CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Theme park admissions	$ 271,119	$ 263,388	$ 503,690	$ 473,287
Theme park food, merchandise and other	196,626	194,634	379,160	358,218
Sponsorship, licensing and other fees	12,409	12,927	30,076	31,418
Accommodations revenue	4,989	4,656	13,487	12,690
Total revenues	485,143	475,605	926,413	875,613
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	132,737	130,417	339,452	328,125
Selling, general and administrative (including stock-based compensation of $12,751 and $6,652 for the three months ended and $44,884 and $34,316 for the nine months ended 2012 and 2011, respectively, and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	54,115	48,431	176,042	166,185
Costs of products sold	34,483	34,594	70,144	67,481
Depreciation	31,686	37,320	100,677	113,821
Amortization	3,626	4,512	12,045	13,540
Loss on disposal of assets	5,192	2,190	7,647	6,105
Gain on sale of investee	(67,041)		(67,041)
Interest expense	11,627	16,682	34,756	49,960
Interest income	(208)	(186)	(522)	(682)
Equity in loss of investee	1,652	766	2,222	3,013
Other expense (income), net	832	(340)	295	(193)
Restructure (recovery) costs		(202)	(47)	25,146
Income from continuing operations before reorganization items, income taxes and discontinued operations	276,442	201,421	250,743	103,112
Reorganization items, net	659	609	1,708	1,443
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations	275,783	200,812	249,035	101,669
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,014	(10,376)	8,452	(14,065)
Income from continuing operations before discontinued operations	264,769	211,188	240,583	115,734
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	7,209	(11)	7,157	(113)
Net income	271,978	211,177	247,740	115,621
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18,953)	(18,307)	(37,559)	(36,273)
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	253,025	192,870	210,181	79,348
Net income applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders	253,025	192,870	210,181	79,348
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic: (in shares)	53,487	54,694	53,958	55,101
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted: (in shares)	56,793	56,238	56,892	56,539
Net income per average common share outstanding - basic:
Income from continuing operations applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.60	$ 3.53	$ 3.77	$ 1.44
Income (loss) from discontinued operations applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.13
Net income applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.73	$ 3.53	$ 3.90	$ 1.44
Net income per average common share outstanding - diluted:
Income from continuing operations applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.33	$ 3.43	$ 3.57	$ 1.40
Income (loss) from discontinued operations applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.13		$ 0.12
Net income applicable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 4.46	$ 3.43	$ 3.69	$ 1.40
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.06	$ 1.80	$ 0.12
Amounts attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation:
Income from continuing operations	245,816	192,881	203,024	79,461
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	7,209	(11)	7,157	(113)
Net income	$ 253,025	$ 192,870	$ 210,181	$ 79,348