General - Basis of Presentation (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

General - Basis of Presentation

Schedule of Debtors' reorganization items

	Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012		2011
Costs and expenses directly related to the reorganization	$	1,708	$	1,443

Schedule of calculation of earnings per common share

	Three Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012		2011
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders	$	253,025	$	192,870
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	53,487		54,694
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units	3,306		1,544
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	56,793		56,238
Earnings per share — basic	$	4.73	$	3.53
Earnings per share — diluted	$	4.46	$	3.43

	Nine Months EndedSeptember 30,
	2012		2011
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders	$	210,181	$	79,348
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic	53,958		55,101
Effect of dilutive stock options and restricted stock units	2,934		1,438
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted	56,892		56,539
Earnings per share — basic	$	3.90	$	1.44
Earnings per share — diluted	$	3.69	$	1.40

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

	September 30,
	2012		2011
Risk-free interest rate	1.08	%	1.64	%
Expected term (in years)	6.25		6.25
Expected volatility	44.15	%	43.69	%
Expected dividend yield	3.61	%	0.66	%

Schedule of stock option activity

	Shares		Weighted Avg. Exercise Price ($)	Weighted Avg. Remaining Contractual Term	Aggregate Intrinsic Value ($)
Balance at January 1, 2012	5,732,000		21.99
Granted	1,292,000		51.04
Exercised	(1,506,000	)	19.86
Canceled or exchanged	—		—
Forfeited	(314,000	)	28.42
Expired	(2,000	)	31.31
Balance at September 30, 2012	5,202,000		29.43	8.51	152,787,000
Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2012	5,041,000		29.32	8.50	148,596,000
Options exercisable at September 30, 2012	802,000		23.20	8.15	28,555,000

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

	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ($)
Non-vested balance at January 1, 2012	548,000		18.74
Granted	1,467,000		45.84
Vested	(181,000	)	19.35
Forfeited	(62,000	)	35.72
Cancelled	—		—
Non-vested balance at September 30, 2012	1,772,000		40.52

Schedule of stock-based compensation expense

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
Long-Term Incentive Plan	$	12,708	$	6,612	$	44,625	$	34,156
Employee Stock Purchase Plan	43		40		259		160
Total Stock-Based Compensation	$	12,751	$	6,652	$	44,884	$	34,316