives of property and equipment

The estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:



Rides and attractions	5 - 25 years
Land improvements	10 - 15 years
Buildings and improvements	Approximately 30 years
Furniture and equipment	5 - 10 years

Schedule of intangible assets and accumulated amortization

The following table reflects our intangible assets and accumulated amortization:



	December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)	2013			2012
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Trade names, trademarks and other	$	344,075		$	344,000
Accumulated amortization	—			—
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	344,075		$	344,000

Finite-lived intangible assets:
Third party licensing rights	$	24,361		$	24,361
Accumulated amortization	(8,809		)	(6,407		)
Total third party licensing rights	$	15,552		$	17,954
Sponsorship agreements	$	—		$	43,000
Accumulated amortization	—			(31,273		)
Total sponsorship agreements	$	—		$	11,727
Other identifiable intangibles	$	3,346		$	3,576
Accumulated amortization	(860		)	(692		)
Total other identifiable intangibles	$	2,486		$	2,884
Total finite-lived intangible assets, cost	$	27,707		$	70,937
Total accumulated amortization	(9,669		)	(38,372		)
Total finite-lived intangible assets, net	$	18,038		$	32,565

Total intangible assets, net	$	362,113		$	376,565

Stock Benefit Plans

Schedule of weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted

The following weighted-average assumptions were utilized in the Black-Scholes model for the stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:



	December 31, 2013				December 31, 2012				December 31, 2011
	CEO		Employees		CEO		Employees		CEO		Employees
Risk-free interest rate	1.20	%	2.03	%	1.08	%	1.08	%	—	%	1.68	%
Expected life (in years)	6.25		6.25		6.25		6.25		0		6.25
Expected volatility	39.21	%	38.98	%	44.23	%	44.14	%	—	%	43.68	%
Expected dividend yield	5.24	%	5.08	%	4.51	%	3.48	%	—	%	0.65	%

Schedule of stock option activity

The following table summarizes option activity for the year ended December 31, 2013:



(Amounts in thousands, expect per share data)	Shares		Weighted Avg. Exercise Price ($)		Weighted Avg. Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($)
Balance at December 31, 2012	9,436		$	15.04
Granted	1,244		$	34.30
Exercised	(2,486	)	$	11.98
Canceled or exchanged	—		$	—
Forfeited	(283	)	$	18.56
Expired	(1	)	$	15.86
Balance at December 31, 2013	7,910		$	18.90	7.73	$	141,747
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2013	7,615		$	18.86	7.73	$	136,727
Options exercisable at December 31, 2013	1,692		$	14.85	7.26	$	37,173

Schedule of stock, restricted stock award and restricted stock unit activity

The following table summarizes stock, restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2013:



(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share ($)
Balance at December 31, 2012	694		$	9.73
Granted	19		$	38.26
Vested	(352	)	$	10.20
Forfeited	(10	)	$	8.12
Canceled	—		$	—
Non-vested balance at December 31, 2013	351		$	10.84