Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022	Oct. 01, 2023	Oct. 02, 2022
Total revenues	$ 547,455	$ 504,831	$ 1,133,352	$ 1,078,360
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	206,461	180,937	489,000	464,013
Selling, general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	57,952	40,481	192,647	135,194
Costs of products sold	42,885	40,164	87,437	85,989
Depreciation and amortization	27,942	30,186	85,966	86,772
Loss on disposal of assets	1,760	5,038	6,745	3,036
Operating income	210,455	208,025	271,557	303,356
Interest expense, net	38,263	34,197	118,060	107,705
Loss on debt extinguishment			13,982	17,533
Other (income) expense, net	1,155	(659)	(1,938)	(2,069)
Income before income taxes	171,037	174,487	141,453	180,187
Income tax expense	36,570	38,654	32,525	44,257
Net income	134,467	135,833	108,928	135,930
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(23,767)	(22,326)	(47,533)	(44,651)
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ 110,700	$ 113,507	$ 61,395	$ 91,279
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	83,510	83,094	83,365	84,760
Diluted (in shares)	83,780	83,107	83,736	84,919
Earnings per average common share outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.33	$ 1.37	$ 0.74	$ 1.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.32	$ 1.37	$ 0.73	$ 1.07
Park admissions
Total revenues	$ 286,319	$ 280,502	$ 601,585	$ 595,266
Park food, merchandise and other
Total revenues	236,703	209,099	480,281	446,449
Sponsorship, international agreements and accommodations
Total revenues	$ 24,433	$ 15,230	$ 51,486	$ 36,645