Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues [Abstract]
Theme park admissions	$ 602,204	$ 576,708		$ 541,744
Theme park food, merchandise and other	448,547	437,382		413,844
Sponsorship, licensing and other fees	42,179	39,977		42,380
Accommodations revenue	17,000	16,265		15,206
Total revenue	1,109,930	1,070,332		1,013,174
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	417,482	411,679		397,874
Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation of $27,034, $62,875 and $54,261 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	189,218	225,875		215,059
Costs of products sold	86,663	80,169		77,286
Depreciation	113,682	132,397		150,952
Amortization	14,393	15,648		18,047
Loss on disposal of assets	8,579	8,105		7,615
Gain on sale of investee	0	(67,319)		0
Interest expense	75,044	47,444		66,214
Interest income	(899)	(820)		(997)
Equity in loss of investee	0	2,222		3,111
Loss on debt extinguishment	789	587		46,520
Other expense, net	1,234	612		73
Restructure (recovery) costs, net	0	(47)		25,086
Income from continuing operations before reorganization items, income taxes and discontinued operations	203,745	213,780		6,334
Reorganization items, net	(180)	2,168		2,455
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	203,925	211,612		3,879
Income tax expense (benefit)	47,601	(184,154)		(8,065)
Income from continuing operations before discontinued operations	156,324	395,766		11,944
Income from discontinued operations	549	7,273		1,201
Net income	156,873	403,039		13,145
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(38,321)	(37,104)		(35,805)
Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	118,552	365,935		(22,660)
Amounts attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	118,003	358,662		(23,861)
Income from discontinued operations	549	7,273		1,201
Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ 118,552	$ 365,935		$ (22,660)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic:	96,940	107,684	[1]	110,150	[1]
Weighted average common shares outstanding—diluted:	100,371	110,936	[1]	110,150	[1]
Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding—basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (usd per share)	$ 1.21	$ 3.33	[1]	$ (0.22)	[1]
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (usd per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.01	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (usd per share)	$ 1.22	$ 3.40	[1]	$ (0.21)	[1]
Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding—diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (usd per share)	$ 1.17	$ 3.23	[1]	$ (0.22)	[1]
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (usd per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.07	[1]	$ 0.01	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (usd per share)	$ 1.18	$ 3.30	[1]	$ (0.21)	[1]
Cash dividends declared per common share (usd per share)	$ 1.82	$ 1.35	[1]	$ 0.09	[1]

[1] All 2011 and 2012 share and per share amounts have been retroactively adjusted to reflect Holdings' two-for-one stock split in June 2013, as described in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.