Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Revenues
Theme park admissions	$ 215,762	$ 206,998	$ 273,843	$ 247,544
Theme park food, merchandise and other	168,336	161,419	206,626	189,644
Sponsorship, licensing and other fees	19,220	13,676	33,652	25,118
Accommodations revenue	3,748	3,972	8,364	8,914
Total revenues	407,066	386,065	522,485	471,220
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	142,096	132,771	236,207	216,133
Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	58,711	55,402	94,974	109,989
Costs of products sold	36,020	34,182	46,158	41,367
Depreciation	25,273	24,925	50,651	51,062
Amortization	651	657	1,301	1,315
Loss on disposal of assets	597	1,567	114	2,233
Interest expense	20,206	18,969	39,807	37,681
Interest income	(16)	(31)	(159)	(156)
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,377	6,557	2,377	6,557
Other expense (income), net	(8)	(407)	691	(479)
Income before income taxes	121,159	111,473	50,364	5,518
Income tax expense (benefit)	41,059	26,859	17,199	(8,770)
Net income	80,100	84,614	33,165	14,288
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(19,213)	(19,082)	(19,213)	(19,082)
Net income (loss) attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ 60,887	$ 65,532	$ 13,952	$ (4,794)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Weighted-average common shares outstanding — basic:	93,054	94,834	92,707	94,347
Weighted-average common shares outstanding — diluted:	95,412	97,382	94,953	94,347
Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding — basic:	$ 0.65	$ 0.69	$ 0.15	$ (0.05)
Net income (loss) per average common share outstanding — diluted:	0.64	0.67	0.15	(0.05)
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.58	$ 0.52	$ 1.16	$ 1.04